27 May 2005 While Major Robertson and I were in the same squadron, we did not circulate in the same circles. Captains and Corporals do not mix. That said, I do distinctly remember waiting for their aircraft to return. The slow realization and the sinking feeling, while waiting to hear the engines of that bird returning, that they weren't coming back is something I still remember. We did not lose any aircraft my first tour in RVN. The second we lost three aircraft and five aircrew KIA/MIA and one POW. May not be many, but was more than enough. From a fellow Marine who remembers him. E-mail address is not available.

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall The "Spring Offensive" in 1972 by the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong resulted in the relocation of several Marine squadrons from their normal duty bases outside Vietnam to Danang. Later in June circumstances caused them to be moved to an austere air field at Nam Phong in Thailand, west of Nakon Phanom. By the end of June 1972 two F-4 squadrons (VMFA-115 and VMFA-232), an A-6 squadron (VMA(AW)-533), a KC-130F detachment from VMGR-152, and four CH-46s from MAG-36 had set up housekeeping at Nam Phong. The first loss after the relocation was A-6A BuNo 155690 from VMA(AW)-533. 1stLt Alan J. Kroboth and Capt Leonard Robertson were tasked against a storage site five miles south of Khe Sanh. As they pulled off after their first drop on the target, their aircraft was hit in the starboard wing by AAA fire. Kroboth ejected, was captured, and was repatriated on 27 March 1973. There was no evidence that Robertson had ejected, and after his repatriation Kroboth said he was told by his captors that Robertson had died in the crash. Robertson's remains have not been repatriated (06 Jun 2005). The other two VMA(AW)-533 aircraft and crews referred to above are A-6A 155700, 10/12/1972, North Vietnam - both crewmen MIA/BNR: * Capt John R. Peacock, Kailua, HI * 1stLt William M. Price, Kewanee, IL A-6A 155666, 12/27/1972, North Vietnam - both crewmen MIA/BNR: * Capt Ralph J. Chipman, Orem, UT * Capt Ronald W. Forrester, Odessa, TX

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