tail number 51-5059

O’brien, Kevin
Army Major

Kevin O’brien from Farmingville, New York, Onondaga county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Wednesday, January 9, 1969
Death details: 

On January 9, 1969, an O-1G Bird Dog (tail number 51-5059) carrying two crew members took off from Phu Bai Combat Base on a visual reconnaissance mission over South Vietnam. En route, the plane diverted to assist a reconnaissance team that was in enemy contact near Khe Sanh, South Vietnam. After assisting the team and being relieved by another aircraft, the Bird Dog began its return to Phu Bai. Bad weather set in and this aircraft was not instrument equipped, and the pilot reported he was lost. Dong Ha Air Base and other radar controllers tried to determine the aircraft’s last position but were unsuccessful. The Bird Dog disappeared from the radar and all efforts to contact the aircraft went unanswered. The aircraft and its two crew members could not be accounted for.

First Lieutenant Kevin O’Brien entered the U.S. Army from New York and was a member of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 94th Artillery Regiment, 108th Artillery Group. He was the observer aboard this Bird Dog when it went missing, and he was lost with the aircraft. After the incident, the U.S. Army promoted 1LT O’Brien to the rank of Major (MAJ). Today, Major O’Brien was memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Byrd, Hugh McNeil Jr.
Army Captain

Hugh McNeil Byrd Jr. from Berea, Kentucky, Madison county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Thursday, January 9, 1969
Death details: On January 9, 1969, an O-1G Bird Dog (tail number 51-5059) carrying two crew members took off from Phu Bai Combat Base on a visual reconnaissance mission over South Vietnam. En route, the plane diverted to assist a reconnaissance team that was in enemy contact near Khe Sanh, South Vietnam. After assisting the team and being relieved by another aircraft, the Bird Dog began its return to Phu Bai. Bad weather set in and this aircraft was not instrument equipped, and the pilot reported he was lost. Dong Ha Air Base and other radar controllers tried to determine the aircraft’s last position but were unsuccessful. The Bird Dog disappeared from the radar and all efforts to contact the aircraft went unanswered. The aircraft and its two crew members could not be accounted for.

First Lieutenant Hugh McNeil Byrd Jr. entered the U.S. Army from Kentucky and was a member of the 220th Aviation Company, 212th Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Brigade. He was the pilot of this Bird Dog when it went missing, and he was lost with the aircraft. After the incident, the U.S. Army promoted 1LT Byrd to the rank of Captain (CPT). Today, Captain Byrd 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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