Scungio, Vincent Anthony
Air Force Major

Vincent Anthony Scungio from New Castle, Pennsylvania, Lawrence county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: November 4, 1966
Death details: On November 4, 1966, an F-105F Wild Weasel (tail number 63-8273, call sign “Machete 01”) with two crew members took part in a four-plane combat mission over North Vietnam. The threat of surface-to-air missiles in the target area forced the flight to split into two elements. As “Machete 01” was attacking a target, the pilot of the number two aircraft on the mission noticed a long stream of fire trailing from the plane. He radioed the crew of “Machete 01” to inform them, and the crew responded that they were aware. The number two aircraft’s pilot then saw a surface-to-air missile, forcing him to maneuver away and lose sight of “Machete 01.” This was the last confirmed sighting of “Machete 01.” No search and rescue efforts could be made due to hostile control of the area. After the end of hostilities, the remains of the pilot aboard the aircraft were recovered and returned to U.S. custody; however, the electronic warfare officer of “Machete 01” is still unaccounted for.

Captain Vincent Anthony Scungio, who joined the U.S. Air Force from Pennsylvania, was a member of the 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron. He was the electronic warfare officer of “Machete 01” when it went missing, and he remains unaccounted for. After the incident, the Air Force promoted Capt Scungio to the rank of Major (Maj). Today, Major Scungio is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives., Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency