Tag: MIA

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Price, William Marshall
Marines 1st lieutenant

William Marshall Price, age 27, from Kewanee, Illinois, Henry county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: October 12, 1972
Death details:  On October 12, 1972, an A-6A Intruder (bureau number 15-5700, call sign “Tiny 06”) with two crew members took off from Nam Phong Airfield, Thailand, on an armed reconnaissance mission against enemy targets in North Vietnam. Upon reaching the target area, the pilot reported to the forward air controller (FAC) that there were no targets available due to bad weather and that he was returning to base. Following this transmission, the FAC reported an explosion in the vicinity of (GC) 48Q  XE 600 450. Following the explosion, no rescue beepers or attempts at radio contact were heard. Other aircraft in the area were unable to locate the Intruder or its crew.

Captain William Marshall Price entered the U.S. Marine Corps from Illinois and was a member of the Marine All Weather Attack Squadron 553, Marine Air Group 15. He was the bombardier/navigator aboard this Intruder when it went missing, and he was lost with the aircraft. He remains unaccounted for. Today, Captain Price is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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Peacock, John Robert II
Marines Captain

John Robert II Peacock, age 26, from Kailua, Hawaii.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Thursday, October 12, 1972

Death details: 

On October 12, 1972, an A-6A Intruder (bureau number 15-5700, call sign “Tiny 06”) with two crew members took off from Nam Phong Airfield, Thailand, on an armed reconnaissance mission against enemy targets in North Vietnam. Upon reaching the target area, the pilot reported to the forward air controller (FAC) that there were no targets available due to bad weather and that he was returning to base. Following this transmission, the FAC reported an explosion in the vicinity of (GC) 48Q  XE 600 450. Following the explosion, no rescue beepers or attempts at radio contact were heard. Other aircraft in the area were unable to locate the Intruder or its crew.

Captain John Robert Peacock II entered the U.S. Marine Corps from Hawaii and was a member of the Marine All Weather Attack Squadron 533, Marine Air Group 15, 1st Marine Air Wing. He was the pilot of this Intruder when it went missing, and he was lost with the aircraft. He remains unaccounted-for. Today, Captain Peacock is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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Thompson, David Mathew
Navy Lieutenant

David Mathew Thompson from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Allegheny county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, August 13, 1972
Death details: 

Lieutenant David Mathew Thompson, who joined the U.S. Navy from Pennsylvania, was a member of Fighter Squadron 24, embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Hancock (CVA 19). On August 12, 1972, LT Thompson piloted a single-seat F-8J Crusader (bureau number 150336) that was returning to the Hancock, located in the Gulf of Tonkin. His Crusader disappeared from radar eight miles from the ship, in the vicinity of (GC) 48Q YF 548 691. Extensive search efforts for the aircraft began immediately, but were unsuccessful. Lieutenant Thompson’s remains were not recovered, and he is still unaccounted for. Today, Lieutenant Thompson 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

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Haas, Leon Frederick
Navy Lieutenant

Leon Frederick Haas, age 29, from Newton, New Jersey.

Spouse: Evelyn VanAuken (1920-73)

Children: Two daughters

Date of death: Monday, July 17, 1972
Death details:  Lieutenant Leon Frederick Haas entered the U.S. Navy from New Jersey and was a member of Attack Squadron 155, embarked aboard the USS Oriskany (CVA 34). On July 17, 1972, he piloted a single-seat A-7B Corsair II (bureau number 154521, call sign “Saddleback 510”) on a night surveillance mission of enemy targets off the coast of North Vietnam. During the mission, LT Haas flew the aircraft into the Gulf of Tonkin in a possible attempt to evade hostile fire or a midair collision. No radio contact was heard indicating trouble with the aircraft, but it never returned to the Oriskany. An immediate search was conducted but failed to locate the aircraft or LT Haas, and he remains unaccounted for. Today, Lieutenant Haas 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.

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Davis, Francis John
Navy lcdr

Francis John Davis, age 33, from Montrose, Iowa, Lee county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: June 14, 1972

Death details: Lieutenant Commander Francis John Davis entered the U.S. Navy from Iowa and was a member of Attack Squadron 37, embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga (CVA 60). On June 14, 1972, he was the pilot of an A-7A Corsair II (bureau number 153206, call sign “Red Falcon 305”) as the lead in a flight of two on a combat mission over coastal waters near Vinh, North Vietnam. He descended to make a flare run, while his wingman remained high with anti-radiation missiles for protection against enemy surface-to-air missiles (SAM). Lieutenant Commander Davis reported a SAM ahead and to his right, and no further transmissions were received from him. His wingman observed a small and then a large flash from the area where his Corsair disappeared, in the vicinity of (GC) 48Q WF 843 787. Following the flashes, an aerial search was made but saw no parachutes and detected no rescue beepers. LCDR Davis remains unaccounted for. Today, Lieutenant Commander Davis 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

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Jones, Orvin Clarence Jr.
Air Force Lieutenant colonel

Orvin Clarence Jr. Jones, age 33, from Newport News, Virginia, Newport News county.

