Stephenson, Richard C.
Navy Lieutenant

Richard C. Stephenson, age 25, from Hamilton, Ohio, Butler county.

Spouse: Married

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Thursday, February 5, 1970
Death details: Lieutenant Junior Grade Richard Charles Stephenson entered the U.S. Navy from Ohio and was a member of Attack Squadron 93, embarked aboard the USS Ranger (CVA 61). On February 5, 1970, he piloted a single-seat A-7B Corsair II (bureau number 154391, call sign “Raven 320”) that launched from the Ranger while operating in the Gulf of Tonkin. After a successful launch, LTJG Stephenson radioed he was airborne and began to climb. Radar control confirmed the contact but received no acknowledgment from LTJG Stephenson. No further radar or radio contact could be made with this “Raven 320” and LTJG Stephenson was not seen again. Attempts to locate him were unsuccessful. After the incident, the Navy promoted LTJG Stephenson to the rank of Lieutenant (LT). Today, Lieutenant Stephenson is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual’s case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.

Source: National Archives, Hanford Sentinel (1970), Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency