Prisoner of War/Missing in Action North Carolina

BRICE, ERIC PARKER
Rocky Mount, NC

Name: Eric Parker Brice
Branch/Rank: United States Navy/O3
Unit:
Date of Birth: 06 April 1943
Home City of Record: ROCKY MOUNT NC
Date of Loss: 04 June 1968
Country of Loss: North Vietnam Over Water
Loss Coordinates: 184459 North 1061259 East
Status (in 1973): Killed in Action/Body not Recovered
Category: 5
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: F4J #155554
Missions:
Other Personnel in Incident:
Refno: 1201

Source: Compiled by P.O.W. NETWORK from one or more of the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews and CACCF = Combined Action Combat Casualty File.

REMARKS:

CACCF CRASH/PILOT/ 4 YRS USN

No further information available at this time.

Source: POW Network

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On 04 June 1968 a flight of Phantoms from Fighter Squadron 33 (USS AMERICA) were tasked against a road intersection about 15 miles south of Vinh. Immediately after bomb release, F-4J BuNo 155554, crewed by LT Eric P. Brice and LTjg William A. Simmons, was hit by 37mm antiaircraft fire. Finding himself with only partial hydraulics and throttles jammed in full military power, Brice headed for open water.

When about 25 miles off-shore the aircraft caught fire and Brice directed ejection. Simmons ejected without difficulty from the back seat, but the pilot's canopy failed to leave the aircraft. Brice's wingmen watched helplessly as Brice attempted to push the canopy free so that he too could eject - and they watched as the burning aircraft, with Eric Brice still aboard, went into the sea. His body was not recovered.

This was USS AMERICA's first combat loss in 1968.

Source: Virtual Wall

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