South China Sea collision 1965

Armond, Robert Laurence
Air Force Captain

Robert Laurence Armond, age 30, from San Mateo County San Mateo, California .

Spouse: Emily M. Armond

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Friday, June 18, 1965
Death details: On June 18, 1965, two B-52F Stratofortresses (tail numbers 57-179 and 57-047) carrying six crew members each collided in mid-air over the South China Sea while en route to Vietnam. Both aircraft were destroyed in the collision. Search and rescue efforts recovered four survivors and the remains of one additional crew member. The remaining seven crew members could not be found. Captain Robert Laurence Armond, who entered the U.S. Air Force from California, served with the 441st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) and was an electronic warfare officer aboard one of these B-52s. He was lost with his aircraft and remains unaccounted for. Today, Captain Armond is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Associated Press (1965)

Gehrig, James Monroe Jr.
Air Force Major

James Monroe Jr. Gehrig, age 35, from Lycoming County Williamsport, Pennsylvania .

Spouse: Georgine S. Gehrig

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Friday, June 18, 1965
Death details: On June 18, 1965, two B-52F Stratofortresses (tail numbers 57-179 and 57-047) carrying six crew members each collided in mid-air over the South China Sea while en route to Vietnam. Both aircraft were destroyed in the collision. Search and rescue efforts recovered four survivors and the remains of one additional crew member. The remaining seven crew members could not be found. Major James Monroe Gehrig Jr., who entered the U.S. Air Force from Pennsylvania, served with the 441st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) and was the pilot of one of these B-52s. He was lost with his aircraft and remains unaccounted for. Today, Major Gehrig 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. 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, Associated Press (1965)

Lowry, Tyrrell Gordon
Air Force Captain

Tyrrell Gordon Lowry, age 33, from Multnomah County Portland, Oregon .

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Friday, June 18, 1965
Death details: On June 18, 1965, two B-52F Stratofortresses (tail numbers 57-179 and 57-047) carrying six crew members each collided in mid-air over the South China Sea while en route to Vietnam. Both aircraft were destroyed in the collision. Search and rescue efforts recovered four survivors and the remains of one additional crew member. The remaining seven crew members could not be found. Captain Tyrrell Gordon Lowry, who entered the U.S. Air Force from Oregon, served with the 441st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy). He was a crew member aboard one of these B-52s and was lost with his aircraft. He remains unaccounted for. Today, Captain Lowry 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. 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, Associated Press (1965)

Marshall, James Alfred
Air Force 1st Lieutenant

James Alfred Marshall, age 24, from Wayne County Newark, New York .

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Friday, June 18, 1965
Death details: On June 18, 1965, two B-52F Stratofortresses (tail numbers 57-179 and 57-047) carrying six crew members each collided in mid-air over the South China Sea while en route to Vietnam. Both aircraft were destroyed in the collision. Search and rescue efforts recovered four survivors and the remains of one additional crew member. The remaining seven crew members could not be found. First Lieutenant James Alfred Marshall, who entered the U.S. Air Force from New York, served with the 441st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) and was a crew member aboard one of these B-52s. He was lost with his aircraft and remains unaccounted for. Today, First Lieutenant Marshall is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Associated Press (1965)

Neville, William
Air Force Technician sergeant

William Neville from San Diego County El Cajon, California .

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Friday, June 18, 1965
Death details: On June 18, 1965, two B-52F Stratofortresses (tail numbers 57-179 and 57-047) carrying six crew members each collided in mid-air over the South China Sea while en route to Vietnam. Both aircraft were destroyed in the collision. Search and rescue efforts recovered four survivors and the remains of one additional crew member. The remaining seven crew members could not be found. Technical Sergeant William Edward Neville, who entered the U.S. Air Force from California, served with the 441st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) and was a gunner aboard one of these B-52s. He was lost with his aircraft and remains unaccounted for. Today, Technical Sergeant Neville is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Associated Press (1965)

Roberts, Harold James Jr.
Air Force Major sergeant

Harold James Jr. Roberts, age 43, from Multnomah County Portland, Oregon .

Spouse: Vivian V. Roberts

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Friday, June 18, 1965
Death details: On June 18, 1965, two B-52F Stratofortresses (tail numbers 57-179 and 57-047) carrying six crew members each collided in mid-air over the South China Sea while en route to Vietnam. Both aircraft were destroyed in the collision. Search and rescue efforts recovered four survivors and the remains of one additional crew member. The remaining seven crew members could not be found. Master Sergeant Harold James Roberts Jr., who entered the U.S. Air Force from Oregon, served with the 441st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) and was a gunner aboard one of these B-52s. He was lost with his aircraft and remains unaccounted for. Today, Master Sergeant Roberts 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. 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, Associated Press (1965)

Robertson, Joe Carrol
Air Force Captain

Joe Carrol Robertson, age 28, from Monterey County Salinas, California .

Spouse: Queeda Deloris Robertson

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Friday, June 18, 1965
Death details: Body recovered after the collission of two aircraft above the South China Sea.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Associated Press (1965)

Watson, Frank Peter
Air Force Captain

Frank Peter Watson, age 27, from Oklahoma County Oklahoma City, Oklahoma .

Spouse: Geraldine M. Watson

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Friday, June 18, 1965
Death details: On June 18, 1965, two B-52F Stratofortresses (tail numbers 57-179 and 57-047) carrying six crew members each collided in mid-air over the South China Sea while en route to Vietnam. Both aircraft were destroyed in the collision. Search and rescue efforts recovered four survivors and the remains of one additional crew member. The remaining seven crew members could not be found. Captain Frank Peter Watson, who entered the U.S. Air Force from Oklahoma, served with the 441st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) and was a navigator aboard one of these B-52s. He was lost with his aircraft and remains unaccounted for. Today, Captain Watson 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. 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, Associated Press (1965)

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