Stegman, Thomas
Navy Lieutenant commander

Thomas Stegman, age 29, from Catonsville, Maryland, Baltimore county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: February 28, 1968
Death details: North Vietnam
Cemetery: On February 28, 1968, an A-6A Intruder (bureau number 152938, call sign “Ray Gun 512”) carrying two crew members launched from the USS Enterprise (CVAN 65) on a two-plane combat mission against enemy targets in North Vietnam. En route, the Intruder established radio communications and proceeded independently its target. As planned, “Ray Gun 512” checked in prior to beginning their approach to the target. They were not to check in again until they had completed their mission and were crossing the coast en route to the carrier. When the aircraft failed to check in or return to the ship, an extensive search effort was conducted that located a downed aircraft in the vicinity of (GC)  48Q XG 395 860. However, search efforts failed to locate either crew member or their remains.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency