Orange county

Alberton, Bobby Joe
Air Force Commanding sergeant

Bobby Joe Alberton from Anaheim, California, Orange county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Tuesday, May 31, 1966
Death details: 

On May 31, 1966, a C-130 Hercules (tail number 64-0511, call sign “Radium 1”) with a crew of eight departed Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam, on a classified mission over North Vietnam. No radio communications were expected. When the aircraft failed to return to base, search and rescue efforts were initiated, but were unsuccessful. Several days later, the North Vietnamese announced that they had shot down a C-130, and that they had recovered and buried several bodies. The aircraft is believed to have been shot down in Tranh Hoa Province.

Staff Sergeant Bobby Joe Alberton, who joined the U.S. Air Force from California, served with the 61st Troop Carrier Squadron. He was the flight engineer aboard the C-130 when it disappeared on May 31, 1966, and his remains were not recovered. After the incident, the Air Force promoted SSgt Alberton to Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt). Today, Chief Master Sergeant Alberton is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Adams, Samuel Air Force Chief master sergeant

Samuel Adams from Goldenrod, Florida, Orange county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, October 31, 1965

Death details: On October 31, 1965, four U.S. service members returning from a rest and relaxation break in Vung Tau, South Vietnam, were riding in a truck with a Vietnamese driver. While en route to Saigon, the truck was stopped by local communist guerilla forces and the four U.S. service members were captured. On November 2, while being moved to an enemy prisoner of war camp, two of the four men attempted to escape; one was wounded and recaptured by the guards, but the other successfully escaped and returned to U.S. control two days later. Upon his return, air and ground search efforts were launched for the other three men but without success. In January 1973, the names of the three men who did not escape appeared on the died-in-captivity list released by the Provisional Revolutionary Government of South Vietnam, and their remains have not been returned.

Staff Sergeant Samuel Adams entered the U.S. Air Force from Florida and served with the 6250th Support Squadron. He was one of the three men who did not escape during this incident and was reportedly killed by the local communist guerilla guards. He remains unaccounted for. Following the incident, the Air Force promoted SSgt Adams to the rank of Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt). Today, Chief Master Sergeant Adams 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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