Parents: Orvin C. Jones Sr. (died in 1990)
Spouse: Arlene Olson Jones
Children: Orvin C. Jones

Service era: Vietnam
Schools: Newport News High graduate, University of Richmond

Date of death: Sunday, April 16, 1972
Death details: On April 16, 1972, a F-105G Thunderchief (tail-number 63-8342, call sign “Suntan 02”) with two crew members took part in a two-plane surface-to-air missile suppression mission over North Vietnam. When the flight arrived at the refueling point en route to the target, the flight leader instructed ‘Suntan 02” to attempt to reach the mission area as soon as possible, to assist aircraft already there. After leaving the refueling point, “Suntan 02” was not seen or heard from again. Both members of its crew remain unaccounted for. Captain Orvin Clarence Jones Jr., who joined the U.S. Air Force from Virginia, was a member of the 17th Wild Weasel Squadron, 388th Tactical Fighter Wing. He was a crew member aboard “Suntan 02” when it went missing, and was lost with the aircraft. His remains were never recovered. After the incident, the Air Force promoted Capt Jones to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col). Today, Lieutenant Colonel Jones 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, Newport News Daily Press (1979)

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Mateja, Alan Paul
Air Force Major

Alan Paul Mateja, age 26, from Louisville, Kentucky, Jefferson county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, April 16, 1972
Death details: On April 16, 1972, a F-105G Thunderchief (tail-number 63-8342, call sign “Suntan 02”) with two crew members took part in a two-plane surface-to-air missile suppression mission over North Vietnam. When the flight arrived at the refueling point en route to the target, the flight leader instructed ‘Suntan 02” to attempt to reach the mission area as soon as possible, to assist aircraft already there. After leaving the refueling point, “Suntan 02” was not seen or heard from again. Both members of its crew remain unaccounted for. Captain Alan Paul Mateja, who joined the U.S. Air Force from Kentucky, was a member of the 17th Wild Weasel Squadron, 388th Tactical Fighter Wing. He was a crew member aboard “Suntan 02” when it went missing, and was lost with the aircraft. His remains were never recovered. After the incident, the Air Force promoted Capt Mateja to the rank of Major (Maj). Today, Major Mateja 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.
Cemetery: Memorialized at Zachery Taylor National

Source: National Archives

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McKinney, Clemie
Navy Lieutenant commander

Clemie McKinney, age 26, from Cleveland, Ohio, Cuyahoga county. Their last known residence was in Cleveland.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Friday, April 14, 1972
Death details: Hostile, died missing, South Vietnam; McKinney was aboard an F4 fighter jet with Lt. Joseph Greenleaf for a bombing mission. The jet was hit by anti-aircraft fire and crashed. On August 14, 1985, the Vietnamese government returned remains they claimed were McKinney’s. The family disagreed but the Navy confirmed the claim in February 1988.

Source: National Archives, POW Network, New York Times, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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O’neill, Douglas Lee
Army Chief warrant officer

Douglas Lee O’neill from Bayonne, New Jersey.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: April 3, 1972
Death details: On April 3, 1972, a UH-1H Iroquois (tail number 68-16330, call sign “Cavalier 70”) with a crew of four departed Marble Mountain, Da Nang, South Vietnam, on a combat support mission to Quang Tri City, South Vietnam. During the flight, the pilot told a Hue/Phu Bai Ground Control Approach (GCA) controller that he was lost, but he believed that the helicopter was near Quang Tri. Following the transmission, the GCA controller could not locate the helicopter on the radar, and reported the helicopter missing in the vicinity of (GC) YD 330 530. When the helicopter failed to appear at any of the air bases in South Vietnam, an aerial search was initiated but found no sign of the missing aircraft or crew.

Warrant Officer 1 Douglas Lee O’Neill, who joined the U.S. Army from New Jersey, served with the Headquarters & Headquarters Detachment, 37th Signal Battalion, 1st Signal Brigade. He was the pilot of “Cavalier 70” when it disappeared on April 3, 1972, and his remains were not recovered. After the incident, the Army promoted WO1 to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 3 (CW3). Today, Chief Warrant Officer 3 O’Neill is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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Williams, Edward Wayne
Army Staff sergeant

Edward Wayne Williams from Clearwater, Florida, Pinellas county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Monday, April 3, 1972.

On April 3, 1972, a UH-1H Iroquois (tail number 68-16330, call sign “Cavalier 70”) with a crew of four departed Marble Mountain, Da Nang, South Vietnam, on a combat support mission to Quang Tri City, South Vietnam. During the flight, the pilot told a Hue/Phu Bai Ground Control Approach (GCA) controller that he was lost, but he believed that the helicopter was near Quang Tri. Following the transmission, the GCA controller could not locate the helicopter on the radar, and reported the helicopter missing in the vicinity of (GC) YD 330 530. When the helicopter failed to appear at any of the air bases in South Vietnam, an aerial search was initiated but found no sign of the missing aircraft or crew.

Specialist 4 (SP4) Edward Wayne Williams, who joined the U.S. Army from Florida, served with the 37th Signal Battalion, 1st Signal Brigade. He was the gunner aboard “Cavalier 70”? when it disappeared, and his remains were not recovered. After the incident, the Army promoted SP4 Williams to the rank of Staff Sergeant. Today, Staff Sergeant Williams is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency