Coons, Henry Albert Navy Commander
Henry Albert Coons from Germantown, New York, Columbia county.
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: February 28, 1968
Death details: On February 28, 1968, an A-6A Intruder (bureau number 152938, call sign “Ray Gun 512”) carrying two crew members launched from the USS Enterprise (CVAN 65) on a two-plane combat mission against enemy targets in North Vietnam. En route, the Intruder established radio communications and proceeded independently its target. As planned, “Ray Gun 512” checked in prior to beginning their approach to the target. They were not to check in again until they had completed their mission and were crossing the coast en route to the carrier. When the aircraft failed to check in or return to the ship, an extensive search effort was conducted that located a downed aircraft in the vicinity of (GC) 48Q XG 395 860. However, search efforts failed to locate either crew member or their remains.
Lieutenant Commander Henry Albert Coons entered the U.S. Navy from New York and was a member of Attack Squadron 35. He was the pilot of this Intruder when it crashed, and his remains were not recovered. After the incident, the U.S. Navy promoted LCDR Coons to the rank of Commander (CDR). Today, Commander Coons 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, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
