Tag: B52G crash 21 December 1972

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Lynn, Robert Ray
Air Force Major

Robert Ray Lynn, age 32, from Jacksonville, Illinois, Morgan county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: December 21, 1972
Death details:On April 18, 1989, the Central Identification Laboratory-Hawaii (CILHI, now DPAA) identified the remains of Major Robert Ray Lynn, missing from the Vietnam War.

Major Lynn entered the U.S. Air Force from Illinois and was a member of the 325th Bombardment Squadron. On December 21, 1972, he was the electronics warfare officer aboard a B-52G Stratofortress (tail number 58-0198, call sign “Olive 01”) that took off from Guam on a bombing mission over North Vietnam. During the flight, “Olive 01” was hit by an enemy surface-to-air missile that caused it to crash and explode near Hanoi in Ha Tay Province; Maj Lynn did not survive the incident. Attempts to reach the crash site were prevented by enemy control of the area, and his remains were not recovered at the time. In 1988, the Vietnamese government repatriated human remains that U.S. analysts identified as those of Maj Lynn.

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

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Heggen, Keith Russell
Air Force Colonel

Keith Russell Heggen, age 41, from Renwick, Iowa, Humboldt county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Tuesday, December 21, 1972
Death details: On April 22, 1974, the Central Identification Laboratory–Thailand (CILT, now DPAA) identified the remains of Colonel Keith Russell Heggen, missing from the Vietnam War.

Colonel Heggen entered the U.S. Air Force from Iowa and was a member of the 325th Bombardment Squadron. On December 21, 1972, he was an observer aboard a B-52G Stratofortress (tail number 58-0198, call sign “Olive 01”) that took off from Guam on a bombing mission over North Vietnam. During the flight, “Olive 01” was hit by an enemy surface-to-air missile that caused it to crash and explode in Ha Tay Province. Colonel Heggen did not survive the incident and an enemy presence in the area prevented the recovery of his remains at the time. In 1974, the Vietnamese government repatriated human remains that U.S. analysts identified as those of Col Heggen.
Cemetery: Remains recovered March 13, 1974

Source: National Archives, Military Times, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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Walters, Donovan Keith
Air Force Captain

Donovan Keith Walters, age 28, from Lebanon, Nebraska, Red Willow county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Thursday, December 21, 1972
Death details: On April 18, 1989, the Central Identification Laboratory-Hawaii (CILHI, now DPAA) identified the remains of Captain Donovan Keith Walters, missing from the Vietnam War.

Captain Walters entered the U.S. Air Force from Nebraska and was a member of the 325th Bombardment Squadron. On December 21, 1972, he copiloted a B-52G Stratofortress (tail number 58-0198, call sign “Olive 01”) that took off from Guam on a bombing mission over North Vietnam. During the flight, “Olive 01” was hit by an enemy surface-to-air missile that caused it to crash and explode in Ha Tay Province. Capt Walters ejected from the aircraft prior to its crash, but did not survive the incident. The enemy presence in the area prevented search efforts on the ground and Capt Walters’ remains were not recovered at the time. In 1988, the Vietnamese government repatriated human remains that U.S. analysts identified as those of Capt Walters.

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

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Johnson, Edward Harvey
Air Force Colonel

Edward Harvey Johnson, age 40, from Newberg, Oregon, Yamhill county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Thursday, December 21, 1972
Death details: On May 23, 1989, the Central Identification Laboratory-Hawaii (CILHI, now DPAA) identified the remains of Colonel Edward Harvey Johnson, missing from the Vietnam War.

Colonel Johnson entered the U.S. Air Force from Oregon and was a member of the 325th Bombardment Squadron. On December 21, 1972, he was the radar navigator aboard a B-52G Stratofortress (tail number 58-0198, call sign “Olive 01”) that took off from Guam on a bombing mission over North Vietnam. During the flight, “Olive 01” was hit by an enemy surface-to-air missile that caused it to crash and explode near Hanoi in Ha Tay Province, and Col Johnson was killed in the incident. The wreckage landed near Phuc Yen City, but the enemy presence prevented search and recovery efforts and his body was not recovered at the time. In 1988, the Vietnamese government repatriated human remains that U.S. analysts identified as those of Col Johnson.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency