On 29 June, 1972, Captain Steven L. Bennett and a Marine observer were flying near Quang Tri, Republic of Vietnam, when they responded to a call from a South Vietnamese unit pinned down by the enemy. After requesting tactical air support and learning that none was available, Bennett chose to strafe the enemy positions and made four successful attacks in his lightly armed OV-10 Bronco. On his fifth strafing pass, the aircraft was hit by a surface-to-air missile that severely damaged the left engine and landing gear. Bennett determined that an emergency landing was impossible and then learned that his observer's parachute had been shredded by the exploding missile. Although his own parachute was undamaged, he knew that if he ejected, the observer would have no chance of survival. He decided to crash-land his burning aircraft in the sea, fully aware that no pilot had ever ditched an OV-10 and lived through it. When the aircraft struck the water, it cartwheeled, crushing the front cockpit and making Bennett's escape impossible. The observer freed himself and was rescued. Captain Steven L. Bennett was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on 8 August 1974.