Joseph Russell Klugg, age 27, from Okemos, Michigan, Ingham county.
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Saturday, November 14, 1970
Death details:
Lieutenant Joseph Russell Klugg, who joined the U.S. Navy from Michigan, was a member of Light Photographic Squadron 63, embarked aboard the USS Oriskany (CVA 34). On November 14, 1970, he was the pilot of a single-seat RF-8G Crusader (bureau number 145624) that was scheduled to launch from the Oriskany, located in the South China Sea, for a photo reconnaissance mission. During the catapult launch from the carrier, a malfunction occurred, causing the aircraft to skid off the deck and crash into the water. Rescue teams searched the wreckage, but were unable to find LT Klugg’s remains. He is still unaccounted for. Today, Lieutenant Klugg 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, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency