MIA

Christensen, Allen Duane
Army Sergeant 1st class

Allen Duane Christensen from South Dakota, Moody county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Monday, 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.

Specialist 5 (SP5) Allen Duane Christensen, who joined the U.S. Army from South Dakota, served with the 37th Signal Battalion, 1st Signal Brigade. He was the crew chief aboard “Cavalier 70” when it disappeared, and his remains were not recovered. After the incident, the Army promoted SP5 Christensen to the rank of Sergeant First Class. Today, Sergeant First Class Christensen is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Bolte, Wayne Louis
Air Force Colonel

Wayne Louis Bolte, age 37, from Claremore, Oklahoma, Rogers county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, April 2, 1972
Death details: On April 2, 1972, an EB-66 Destroyer (tail number 54-0466, call sign “Bat 21”) with six crew members took off from Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base for an electronic countermeasures mission over South Vietnam. While over the target area, an escort aircraft saw a surface-to-air missile (SAM) explode near “Bat 21,” after which the aircraft began trailing flames from both wings. “Bat 21” then broke into pieces and crashed. No parachutes were witnessed, although one rescue beeper was heard resulting in one crew member being rescued following the crash. The survivor reported the SAM had exploded below and behind the aircraft. The other five crew members are believed to have died in the incident and their remains were not recovered. Major (Maj) Wayne Louis Bolte entered the U.S. Air Force from Oklahoma and served in the 42nd Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron, 388th Tactical Fighter Wing. He was the pilot of “Bat 21” when it was shot down and attempts to locate and recover his remains were unsuccessful. Following the incident, the Air Force promoted Maj Bolte to the rank of Colonel. Today, Colonel Bolte is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

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

Gatwood, Robin Frederic Jr.
Air Force Captain

Robin Frederic Jr. Gatwood, age 26, from Hickory, North Carolina, Catawba county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, April 2, 1972
Death details: On April 2, 1972, an EB-66 Destroyer (tail number 54-0466, call sign “Bat 21”) with six crew members took off from Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base for an electronic countermeasures mission over South Vietnam. While over the target area, an escort aircraft saw a surface-to-air missile (SAM) explode near “Bat 21,” after which the aircraft began trailing flames from both wings. “Bat 21” then broke into pieces and crashed. No parachutes were witnessed, although one rescue beeper was heard resulting in one crew member being rescued following the crash. The survivor reported the SAM had exploded below and behind the aircraft. The other five crew members are believed to have died in the incident and their remains were not recovered. First Lieutenant Robin Frederick Gatwood Jr. entered the U.S. Air Force from North Carolina and served in the 42nd Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron, 388th Tactical Fighter Wing. He was an electronic warfare officer aboard “Bat 21” when it was shot down and attempts to locate and recover his remains were unsuccessful. Following the incident, the Air Force promoted 1st Lt Gatwood to the rank of Captain (Capt). Today, Captain Gatwood is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

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

Levis, Charles Allen
Air Force Colonel

Charles Allen Levis, age 39, from Fort Worth, Texas, Tarrant county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, April 2, 1972
Death details: On April 2, 1972, an EB-66 Destroyer (tail number 54-0466, call sign “Bat 21”) with six crew members took off from Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base for an electronic countermeasures mission over South Vietnam. While over the target area, an escort aircraft saw a surface-to-air missile (SAM) explode near “Bat 21,” after which the aircraft began trailing flames from both wings. “Bat 21” then broke into pieces and crashed. No parachutes were witnessed, although one rescue beeper was heard resulting in one crew member being rescued following the crash. The survivor reported the SAM had exploded below and behind the aircraft. The other five crew members are believed to have died in the incident and their remains were not recovered. Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Charles Allen Levis entered the U.S. Air Force from Texas and served in the 42nd Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron, 388th Tactical Fighter Wing. He was an electronic warfare officer aboard “Bat 21” when it was shot down, and attempts to locate and recover his remains were unsuccessful. Following the incident, the Air Force promoted Lt Col Levis to the rank of Colonel. Today, Colonel Levis is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

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

Serex, Henry Muir Air Force lieutenant colonel

Henry Muir Serex, age 40, from New Orleans, Louisiana, Orleans county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, April 2, 1972
Death details: On April 2, 1972, an EB-66 Destroyer (tail number 54-0466, call sign “Bat 21”) with six crew members took off from Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base for an electronic countermeasures mission over South Vietnam. While over the target area, an escort aircraft saw a surface-to-air missile (SAM) explode near “Bat 21,” after which the aircraft began trailing flames from both wings. “Bat 21” then broke into pieces and crashed. No parachutes were witnessed, although one rescue beeper was heard resulting in one crew member being rescued following the crash. The survivor reported the SAM had exploded below and behind the aircraft. The other five crew members are believed to have died in the incident and their remains were not recovered. Major (Maj) Henry Muir Serex entered the U.S. Air Force from Louisiana and served in the 42nd Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron, 388th Tactical Fighter Wing. He was an electronic warfare officer aboard “Bat 21” when it was shot down, and attempts to locate and recover his remains were unsuccessful. Following the incident, the Air Force promoted Maj Serex to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Today, Lieutenant Colonel Serex is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

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

Duggan, William Young
Air Force Lieutenant colonel

William Young Duggan, age 36, from Williamson County Leander, Texas .

