Wheeler, Eugene Lacy
Marines Major

Eugene Lacy Wheeler, age 23, from Ashville, Ohio, Pickaway county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Wednesday, April 22, 1970

Death details: On April 21, 1970, an OV-10A Bronco (bureau number 155423) with two crew members took off as flight leader in a flight of two aircraft on a reconnaissance mission over South Vietnam. During the mission, the aircraft was hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire and crashed near (GC) YC 709 059 in Quang Nam Province. Both crew members ejected and landed safely without injury but were unable to link up with each other following the ejection, although the pilot did manage to make radio contact with other aircraft on the mission. Several rescue attempts were made prior to nightfall but were unsuccessful, and both crew members maintained radio silence through the night. The next morning, both men established radio contact with rescue aircraft; however, only one was recovered that morning. He reported that an enemy patrol was moving through the area towards the other downed crew member. As they continued to search for the downed crew member, they heard small arms fire, and were unable to establish radio contact with him after. Search efforts continued into the next day but were unsuccessful. Major Eugene Lacy Wheeler entered the U.S. Marine Corps from Ohio and served in the 24th Marine Observation Squadron, Marine Air Group 11, 1st Marine Air Wing. He was the pilot of the OV-10A when it crashed and is the crew member who was not rescued following the incident. Further attempts to locate him or his remains were unsuccessful. Today, Major Wheeler is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Ageneyc