William Craig Nystul from Coronado, California, San Diego county.
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Tuesday, April 29, 1975
Death details: On April 29, 1975, a CH-46D Sea Knight with a crew of four took off from the aircraft carrier USS Hancock (CVA-19) in the South China Sea. After returning from its mission, while attempting to land on the Hancock, the Sea Knight crashed into the sea. The pilot and copilot could not be recovered; the two other crew members, both seriously injured, were rescued.
Captain William Craig Nystul entered the U.S. Marine Corps from California and was a member of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 164, Marine Air Group 36, 1st Marine Air Wing. He was the pilot of this Sea Knight when it crashed, and he was lost with the aircraft. His remains were not recovered. Today, Captain Nystul 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