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Friday, December 31, 1971
Death details: On December 31, 1971, a F-4D Phantom II (tail number 66-7573, call sign “Owl 2”) with a crew of two departed Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base on a nighttime forward air controller (FAC) mission for a target area south of Mu Gia Pass on the Laotian border. When the aircraft was in the vicinity of grid coordinates WE 751 343, it was contacted by another FAC plane which passed on the target coordinates of several trucks in the area south of the pass. After heading for the target area, the F-4D failed to return to base within the appointed time. Electronic and visual searches were carried out, but were unsuccessful. Major William Young Duggan, who joined the U.S. Air Force from Texas, served with the 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 8th Tactical Fighter Wing. He was the pilot of the Phantom when it disappeared, and his remains were not recovered. Subsequent to the incident, the U.S. Air Force posthumously promoted Major Duggan to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col). Today, Lieutenant Colonel Duggan is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. His name is also inscribed along with all his fallen comrades on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, DC.

Source: National Archives, El Paso Times (1973), Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Sutter, Frederick John
Air Force Captain

Frederick John Sutter, age 25, from Johnson County Leawood, Kansas .

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Friday, December 31, 1971
Death details: On December 31, 1971, a F-4D Phantom II (tail number 66-7573, call sign “Owl 2”) with a crew of two departed Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base on a nighttime forward air controller (FAC) mission for a target area south of Mu Gia Pass on the Laotian border. When the aircraft was in the vicinity of grid coordinates WE 751 343, it was contacted by another FAC plane which passed on the target coordinates of several trucks in the area south of the pass. After heading for the target area, the F-4D failed to return to base within the appointed time. Electronic and visual searches were carried out, but were unsuccessful. Captain Frederick John Sutter, who joined the U.S. Air Force from Kansas, served with the 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 8th Tactical Fighter Wing. He was the weapons systems officer aboard the Phantom II when it disappeared, and his remains were not recovered. Captain Sutter is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. His name is also inscribed along with all his fallen comrades on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, DC.

Source: National Archives

Caldwell, Floyd Dean
Army Staff sergeant

Floyd Dean Caldwell, age 37, from St. Louis, Missouri, St. Louis county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Tuesday, December 14, 1971
Death details:  On December 14, 1971, a U-21A aircraft (tail number: 66-18041; call sign: Longtrip 041) with two crew members and four passengers took off from Phu Bai, Republic of (South) Vietnam, on an administrative mission to Da Nang. During the flight, the aircraft experienced an in-flight emergency, and the pilot radioed that he had lost an engine and had a fire. Within minutes of this transmission, all radio and radar contact with “Longtrip 041” was lost. They immediately launched search and rescue aircraft, but bad weather soon forced to return to base. Searches continued for the next three days but failed to locate any of the crew or its passengers.

Staff Sergeant (SSG) Floyd Dean Caldwell entered the U.S. Army from Missouri and served in the 220th Aviation Company, 212th Aviation Battalion, 11th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade. He was a passenger aboard “Longtrip 041” when it went missing off the coast northeast of Da Nang, Republic of (South) Vietnam and his remains have not been recovered. Today, SSG Caldwell is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Perkins, Cecil Carrington Jr.
Army Captain

Cecil Carrington Perkins Jr., age 25, from Portsmouth, Virginia, Portsmouth county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Tuesday, December 14, 1971

Death details:  On December 14, 1971, a U-21A aircraft (tail number: 66-18041; call sign: Longtrip 041) with two crew members and four passengers took off from Phu Bai, Republic of (South) Vietnam, on an administrative mission to Da Nang. During the flight, the aircraft experienced an in-flight emergency, and the pilot radioed that he had lost an engine and had a fire. Within minutes of this transmission, all radio and radar contact with “Longtrip 041” was lost. They immediately launched search and rescue aircraft, but bad weather soon forced to return to base. Searches continued for the next three days but failed to locate any of the crew or its passengers.

Captain (CPT) Cecil Carrington Perkins Jr. entered the U.S. Army from Virginia and served in the Combat Assault Company, 165th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade. He was the copilot of “Longtrip 041” when it was lost, and his remains have not been recovered. Today, Captain Perkins is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

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

Bremmer, Dwight Amos
Army Specialist 4

Dwight Amos Bremmer, age 23, from Oakland, Tennessee, Fayette county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Tuesday, December 14, 1971

Death details:  On December 14, 1971, a U-21A aircraft (tail number: 66-18041; call sign: Longtrip 041) with two crew members and four passengers took off from Phu Bai, Republic of (South) Vietnam, on an administrative mission to Da Nang. During the flight, the aircraft experienced an in-flight emergency, and the pilot radioed that he had lost an engine and had a fire. Within minutes of this transmission, all radio and radar contact with “Longtrip 041” was lost. They immediately launched search and rescue aircraft, but bad weather soon forced to return to base. Searches continued for the next three days but failed to locate any of the crew or its passengers. 

Specialist Four (SP4) Dwight Amos Bremmer entered the U.S. Army from Tennessee and served in Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 11th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade. He was a passenger aboard “Longtrip 041” when it went missing off the coast of northeast of Da Nang, Republic of (South) Vietnam and his remains have not been recovered. Today, SP4 Bremmer 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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