Steen, Martin William
Air Force Major
Martin William Steen, age 30, from Grand Forks County Forman, North Dakota .
Parents: Ethel Steen
Spouse: Rose A.
Service era: Vietnam
Schools: University of North Dakota (1958)
Date of death: Tuesday, May 31, 1966
Death details: Captain Martin William Steen entered the U.S. Air Force from North Dakota and served in the 469th Tactical
Fighter Squadron. On May 31, 1966, he was the pilot of an F-105D Thunderchief (tail number 61-120, call sign
“Cactus 2”) in a flight of four on an armed reconnaissance mission over enemy targets in North Vietnam. After
making a pass over the target, Capt Steen radioed that he had been hit, and that he was unable to control his
aircraft so he would eject. The other pilots observed Capt Steen’s ejection and notified search and rescue aircraft
immediately. A rescue helicopter arrived and lowered a pararescueman to Capt Steen’s landing area, and located
the downed pilot’s parachute and harness in the trees near (GC) 48Q VJ 641 875; however, no sign of Capt Steen
was found and continued search efforts failed to locate him. His remains were never recovered. Following the
incident, the Air Force promoted Capt Steen to the rank of Major (Maj). Today, Major Steen is memorialized on
the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency