A U.S. Navy Lockheed P2V-5 Neptune, attached to Patrol Squadron VP-22, based at Okinawa, was struck by ground fire while photographing communist anti-aircraft artillery on China?s southeastern coast. The aircraft suffered a fire in the no.1 engine and left-hand wing, which could not be contained, and was ditched approximately 15 minutes later in the Formosa Strait. All 13 crewmen were able to evacuate, while eleven Neptune crewmen and eleven Mariner crewmen were killed. A U.S. Coast Guard Mariner PBM-5G landed at sea and rescued 11 crewmen, but two remained missing. The Mariner pilot ultimately departed, resulting in a crash during takeoff.A U.S. Navy Lockheed P2V-5 Neptune, attached to Patrol Squadron VP-22, based at Okinawa, was struck by ground fire while photographing communist anti-aircraft artillery on China?s southeastern coast. The aircraft suffered a fire in the no.1 engine and left-hand wing, which could not be contained, and was ditched approximately 15 minutes later in the Formosa Strait. All 13 crewmen were able to evacuate, while eleven Neptune crewmen and eleven Mariner crewmen were killed. A U.S. Coast Guard Mariner PBM-5G landed at sea and rescued 11 crewmen, but two remained missing. The Mariner pilot ultimately departed, resulting in a crash during takeoff.