REFNO 1201 04 June 1968 Timeline of Events

---

1200 - USS America location 18°23.5’ N, 107°09.5’ E 

1230 - USS America Deck Log (1) - Rootbeer 203, 204, and 213 depart the flight deck of the USS America

1254 - Navy Preliminary Message Report of Aircraft Accident (2) - 18°45' N, 106°13' E

1255 - SAR Activities Report (3) (per SAR log at notes 1510) - Root Beer 204 down at 18°42' N, 106°10' E.    

              Root Beer 203 and 214 on scene.

1307 - USS America Deck Log (1) – Received report that F4-J Bureau No. 155554 crashed into the Gulf of 

              Tonkin at 18°48 N, 106°09 E

1308 - SAR Activities Report (3) (per SAR log notes at 1510) – Big Mother 72 making pick up.  Survivor injured 

              badly.

1310 - USS America Deck Log (1) – LTJG Simmons recovered by helo

1315 - SAR Activities Report (3) - Milkvine 105 on-scene commander. Clementine 2 on scene.  All forces 

              conducting search. Root Beer 203 and 214 being tanked.

1318 - SAR Activities Report (3) – Big Mother 72 on deck Jouett with survivor receiving medical attention.

1320 - SAR Activities Report (3) – Buckley directed to assist in search for additional survivor.

1329 - SAR Activities Report (3) – Launched Big Mother 72 to assist in search.

1331 - SAR Activities Report (3) – RIO LTJG Simmons recovered.

1340 - SAR Activities Report (3) – Buckley in area conduction search for pilot with Root Beer 203 and 214,  

              Milkvine 104, Big Mother 72, Clementine 2, and Steeljaw 722. (Noted that seas were calm, surface 

              visibility 12 miles)

1441 - SAR Activities Report (3) – Buckley reported recovery of chewed up life raft, pieces of Mae West life 

              jacket, other debris. (further noted that from appearance of material recovered looks like aircraft 

              disintegrated on impact. Unlikely pilot got out. Consider little chance of survival. Will complete 

              thorough search of area. Recovered items will be sent to USS America)

1450 - USS America Deck Log (1) – LTJG Simmons returned aboard ship

1500 - USS America Deck Log – Received report that search concluded. Results – torn life vest, papers and 

              equipment of Lt. Brice.

1852 - SAR Activities Report (3) (per SAR log at notes 1940) – Champion 403 and 407 conducted search of 

              entire area with negative results. Depart scene. Buckley searched area until dark with no additions.  

              Buckley returned to SSAR station.

(1) USS America Deck Log – Logged by ES Calvert LTJG USN - https://catalog.archives.gov/id/6004325 

(2) Navy Preliminary Message Report of Aircraft Accident - per LCDR J.W. Holtzclaw - https://www.loc.gov/item/powmia/pwmaster_50205

(3) SAR Activities Report - https://www.loc.gov/item/powmia/pwmaster_50206/