McDonald, Joseph William
Marines Major

Joseph William McDonald from Wappingers Falls, New York, Dutchess county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: May 3, 1972
Death details: On May 3, 1972, an A-6A Intruder (bureau number 155709, call sign “Bengal 510”) with two crew members launched from the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea (CVA 43) to take part in a two-plane strike mission against enemy targets near Dong Hoi, North Vietnam. The two aircraft proceeded to the target area and conducted their strike without enemy reaction. However, during egress from the target area, the lead aircraft on the flight lost radio contact with “Bengal 510” and could not re-establish communications. “Bengal 510” failed to return to the Coral Sea. Search and rescue efforts were unable to locate the aircraft, a crash site, or the crew. The remains of one crew member were subsequently returned to U.S. custody and identified, but the other remains unaccounted for. First Lieutenant Joseph William McDonald, who entered the U.S. Marine Corps from New York, served with Marine Attack Squadron 224 and was the pilot aboard “Bengal 510” at the time of its loss. His remains have not been recovered. Following the incident, the Marine Corps promoted 1st Lt McDonald to the rank of the Major (Maj). Today, Major McDonald is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency