Kuhlman, Robert John Jr.
Marines Major

Robert John Kuhlman Jr. from Richmond, Indiana.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: January 17, 1969
Death details:  On January 17, 1969, an A-6A Intruder (bureau number 152586) with two crew members departed Da Nang Air Base for a direct air support/armed reconnaissance mission over the A Shau Valley. The crew made radio contact with their forward air controller (FAC) during the flight, and several minutes later the FAC saw several explosions near one of the Intruder’s targets. After the explosions, the FAC attempted but was unable to reestablish contact with the Intruder, and search and rescue operations were initiated. Searches continued for several weeks but found no evidence of the missing aircraft or crew.

First Lieutenant Robert John Kuhlman entered the U.S. Marine Corps from Indiana and served in Marine All Weather Attack Squadron 242, Marine Air Group 11, 1st Marine Air Wing. He was the bombardier/navigator aboard the Intruder when it went missing and his remains were not recovered. Following the incident, the Marine Corps promoted 1stLt Kuhlman to the rank of Major (Maj). Today, Major Kuhlman is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency