C130 Hercules 22 May 1968

Adam, John Quincy
Air Force Chief master sergeant

John Quincy Adam, age 20, from Bethel, Kansas, Wyandotte county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Wednesday, May 22, 1968
Death details: On March 13, 2009, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) identified the remains of Chief Master Sergeant John Quincy Adam, missing from the Vietnam War. Chief Master Sergeant Adam joined the U.S. Air Force from Kansas and was a member of the 41st Tactical Airlift Squadron. On May 22, 1968, he was the flare handler aboard a C-130 Hercules with a crew of nine on a nighttime flare mission over northern Salavan Province, Laos. The Hercules crashed during its flight, killing all nine of the crew. Immediate search efforts could not be conducted due to heavy anti-aircraft fire in the area. Between 1989 and 2008, Laotian, Vietnamese, and American search teams conducted joint investigations in the Quang Tri Province of Vietnam, recovering aircraft wreckage and human remains for further analysis. In 2009, modern forensic techniques allowed for the identification of CMSgt Adam’s remains from among those recovered from Vietnam.
Cemetery: Arlington National

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, findagrave.com

Chambers, Jerry Lee
Air Force Lieutenant Colonel

Jerry Lee Chambers, age 35, from Muskogee, Oklahoma, Muskogee county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Wednesday, May 22, 1968
Death details: On March 13, 2009, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) identified the remains of Lieutenant Colonel Jerry Lee Chambers, missing from the Vietnam War. Lieutenant Colonel Chambers joined the U.S. Air Force from Oklahoma and was a member of the 41st Tactical Airlift Squadron. On May 22, 1968, he was the observer aboard a C-130 Hercules (serial number unknown), and one of nine crew members, on a nighttime flare mission over northern Salavan Province, Laos. The Hercules crashed during its flight, killing all nine members of the crew. Immediate search efforts were not conducted due to heavy anti-aircraft fire in the area. Between 1989 and 2008, joint Laotian, Vietnamese, and American search teams conducted field investigations and excavations in the Quang Tri Province of Vietnam, recovering aircraft wreckage and human remains. In 2009, modern forensic techniques individually identified the remains of the crew of the Hercules, including those of Lt Col Chambers.
Cemetery: Arlington National

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, findagrave.com

Glover, Calvin Charles
Air Force Chief master sergeant

Calvin Charles Glover, age 30, from Steubenville, Ohio, Jefferson county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Wednesday, May 22, 1968
Death details: On March 13, 2009, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) identified the remains of Chief Master Sergeant Calvin Charles Glover, missing from the Vietnam War. Chief Master Sergeant Glover joined the U.S. Air Force from Pennsylvania and was a member of the 41st Tactical Airlift Squadron. On May 22, 1968, he was the flight engineer aboard a C-130 Hercules with a crew of nine on a nighttime flare mission over northern Salavan Province, Laos. The Hercules crashed during its flight, killing all nine of its crew. Immediate search efforts could not be conducted due to heavy anti-aircraft fire in the area. Between 1989 and 2008, Laotian, Vietnamese, and American search teams conducted joint field investigations in the Quang Tri Province of Vietnam, recovering aircraft wreckage and human remains. In 2009, modern forensic techniques allowed for CMSgt Glover to be identified from among the remains recovered.
Cemetery: Arlington National

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, findagrave.com

Knebel, Thomas Edward
Air Force Chief master sergeant

Thomas Edward Knebel, age 21, from Midway, Arkansas, Baxter county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Wednesday, May 22, 1968
Death details: On March 13, 2009, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) identified the remains of Chief Master Sergeant Thomas Edward Knebel, missing from the Vietnam War. Chief Master Sergeant Knebel joined the U.S. Air Force from Indiana and was a member of the 41st Tactical Airlift Squadron. On May 22, 1968, he was the instrument repairman aboard a C-130 Hercules with a crew of nine on a nighttime flare mission over northern Salavan Province, Laos. The Hercules crashed during its flight, killing all nine of its crew. Immediate search efforts could not be conducted due to heavy anti-aircraft fire in the area. Between 1989 and 2008, Laotian, Vietnamese, and American search teams conducted joint field investigations in the Quang Tri Province of Vietnam, recovering aircraft wreckage and human remains. In 2009, modern forensic techniques allowed for the individual identification of the remains of the C-130’s crew, including those of CMSgt Knebel.
Cemetery: Arlington National

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, findagrave.com

Mason, William Henderson
Air Force Colonel

William Henderson Mason, age 43, from Camden, Arkansas, Ouachita county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Wednesday, May 22, 1968
Death details: On March 13, 2009, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) identified the remains of Colonel William Henderson Mason, missing from the Vietnam War. Colonel Mason joined the U.S. Air Force from Arkansas and was a member of the 41st Tactical Airlift Squadron. On May 22, 1968, he was aircraft commander aboard a C-130 Hercules with a crew of nine on a nighttime flare mission over northern Salavan Province, Laos. The Hercules crashed during its flight, killing all nine of its crew. Immediate search efforts could not be conducted due to heavy anti-aircraft fire in the area. Between 1989 and 2008, joint Laotian, Vietnamese, and American search teams conducted field investigations and excavations in the Quang Tri Province of Vietnam, recovering aircraft wreckage and human remains. In 2009, modern forensic techniques were able to individually identify the remains of the crew of the Hercules, including those of Col Mason.
Cemetery: Arlington National

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, findagrave.com

McPhail, William Thomas
Air Force Major

William Thomas McPhail, age 29, from Chattanooga, Tennessee, Hamilton county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Wednesday, May 22, 1968
Death details: On March 13, 2009, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) identified the remains of Major William Thomas McPhail, missing from the Vietnam War. Major McPhail joined the U.S. Air Force from Tennessee and was a member of the 41st Tactical Airlift Squadron. On May 22, 1968, he was the navigator aboard a C-130 Hercules (tail number unavailable) and one of nine crew members, on a night flare mission over northern Salavan Province, Laos. The Hercules crashed during its flight, killing all nine of its crew. Immediate search efforts were not conducted due to heavy anti-aircraft fire in the area. Between 1989 and 2008, joint Laotian, Vietnamese, and American search teams conducted field investigations and excavations in the Quang Tri Province of Vietnam, recovering aircraft wreckage and human remains for further analysis. In 2009, modern forensic techniques allowed for the individual identification of Maj McPhail’s remains among those recovered.
Cemetery: Arlington National

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, findagrave.com

Mitchell, Thomas Barry
Air Force Major

Thomas Barry Mitchell, age 27, from Colorado, Arapahoe county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Wednesday, May 22, 1968
Death details: On March 13, 2009, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) identified the remains of Major Thomas Barry Mitchell, missing from the Vietnam War. Major Mitchell joined the U.S. Air Force from New Jersey and was a member of the 41st Tactical Airlift Squadron. On May 22, 1968, he was the pilot of a C-130 Hercules with a crew of nine on a nighttime flare mission over northern Salavan Province, Laos. The Hercules crashed during its flight, killing all nine of the crew. Immediate search efforts could not be conducted due to heavy anti-aircraft fire in the area. Between 1989 and 2008, Laotian, Vietnamese, and American search teams conducted joint field investigations in the Quang Tri Province of Vietnam, recovering aircraft wreckage and human remains. In 2009, modern forensic techniques were able to individually identify Maj Mitchell’s remains among those recovered.
Cemetery: Arlington National

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, findagrave.com

Pate, Gary
Air Force Senior master sergeant

Gary Pate, age 21, from Brooks, Georgia, Fulton county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Wednesday, May 22, 1968
Death details: On May 26, 2010, the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC, now DPAA) identified the remains of Senior Master Sergeant Gary Pate, missing from the Vietnam War. Senior Master Sergeant Pate joined the U.S. Air Force from Georgia and was a member of the 41st Tactical Airlift Squadron. On May 22, 1968, he was an observer aboard a C-130 Hercules with a crew of nine on a nighttime flare mission over northern Salavan Province, Laos. The Hercules crashed in Vietnamese territory during the mission, killing all nine of its crew. Immediate search efforts could not be conducted due to heavy anti-aircraft fire in the area. Between 1989 and 2008, Laotian, Vietnamese, and American search teams conducted joint field investigations in the Quang Tri Province of Vietnam, recovering aircraft wreckage and human remains. In 2010, modern forensic techniques allowed for the individual identification of the remains of the C-130’s crew, including those of SMSgt Pate.
Cemetery: Arlington National

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, findagrave.com

Rash, Melvin Douglas
Air Force Chief master sergeant

Melvin Douglas Rash, age 22, from Yorktown, Virginia, York county.

Parents: Myrtle Rash

Service era: Vietnam
Schools: York High

Date of death: Wednesday, May 22, 1968
Death details: On March 13, 2009, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) identified the remains of Chief Master Sergeant Melvin Douglas Rash, missing from the Vietnam War. Chief Master Sergeant Rash joined the U.S. Air Force from South Dakota and was a member of the 41st Tactical Airlift Squadron. On May 22, 1968, he was an observer aboard a C-130 Hercules with a crew of nine on a nighttime flare mission over northern Salavan Province, Laos. The Hercules crashed during its flight, killing all nine of its crew. Immediate search efforts could not be conducted due to heavy anti-aircraft fire in the area. Between 1989 and 2008, Laotian, Vietnamese, and American search teams conducted joint field investigations in the Quang Tri Province of Vietnam, recovering aircraft wreckage and human remains. In 2009, modern forensic techniques allowed for the individual identification of the remains of the C-130’s crew, including those of CMSgt Rash.
Cemetery: Arlington National

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, findagrave.com 

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