Banyan 02 crash 2 January 1970

West, John Thomas
Air Force Captain

John Thomas West, age 27, from Baltimore, Maryland, Baltimore county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: January 2, 1970
Death details:  On January 2, 1970, an F-4D Phantom II (tail number 66-8784, call sign “Banyan 02”) with a crew of two embarked on a LORAN (navigational aid) validation mission near Saravane, Laos. The Phantom was the second aircraft in a flight of two, and the last contact the lead aircraft had with “Banyan 02” was just prior to his first run on the target. After he pulled off of the target, he attempted to radio “Banyan 02” but got no response. He then circled the area and located smoking wreckage in the vicinity of (GC) XD 548 329. There were no signs of survivors, and no further searches were conducted due to the level of enemy activity in the area.

Captain John Thomas West, who joined the U.S. Air Force from Maryland, served with the 25th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 8th Tactical Fighter Wing. He was the aircraft commander aboard the F-4 when it crashed, and his remains were not recovered. Today, Captain West is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Lindstrom, Ronnie George
Air Force Captain

Ronnie George Lindstrom, age 25, from Duluth, Minnesota, Saint Louis county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Friday, January 2, 1970
Death details: On January 2, 1970, an F-4D Phantom II (tail number 66-8784, call sign “Banyan 02”) with a crew of two embarked on a LORAN (navigational aid) validation mission near Saravane, Laos. The Phantom was the second aircraft in a flight of two, and the last contact the lead aircraft had with “Banyan 02” was just prior to his first run on the target. After he pulled off of the target, he attempted to radio “Banyan 02” but got no response. He then circled the area and located smoking wreckage in the vicinity of (GC) XD 548 329. There were no signs of survivors, and no further searches were conducted due to the level of enemy activity in the area. First Lieutenant Ronnie George Lindstrom, who joined the U.S. Air Force from Minnesota, served with the 25th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 8th Tactical Fighter Wing. He was the pilot of the F-4 when it crashed, and his remains were not recovered. Subsequent to the incident, and while carried in the status of missing in action (MIA), the U.S. Air Force promoted First Lieutenant Lindstrom to the rank of Captain (Capt). Today, Captain Lindstrom is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Back To Top