Donald Robert Sr. Ashby, age 36, from Newport News, Virginia, Newport News county.
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Thursday, January 19, 1967
Death details: On January 19, 1967, an F-4B Phantom II (bureau number 153029, call sign “Linfield 213”) with two crew members launched from the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CVA 63). Immediately after launch, the aircraft appeared to lose power from its starboard engine, causing it to stall and crash into the sea roughly a mile ahead of the ship. The aircraft was destroyed on impact with the water and no ejections or attempts at crew escape were observed. Search and rescue efforts were initiated immediately, but were unable to recover either crew member.
Lieutenant Commander Donald Roberts Ashby Sr., who entered the U.S. Navy from Virginia, served with Fighter Squadron 114 and was the pilot of this Phantom at the time of its loss. He remains unaccounted for. Today, Lieutenant Commander Ashby is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual’s case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.
Source: National Archives