On 28 November 1972, Cmdr. Charles M. Earnest, Attack Squadron 75's Commanding Officer and pilot; and Lt. Cmdr. G. L. Jackson, bombardier/navigator; comprised the crew of an A6A Intruder (serial number BUNO #155622) that launched from the deck of the USS Saratoga on a night armed reconnaissance mission over North Vietnam. Shortly after its successful catapult launch, the aircraft was observed to pitch nose up, roll to the right and impact the water just forward of the ship. The location of impact was approximately 78 miles due east of the major port city of Dong Hoi, Quang Binh Province, North Vietnam.
Lt. Cmdr. Jackson successfully ejected as the aircraft rolled to the right and from its nose high attitude. While other members of the ship's company who were on the flight deck witnessed the bombardier/navigator's ejection, no one observed an ejection attempt by the Cmdr. Earnest.
An extensive search and rescue (SAR) effort by helicopter and surface vessels was immediately initiated, and resulted in the rescue of G. L. Jackson. Charles Earnest was not sighted at any time during the search operation, and the SAR effort was terminated at 1200 hours on 28 November. At that time, Cmdr. Earnest was declared Missing in Action.
On 6 December 1972, a Naval Board of Inquiry was convened aboard ship to evaluate all information pertaining to the loss of the Intruder and its pilot. After a thorough review all the facts and circumstances surrounding the loss, including the debriefing statements of Lt. Cmdr. Jackson, the men who were on the flight deck during the Intruder's launch and the SAR personnel who conducted the search operation; the Board of Inquiry determined that Cmdr. Earnest could not have survived his loss incident and his status was quickly changed to Killed in Action/Body not Recovered.
Lt. Cmdr. Jackson successfully ejected as the aircraft rolled to the right and from its nose high attitude. While other members of the ship's company who were on the flight deck witnessed the bombardier/navigator's ejection, no one observed an ejection attempt by the Cmdr. Earnest.
An extensive search and rescue (SAR) effort by helicopter and surface vessels was immediately initiated, and resulted in the rescue of G. L. Jackson. Charles Earnest was not sighted at any time during the search operation, and the SAR effort was terminated at 1200 hours on 28 November. At that time, Cmdr. Earnest was declared Missing in Action.
On 6 December 1972, a Naval Board of Inquiry was convened aboard ship to evaluate all information pertaining to the loss of the Intruder and its pilot. After a thorough review all the facts and circumstances surrounding the loss, including the debriefing statements of Lt. Cmdr. Jackson, the men who were on the flight deck during the Intruder's launch and the SAR personnel who conducted the search operation; the Board of Inquiry determined that Cmdr. Earnest could not have survived his loss incident and his status was quickly changed to Killed in Action/Body not Recovered.
On 28 November 1972, Cmdr. Charles M. Earnest, Attack Squadron 75's Commanding Officer and pilot; and Lt. Cmdr. G. L. Jackson, bombardier/navigator; comprised the crew of an A6A Intruder (serial number BUNO #155622) that launched from the deck of the USS Saratoga on a night armed reconnaissance mission over North Vietnam. Shortly after its successful catapult launch, the aircraft was observed to pitch nose up, roll to the right and impact the water just forward of the ship. The location of impact was approximately 78 miles due east of the major port city of Dong Hoi, Quang Binh Province, North Vietnam.
Lt. Cmdr. Jackson successfully ejected as the aircraft rolled to the right and from its nose high attitude. While other members of the ship's company who were on the flight deck witnessed the bombardier/navigator's ejection, no one observed an ejection attempt by the Cmdr. Earnest.
An extensive search and rescue (SAR) effort by helicopter and surface vessels was immediately initiated, and resulted in the rescue of G. L. Jackson. Charles Earnest was not sighted at any time during the search operation, and the SAR effort was terminated at 1200 hours on 28 November. At that time, Cmdr. Earnest was declared Missing in Action.
On 6 December 1972, a Naval Board of Inquiry was convened aboard ship to evaluate all information pertaining to the loss of the Intruder and its pilot. After a thorough review all the facts and circumstances surrounding the loss, including the debriefing statements of Lt. Cmdr. Jackson, the men who were on the flight deck during the Intruder's launch and the SAR personnel who conducted the search operation; the Board of Inquiry determined that Cmdr. Earnest could not have survived his loss incident and his status was quickly changed to Killed in Action/Body not Recovered.
Lt. Cmdr. Jackson successfully ejected as the aircraft rolled to the right and from its nose high attitude. While other members of the ship's company who were on the flight deck witnessed the bombardier/navigator's ejection, no one observed an ejection attempt by the Cmdr. Earnest.
An extensive search and rescue (SAR) effort by helicopter and surface vessels was immediately initiated, and resulted in the rescue of G. L. Jackson. Charles Earnest was not sighted at any time during the search operation, and the SAR effort was terminated at 1200 hours on 28 November. At that time, Cmdr. Earnest was declared Missing in Action.
On 6 December 1972, a Naval Board of Inquiry was convened aboard ship to evaluate all information pertaining to the loss of the Intruder and its pilot. After a thorough review all the facts and circumstances surrounding the loss, including the debriefing statements of Lt. Cmdr. Jackson, the men who were on the flight deck during the Intruder's launch and the SAR personnel who conducted the search operation; the Board of Inquiry determined that Cmdr. Earnest could not have survived his loss incident and his status was quickly changed to Killed in Action/Body not Recovered.
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