AC-47D Spooky

Jensen, George William
Air Force Colonel

George William Jensen, age 41, from King County Seattle, Washington .

Parents: Preceded in death by George A. Jensen
Spouse: Mary Jane, she was 73 year-old when his remains were identified.
Children: George A. and Carolyn

Service era: Vietnam
Schools: University of Washing ton graduate

Date of death: Sunday, May 15, 1966
Death details: Air Force Col. George W. Jensen of Seattle was among those listed as missing after their AC-47D on May 15, 1966 was shot down over Laos. Mary Jane Jensen became active in organization for families of missing servicemen. Her son visited Laos in 1973 in an unsuccessful attempt to get information. Finally, years after the war ended. Mary Jane gave up and requested the U.S. government declare him dead. “Our family could have been held in limbo indefinitely,” she said. Mary Jane was 73 years-old in 2000 when her husband and the others were finally buried at Arlington National. She spoke of the day she learned George was missing. It was Mother’s Day 1966 and she was watching an Ingrid Berman film on television when military personnel arrived. “I’ve never seen the end of that movie,” she said in 2000. On November 24, 1999, Joint Task Force-Full Accounting (JTF-FA, now DPAA) identified the remains of Colonel George William Jensen, missing from the Vietnam War. Colonel Jensen entered the U.S. Air Force from Washington and was a member of the 4th Air Commando Squadron. He piloted an AC-47D Spooky (serial number 43-49546) on an armed reconnaissance mission departing from Da Nang Air Base in South Vietnam. While operating over Laos, the Spooky was shot down by enemy forces and Col Jensen was killed. Hostile presence in the area prevented immediate recovery efforts. In 1997, a joint investigative team recovered remains which were later identified as those of Col Jensen. Colonel Jensen is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. His name is also inscribed along with all his fallen comrades on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, DC.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Associated Press (2000), Tacoma News Tribune (1976)

Madison, William Louis
Air Force Chief master sergeant

William Louis Madison, age 31, from Fayette County Lexington, Kentucky .

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, May 15, 1966
Death details: On November 24, 1999, Joint Task Force-Full Accounting (JTF-FA, now DPAA) identified the remains of Chief Master Sergeant William Louis Madison, missing from the Vietnam War. Chief Master Sergeant Madison entered the U.S. Air Force from Kentucky and was a member of the 4th Air Commando Squadron. He served as a gunner on board an AC-47D Spooky (serial number 43-49546) on an armed reconnaissance mission departing from Da Nang Air Base in South Vietnam. While operating over Laos, the Spooky was shot down by enemy forces and CMSgt Madison was killed. Hostile presence in the area prevented immediate recovery efforts. In 1997, a joint investigative team recovered remains which were later identified as those of CMSgt Madison. Chief Master Sergeant Madison is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. His name is also inscribed along with all his fallen comrades on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, DC.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Associated Press (1999)

McKenney, Kenneth Dewey
Air Force Senior master sergeant

Kenneth Dewey McKenney, age 21, from Worcester County Auburn, Massachusetts .

Parents: Jean

Service era: Vietnam
Schools: Auburn High

Date of death: Sunday, May 15, 1966
Death details: On November 24, 1999, Joint Task Force-Full Accounting (JTF-FA, now DPAA) identified the remains of Senior Master Sergeant Kenneth Dewey McKenney, missing from the Vietnam War. Senior Master Sergeant McKenney entered the U.S. Air Force from Massachusetts and was a member of the 4th Air Commando Squadron. He served as a crew member aboard an AC-47D Spooky (serial number 43-49546) on an armed reconnaissance mission departing from Da Nang Air Base in South Vietnam. While operating over Laos, the Spooky was shot down by enemy forces and SMSgt McKenney was killed. Hostile presence in the area prevented immediate recovery efforts. In 1997, a joint investigative team recovered remains which were later identified as those of SMSgt McKenney. Senior Master Sergeant McKenney is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. His name is also inscribed along with all his fallen comrades on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, DC.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Associated Press (1999)

Preston, James Arthur
Air Force Chief master sergeant

James Arthur Preston, age 26, from Carroll County Bowdon, Georgia .

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, May 15, 1966
Death details: On November 24, 1999, Joint Task Force-Full Accounting (JTF-FA, now DPAA) identified the remains of Colonel Lavern George Reilly, missing from the Vietnam War. Colonel Reilly entered the U.S. Air Force from Minnesota and was a member of the 4th Air Commando Squadron, He served as an observer on board an AC-47D Spooky (serial number 43-49546) on an armed reconnaissance mission departing from Da Nang Air Base in South Vietnam. While operating over Laos, the Spooky was shot down by enemy forces and Colonel Reilly was killed. Hostile presence in the area prevented immediate recovery efforts. In 1997, a joint investigative team recovered remains which were later identified as those of Colonel Reilly. Colonel Reilly is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. His name is also inscribed along with all his fallen comrades on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, DC.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Associated Press (1999), Atlant Journal (2000)

Reilly, Lavern George
Air Force Colonel

Lavern George Reilly, age 40, from Ramsey County Saint Paul, Minnesota .

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, May 15, 1966
Death details: On November 24, 1999, Joint Task Force-Full Accounting (JTF-FA, now DPAA) identified the remains of Colonel Lavern George Reilly, missing from the Vietnam War. Colonel Reilly entered the U.S. Air Force from Minnesota and was a member of the 4th Air Commando Squadron. He served as an observer on board an AC-47D Spooky (serial number 43-49546) on an armed reconnaissance mission departing from Da Nang Air Base in South Vietnam. While operating over Laos, the Spooky was shot down by enemy forces and Colonel Reilly was killed. Hostile presence in the area prevented immediate recovery efforts. In 1997, a joint investigative team recovered remains which were later identified as those of Colonel Reilly.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Associated Press (1999)

Tapp, Marshall Landis
Air Force Colonel

Marshall Landis Tapp, age 40, from Los Angeles County Los Angeles, California .

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, May 15, 1966
Death details: On November 24, 1999, Joint Task Force-Full Accounting (JTF-FA, now DPAA) identified the remains of Colonel Marshall Landis Tapp, missing from the Vietnam War. Colonel Tapp entered the U.S. Air Force from California and was a member of the 4th Air Commando Squadron. He served as the co-pilot on board an AC-47D Spooky (serial number 43-49546) on an armed reconnaissance mission departing from Da Nang Air Base in South Vietnam. While operating over Laos, the Spooky was shot down by enemy forces and Col Tapp was killed. Hostile presence in the area prevented immediate recovery efforts. In 1997, a joint investigative team recovered remains which were later identified as those of Col Tapp. Colonel Tapp is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. His name is also inscribed along with all his fallen comrades on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, DC.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Associated Press (1999)

Thompson, George Winton
Air Force Major

George Winton Thompson, age 25, from Raleigh County Beckley, West Virginia .

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, May 15, 1966
Death details: On November 24, 1999, Joint Task Force-Full Accounting (JTF-FA, now DPAA) identified the remains of Major George Winton Thompson, missing from the Vietnam War. Major Thompson entered the U.S. Air Force from West Virginia and was a member of the 4th Air Commando Squadron. He served as the navigator on board an AC-47D Spooky (serial number 43-49546) on an armed reconnaissance mission departing from Da Nang Air Base in South Vietnam. While operating over Laos, the Spooky was shot down by enemy forces and Major Thompson was killed. Hostile presence in the area prevented immediate recovery efforts. In 1997, a joint investigative team recovered remains which were later identified as those of Major Thompson. Major Thompson is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. His name is also inscribed along with all his fallen comrades on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, DC.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Associated Press (1999)

Williams, James Ellis
Air Force Chief master sergeant

James Ellis Williams, age 26, from Lafayette County Oxford, Mississippi .

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, May 15, 1966
Death details: On November 24, 1999, Joint Task Force-Full Accounting (JTF-FA, now DPAA) identified the remains of Chief Master Sergeant James Ellis Williams, missing from the Vietnam War. Chief Master Sergeant Williams entered the U.S. Air Force from Mississippi and was a member of the 4th Air Commando Squadron. He served as the flight engineer on board an AC-47D Spooky (serial number 43-49546) on an armed reconnaissance mission departing from Da Nang Air Base in South Vietnam. While operating over Laos, the Spooky was shot down by enemy forces and Chief Master Sergeant Williams was killed. Hostile presence in the area prevented immediate recovery efforts. In 1997, a joint investigative team recovered remains which were later identified as those of Chief Master Sergeant Williams. Chief Master Sergeant Williams is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. His name is also inscribed along with all his fallen comrades on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, DC.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Associated Press (1999), Webster Progress Times (1973)

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