ROBERT E BENNETT
Hometown:
SPRINGFIELD
County:
Union
Status:
Missing In Action
Rank:
1LT
Branch of Service:
Air Force
Country of Incident:
SVN
Date of Casualty:
December 13, 1967
Date of Birth:
December 08, 1942
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Robert E.
Bennett III was born on December 8, 1942. He entered the US Air Force
while in Springfield, NJ and attained the rank of First Lieutenant
(1LT).
Robert Bennett was listed as missing in action on December 13, 1967.
Synopsis (from the POW Network) as to the circumstances behind being
listed as MIA:
The Phantom, used by Air Force, Marine and Navy air wings, served a
multitude of functions including fighter-bomber and interceptor, photo
and electronic surveillance. The two man aircraft was extremely fast
(Mach 2), and had a long range (900 - 2300 miles, depending on stores
and mission type). The F4 was also extremely maneuverable and handled
well at low and high altitudes. Most pilots considered it one of the
"hottest" planes around.
1Lt. Robert E. Bennett III was the pilot of an F4C aircraft which was
assigned a close air support mission in South Vietnam on December 13,
1967. His aircraft, the number two plane in a flight of two, had
delivered its ordnance and the crewmembers were instructed to drop the
canisters in a river. They acknowledged the transmission and
immediately thereafter they were seen to eject with good parachutes.
(There is no indication in public records why the crew ejected.)
Bennett and his Bombardier/Navigator landed in a river (from
coordinates, probably the Song Co Chien river, a large body of water
separating Vinh Binh and Kien Hoa Provinces on the southern coast of
Vietnam). According to Air Force records, one crewman was rescued
uninjured, and he was the pilot of the aircraft. Defense Department
records indicate that Bennett was the pilot of the aircraft. Bennett's
parachute sank before rescue personnel could reach him.
Information provided by POW Network and NJVVMF.
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