John Larue Brim

Staff Sergeant
4TH AIR COMMANDO SQDN, 14TH ACW, 7TH AF
United States Air Force
19 April 1942 - 29 March 1967
Princess Anne, Virginia
Panel 17E Line 066

7TH AF

AC-47D

4TH ACS
Silver Star

USAF Aircrew

DFC, Purple Heart, Air Medal, AF Good Conduct, National Defense, Vietnam Service, Vietnam Campaign

The database page for John Larue Brim

25 Dec 1998

My Dad was a loadmaster on an AC-47 gunship, which was shot down during hostilities.



23 Aug 2004

I would be interested to hear from anyone related to any of his crew members.

From his son,
John Norton
mrmrs.norton@comcast.net

Notes from The Virtual Wall

In early 1967 night attacks on isolated hamlets and outposts were a continuing problem. The AC-47 gunships were very effective in providing cover - they could stay on station a long time and had immense firepower - but their very effectiveness made them a high-priority target for the NVA and Viet Cong forces.

On the night of 28/29 March 1967, a "Puff" gunship (AC-47D tail number 44-76534) of the 4th Air Commando Squadron detachment at Danang was dispatched to help defend an outpost near Hoi An, about 10 miles south of Danang. The aircraft's crew consisted of

  • Capt William H Hosea
  • Capt Herbert C Rice
  • Capt John B Cabana
  • SSgt John L Brim
  • SSgt James L Fields
  • TSgt Guy J Brungard
  • A1C Robert E Ruonavaara
The aircraft arrived over target and established its orbit, but was hit by intense automatic weapons fire and crashed a few miles from Hoi An. All seven crewmen died in the crash.


The point-of-contact for this memorial is
his son,
John Norton
mrmrs.norton@comcast.net



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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 25 Dec 1998
Last updated 04/03/2007