Douglas Paul Lefever from Arcanum, Ohio, Darke county. Their last known residence was in Arcanum.
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: November 5, 1969
Death details: On November 5, 1969, an F-4D Phantom II (serial number 66-7748) with the call sign “Owl 15” and carrying two crew members was flying a forward air controller mission over enemy targets in Laos. While over the target area, “Owl 15” maneuvered to illuminate a target on the ground for two U.S. Navy A-6 Intruders. As the Intruders waited for the signal to move in, they noticed what appeared to be an aircraft exploding nearby. The Navy aircraft immediately attempted to make radio contact with “Owl 15” but were unsuccessful and initiated search and rescue procedures. No parachutes were seen and no beeper signals were received following the explosion, and neither of the two men aboard “Owl 15” were seen again.
Captain Douglas Paul Lefever entered the U.S. Air Force from Ohio and served in the 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron. He was the aircraft commander aboard “Owl 15” when it went missing and could not be located following the aircraft’s disappearance. He was promoted to Major after his disappearance. Today, Major Lefever is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency