Text File

SMITH 324 COMPELLING CASES

Laos Eugene H. Debruin (0018)

On September 5, 1963, an Air America C-47 transport on which Mr. Debruin was a "kicker" was shot down by hostile ground fire over Savannakhet Province. It crashed approximately twenty two kilometers northeast of Muang Phine. Eugene Debruin and four non- U.S. crewmen parachuted out and were captured. According to the Pathet Lao, the remaining two American civilian crewmen who were not reported to have bailed out died in the crash. On May 31, 1966, the Pathet Lao spokesman in Vientiane, Soth Phetrasy, confirmed that Mr. Debruin was alive and in captivity.

Information from an American escapee and a Thai captured with Mr. Debruin recounted Mr. Debruin's capture and prison chronology through July 3, 1966, the last time they knew Mr. Debruin to be alive with them in Khammouane Province. Accounts of the prison escape include information that four of the seven prison guards were killed during the escape attempt. One Thai who escaped and was recaptured was not killed after recapture.

A photograph of Mr. Debruin was later obtained by Air America in May 1969 and showed Mr. Debruin in captivity circa 1965. A credit card and other information concerning the dead pilot was later obtained through private sources.

On September 25, 1982, Pathet Lao Colonel Khamla Keuphithoune told a visiting National League of Families delegation that Eugene Debruin was killed attempting to escape from captivity.

Information has surfaced from American POW hunters throughout the last half of the 1980s and into 1991, as well as from Lao and Thai residents of Thailand, which asserts that Mr. Debruin is still alive in Laos and living freely with a Lao wife and children in Khammouane Province. The Debruin case is well known in the private POW/MIA community due to extensive efforts and informational leaflets distributed by Mr. Debruin's brother who for many years has attempted to recover his brother. The Joint Task Force Full Accounting has received information regarding Mr. Debruin's grave site and is currently planning to excavate it.

South Vietnam Kurt C. McDonald Edward R. Dodge (0051)

See Vessey 135 Discrepancy Cases for case summary.

North Vietnam Edward A. Dickson (0053)

On February 7, 1965, Lieutenant Dickson was the pilot of an A-4 on a combat mission over Bo Trach District, Quang Binh Province. His aircraft was hit by hostile ground fire and he headed out to sea. He was observed by other U.S. aircraft crew to eject from his aircraft but his parachute was not seen to deploy. He was declared dead/body not recovered, based on a presumptive finding of death.

On March 17, 1968, an issue of the Vietnam Courier carried a photograph of a beach grave site reportedly containing the remains of Lieutenant Dickson. A wartime Associated Press wirephoto depicted a body reportedly of Lieutenant Dickson and listed personal artifacts of his which had been recovered. A number of U.S. POWs returning from captivity in North Vietnam described a North Vietnamese movie they had been shown which contained a sequence reportedly showing the recovery of Lieutenant Dickson's remains from the water and the grave site where his remains were interred.

In August 1985, Vietnam turned over Lieutenant Dickson's Geneva Convention Card and Identity Card. In January 1991, a U.S. team in Vietnam examined a document listing the wartime combat operations in Bo Trach District which referred to the downing of a U.S. aircraft with one airman on February 7, 1965.

In January and July 1991, a U.S. team obtained substantially similar information from the People's Army of Vietnam Military Region IV museum.

South Vietnam James H. McLean (0054)

See Vessey 135 Discrepancy Cases for case summary.

Laos Arthur D. Baker James W. Lewis (0070)

On April 7, 1965, Baker and James were crewmen on a B-57B, one in a flight of four aircraft on an interdiction mission launched from Bien Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam and with its target in Xieng Khouang Province, Laos. The crew was last seen descending through thin overcast toward the target area and it never reappeared. Extensive search and rescue efforts through April 12th failed to locate either the aircraft or its crew.

On April 14, 1965, the New China News Agency reported the shoot down of a B-57 approximately three miles north-northeast of the town of Khang Khay. This was described as the first B-57 shoot down of an aircraft launched from South Vietnam.

Both crewmen were initially reported missing in action in South Vietnam while on a classified mission. Their loss location was later changed to Laos. There was limited wartime reporting about U.S. aircraft losses in the general area the crewmen were last reported but they could not be correlated to this specific incident. U.S. intelligence continues to receive information which may correlate to this shoot down but provides no positive information on the fate of the crewmen.

In January 1974 Major Baker's next-of-kin requested his case review go forward and he was declared killed in action, body not recovered, in January 1974. Lewis was declared dead/body not recovered, in April 1982. Returning POWs were unable to provide any information on the fate of these two servicemen.

Laos Charles E. Shelton (0079)

On April 29, 1965, Captain Shelton was the leader in a flight of two reconnaissance aircraft over Laos. Due to bad weather in their primary target area, Captain Shelton turned to the next target near Sam Neua City, Sam Neua Province. His aircraft was hit by hostile fire while at 3000 feet and lining up on his target. He ejected with a good chute and the other aircraft overhead was in contact with him by radio. Inclement weather delayed any possible recovery attempt until May 1. Search and rescue efforts on 2-3 May were negative. A U.S. controlled team was inserted into the area on May 3 and learned from local villagers that Captain Shelton was last seen hanging in a tree. Similar teams continued to search for him through February 1966 but with negative results.

After his shoot down, Pathet Lao ralliers reported hearing about the capture of an American correlating to the capture of Captain Shelton. He reportedly died in a cave in Vieng Xai, east of Sam Neua town, and near another POW, Captain Hrdlicka.

In September 1982 a Pathet Lao security official, Colonel Khamla, stated that Captain Shelton died in captivity in 1968 and was buried near his place of imprisonment. His grave was described as obliterated by a U.S. air strike.

The Joint Task Force investigated the purported grave site in April 1992 and was unable to locate any remains.

Colonel Shelton is still carried in a POW status.

Laos David L. Hrdlicka (0084)

On May 18, 1965, Captain Hrdlicka was piloting the lead aircraft in a flight of four F-105D on an interdiction/bombing mission in Houa Phan Province, Laos, previously known as Sam Neua Province. His aircraft was hit by hostile fire and he was seen to bail out, land safely and was later reported by villagers living near his landing point in the custody of Pathet Lao communist forces. A May 24 Pathet Lao radio broadcast announced his capture. A July 26 broadcast by Pathet Lao radio broadcast a post-capture tape recording made by Captain Hrdlicka.

Captain Hrdlicka was listed by the Department of Defense as a POW at the time of the Paris Peace Accords but was later declared to have died in captivity, body not recovered. Wartime reports from Pathet Lao defectors placed Captain Hrdlicka in a cave in the Vieng Xai area of Sam Neua Province through at least 1966.

On September 25, 1982, National League of POW/MIA Families visitors were told by a Lao security official, Colonel Khamla, that Captain Hrdlicka had died in 1968 of natural causes exacerbated by malnutrition and while imprisoned in a cave in Sam Neua. Colonel Khamla stated he was buried nearby but his grave was destroyed by U.S. bombing. Photocopied personal documents belonging to Captain Hrdlicka were passed to the U.S. by the Lao in February 1988. A private citizen visiting Laos in September 1989 was provided the photocopy of a document which apparently also belonged to Captain Hrdlicka. A photograph of Captain Hrdlicka after capture is in the Lao museum.

Captain Hrdlicka's purported grave site was investigated by the Joint Task Force Full Accounting in April 1992. Witnesses were interviewed who described Captain Hrdlicka's burial there in 1968. No remains were located. Efforts continue to locate Captain Hrdlicka's remains.

South Vietnam Charles A. Dale David S. Demmon (0094)

See Vessey 135 Discrepancy Cases for case summary.

South Vietnam Walter L. Hall Bruce G. Johnson Fred M. Owen Robert L. Curlee Donald R. Saegaert Joseph J. Compa, Jr. Craig L. Hagen (0096)

See Vessey 135 Discrepancy Cases for case summary.

South Vietnam John R. Schumann (0099)

On June 16, 1965, Captain Schumann was serving as the advisor to the Cai Be District Chief, Dinh Tuong Province when he was seen captured by Viet Cong forces. In July 1965, elements of the South Vietnamese Army's 7th Infantry Division captured Viet Cong documents in Dinh Tuong Province which included a photograph of Captain Schumann in captivity. In December 1965, three American POWs released by the Viet Cong confirmed Captain Schumann was in captivity and was still alive. In October 1967, a photograph of Captain Schumann in captivity appeared in the Soviet "Red Army" newspaper in Moscow.

Based on information from American POWs released during Operation Homecoming at the town of Loc Ninh in South Vietnam, Captain Schumann was taken to Tay Ninh Province and held with other Americans. In 1966 he became very ill, suffering from pneumonia and with malfunctioning kidneys. He was with other American POWs when he died at 1330 hours early in July 1966. His body was removed and buried at an unknown location.

Captain Schumann was declared dead/body not recovered, in March 1967. He was listed by the Provisional Revolutionary Government as having died in captivity on July 6, 1966. His remains have not yet been recovered.

During October-November 1992, U.S. investigators with a joint U.S./Vietnamese team in Vietnam located and interviewed a former guard and interpreter at the People's Army of Vietnam B-2 Theater of Operations B-20 prison camp which had confined U.S. POWs. Both sources described Captain Schumann's death at prison camp B-20. The investigators determined the prison camp was leveled and converted into farm land after April 1975 with the result that any facility locations and burial sites can no longer be located.

South Vietnam Richard C. Bram John F. Dingwall (0108)

See Vessey Discrepancy Cases for case summary.

South Vietnam Fred Taylor Henry J. Gallant (0109)

See Vessey Discrepancy Cases for case summary.

North Vietnam Walter Kosko (0114)

On July 27, 1965, Captain Kosko was the pilot of an F-105D, one in a flight of four aircraft from Takhli Air Base, Thailand, on a bombing mission over Phu Tho Province, North Vietnam. There was intense anti-aircraft fire directed at the flight. Following an explosion near his aircraft, Captain Kosko reported he was hit and there was smoke in his cockpit. He later ejected and other flight members observed a fully deployed chute and survival gear. There was no beeper or voice contact with him after his ejection.

Captain Kosko was seen to land in the Black River. A search of the river disclosed an inflated life raft which was empty and no evidence of the pilot. On July 27th and 28th, Radio Hanoi reported eight U.S. aircraft shot down on July 27, 1965 and stated that pilots had been taken into custody from shoot downs in Ha Tay Province. Captain Kosko landed on the border of Ha Tay and Vinh Phu.

Captain Kosko was initially declared missing. Returning U.S. POWs were unable to provide any information concerning his fate. In November 1977 he was declared dead/body not recovered, based on a presumptive finding of death.

U.S. investigators in Vietnam in 1988 and 1990 visited the area of Captain Kosko's loss. Vietnamese officials stated that Captain Kosko's life raft was recovered during the war. One witness stated it was used as a fishing boat in the local river until it deteriorated and was discarded. U.S. investigators were told Captain Kosko had indeed landed in the Black River, had never reappeared after going under water, and they believed he drowned in the river.

North Vietnam Fredric M. Mellor (0124)

On August 13, 1965, Captain Mellor was the pilot of an RF-101 and the flight leader in a flight of two aircraft over Son La Province.

His aircraft was hit by hostile ground fire, his radio became inoperative and the second aircraft could see a fire in the nose of Captain Mellor's aircraft but he maintained control of it. With the second aircraft now in the lead, Captain Mellor suddenly disappeared from sight.

Another aircraft arrived on the scene, an RF-101, and the new aircraft was able to establish radio and beeper contact with Captain Mellor who had parachuted out and was alive on the ground. Rescue helicopters were called but when they arrived later they were unable to establish contact with and locate Captain Mellor.

Captain Mellor was reported missing and in December 1977 was declared dead/body not recovered. Returning U.S. POWs were unable to provide any information on his precise fate.

In February 1991, U.S. investigators in Vietnam interviewed witnesses to the downing of a U.S. aircraft corresponding to the loss incident of Captain Mellor. The witnesses stated that the pilot ejected safely and was able to evade for half a day. Late on the afternoon he was located by local militia. The pilot opened fire on them and they returned the fire, wounding the pilot. He was captured but later died, apparently of blood loss. No remains could be located by the U.S. investigators.

North Vietnam James Branch Eugene M. Jewell (0135)

On September 4, 1965 Captain Branch and First Lieutenant Jewell were the crew in an F-4C aircraft on a strafing mission in Nghe An Province. They had just completed a strike on the target when another air crew observed a secondary explosion but later determined it was Captain Branch's aircraft which had crashed. No survivors were seen, no parachutes were seen and no beepers were heard. Returning U.S. POWs heard the pilot was killed when he flew into a hill. His wingman believed no possibility of survival.

Both airmen were initially declared missing. After Operation Homecoming they were declared dead/body not recovered.

North Vietnam Charles J. Scharf Martin J. Massucci (0158)

See Vessey Discrepancy Cases for case summary.

North Vietnam Dean A. Pogreba (0162)

On October 5, 1965, Major Pogreba was the pilot of an F-105D, the lead in a flight of four aircraft on a strike mission over North Vietnam. There was heavy anti-aircraft fire over the target area in Lang Son Province and rain showers in the target area intermittently obscured it.

After completing his bombing mission through dense cloud cover, Major Pogreba was last seen rolling off the target, still an area of heavy anti-aircraft fire and from which three surface to air missiles were launched. He radioed he was departing the area on the prebriefed exit route. The members of the flight also used the prebriefed exit route and maintained radio silence until reaching the coast. Major Pogreba never arrived and was declared missing. Visual and electronic search failed to disclose any evidence of either him or his aircraft.

Returning U.S. POWs were unable to provide any information on Major Pogreba's precise fate. However, one returnee offered his view that while in prison in North Vietnam, "it was thought that Major Pogreba was down in China" but no one knew the origin of this story. Major Pogreba was not identified alive in captivity by any returning U.S. POW and in November 1977 he was declared killed in action, body not recovered, based on a presumptive finding of death.

In February 1991, retired U.S. General Tom Lacy told Major Pogreba's next of kin that he had spoken with Major Pogreba and knew where he was. General Lacy said Major Pogreba was downed over China and he, General Lacy, had made two failed attempts to rescue him.

According to a next of kin, the People's Republic of China stated that an F-105 had strayed into Chinese air space. The available record documents that on October 6, 1965, Radios Hanoi and Beijing reported U.S. aircraft were shot down in certain areas of North Vietnam and pilots captured on October 5th. No names of any captured pilots were given and the areas in which aircraft were reported shot down did not correlate to an area where Major Pogreba was operating when declared missing.

On October 5, 1965, the People's Republic of China announced that four U.S. aircraft had intruded into Chinese air space over Kwangsi Province on that date and one had been shot down. There was no mention of the type of aircraft involved. Although Pogreba was last known to be approximately 40 nautical miles from Kwangsi Province and was lost on that date, two other aircraft were also shot down on October 5th, crashed inside North Vietnam and approximately 30 miles from China, and in the general area where Pogreba was lost which was not known to be in Chinese air space.

In 1985, China acknowledged it had deployed over 300,000 of its forces in northern Vietnam during the war years, many of whom were in the northern tier of provinces which included the area where Pogreba was lost. Chinese units included various anti-aircraft forces.

North Vietnam George C. McCleary (0183)

On November 5, 1965, Lieutenant Colonel McCleary was the pilot of an F-105, the flight leader of a flight of four aircraft on a SAM suppression mission over North Vietnam. A surface to air missile was launched and exploded approximately 20 feet from his aircraft. His aircraft burst into flames, pitched nose up, and began shedding pieces. The canopy was observed to separate before the aircraft disappeared into overcast tail first but his wingman couldn't determine if he was able to eject from the aircraft. No search and rescue mission was possible due to the extremely hostile ground environment and Colonel McCleary was declared missing in action.

In 1968 a People's Army of Vietnam soldier provided information on U.S. POWs at a Hanoi prison correlating to Hoa Lo Prison, also called the Hanoi Hilton. He identified a photograph of Colonel McCleary as similar to that of an American at Hoa Lo Prison. In 1977 the Defense Intelligence Agency reversed its previous correlation and concluded the soldier's report was erroneous.

In August 1972, DIA received a report about an F-105 shot down by a MIG-17 circa October 1966. One good parachute was seen. This report was placed in Colonel McCleary's file.

Two returnees identified LTC McCleary as one of the men in a photograph of U.S. POWs at the 1969 Christmas event staged for U.S. POWs. DIA later positively identified everyone at the event and concluded the returnee's initial conclusions were a case of misidentification.

In November 1973, Colonel McCleary was declared dead/body not recovered, based on a presumptive finding of death. In July 1988, Vietnam turned over remains at Hanoi which it stated were those of Colonel McCleary. In May 1991 they were identified as his.

North Vietnam George I. Mims, Jr. (0213)

See Vessey Discrepancy Cases for case summary.

Laos Don C. Wood (0233)

On January 16, 1966, Captain Wood was one of a flight of five F-105 aircraft on a mission over Xieng Khouang Province, Laos. Captain wood was the pilot of an F-105D on a photo reconnaissance mission. While over the target and with flight members receiving 37mm antiaircraft fire on their passes over the target, Captain Wood's flight leader determined Captain Wood was not present with the remainder of the flight. The flight members searched a thirty mile radius from their target and were unable to locate either him or his crash site. Searches for him continued for the next three months and were unsuccessful. He was initially declared missing in action.

On January 18, 1966, Radio Beijing announced that a U.S. aircraft was shot down over Laos on January 16, 1966. A Pathet Lao radio broadcast also mentioned the shoot down of an aircraft and reported an airmen was seen parachuting down.

A Pathet Lao source interrogated in Laos in 1974 described the recovery of a U.S. airman who fell from an aircraft hit by antiaircraft fire from the area from the area of the Pathet Lao Regional Headquarters at Phou Kout. The airman reportedly died shortly after capture. This incident was placed in Captain Wood's file as possibly correlating to him due to the loss location. A Lao propaganda film obtained in January 1977 showed the identity card of Captain Wood together with blood chits, revolvers, helmets and other items which appeared undamaged.

In March 1980, Captain Wood was declared dead/body not recovered. His remains have not been repatriated. He was never reported by returning U.S. POWs to be alive in the Lao or Vietnamese prison system.

South Vietnam James T. Egan (0235)

See Vessey Discrepancy Cases for case summary.

Vietnam Cecil J. Hodgson Frank N. Badolati Ronald T. Terry (0242)

See Vessey Discrepancy Cases for case summary.

South Vietnam James L. Carter Wilbur R. Brown Edward M. Parsley Therman M. Waller (0248)

On February 3, 1966, a C-123 with a four man crew departed the Khe Sanh Special Forces camp on a twenty five minute supply shuttle flight to Dong Ha, Quang Tri Province. Four local nationals may also have been on the aircraft. The aircraft never reached its destination and there was no radio contact with either it or its crew. A search of the area failed to result in any evidence of either the crew or the aircraft. Local intelligence assets were used in an attempt to obtain information but nothing was learned. A total of 25 sorties lasting 74 hours over mountainous jungle, including the use of photo missions, failed to locate any evidence of the aircraft.

The four airmen were declared missing. Returning U.S. POWs had no information on their precise fate. The crewmen were declared dead/body not recovered, on different dates between June 1974 and January 1978, and based on a presumptive finding of death.

Laos Russell P. Hunter, Jr. Ernest Kiefel, Jr. (0250)

On February 10, 1966, Captains Hunter and Kiefel were the crew of a B-57B escorting a C-130 flareship on a night strike mission over Laos. While in the target area eight miles east southeast of Tchepone, Captain Hunter radioed he was hit and would eject after his canopy went. No ejection was seen. Three minutes later the C- 130 pilot reported a white glare on the ground and later a ten second beeper in the area of the aircraft impact point. Another beeper was heard later but it could not be correlated to a member of this downed crew. Search and rescue aircraft located the aircraft wreckage but found no sign of the crew.

Both initially were reported missing and declared killed in action, body not recovered, in January 1979. Neither individual was ever seen in the northern Vietnamese prison system and their remains have not been repatriated.

Laos Oscar Mauterer (0253)

On February 15, 1966, Major Mauterer was the pilot of an A1E in a flight of aircraft providing cover for an 01E aircraft operating south of the Mu Gia Pass over Khammouane Province, Laos. During strikes on the target, Major Mauterer radioed he was on fire and bailing out. A good chute was seen and there was voice contact with him on the ground. Forward air controllers drew heavy ground fire while flying over his position. Search and rescue aircraft were unable to see him an hour later when they arrived to effect his rescue and there were signals other than his beeper on the emergency communications channel.

A U.S. controlled ground team inserted into the area reported on February 20th having heard from villagers that an American, correlated to Major Mauterer, was captured by elements of the People's Army of Vietnam. Another wartime report indicated Lao villagers had carried him from the area on orders of the Vietnam People's Army.

Major Mauterer was not seen alive in the northern Vietnamese prison system and his remains have not been repatriated. He was initially declared missing and was declared killed in action, body not recovered in December 1977.

South Vietnam Donald S. Newton (0258)

See Vessey Discrepancy Cases for case summary.

South Vietnam William M. Collins Delbert R. Peterson Robert E. Foster (0267)

See Vessey Discrepancy Cases for case summary.

North Vietnam Peter J. Stewart Martin R. Scott (0274)

On March 15, 1966, Lieutenant Colonel Stewart and Captain Scott were the crew in an F-4C, one in a flight of two over Lai Chau Province. Approaching the target area, their flight leader spotted two trucks. Fifteen seconds later there was a large orange explosion on the ground and their was no response from Colonel Stewart's aircraft. An aerial search of the area failed to locate any survivors and there were no parachute or beepers. However, a red double star flare was seen approximately two minutes after the crash but the wingman was unable to investigate it thoroughly due to extremely hostile ground fire. No SAR mission was possible due to the extremely hostile conditions in the crash site area. Both airmen were declared missing in action.

Returning U.S. POWs had no information on the precise fate of the two airmen. Colonel Stewart and Captain Scott were declared killed in action, body not recovered, based on a presumptive finding of death in January 1980 and January 1979, respectively.

Laos David H. Holmes (0275)

On March 15, 1966, Captain Holmes was the pilot of an 01E flying from Khe Sanh, South Vietnam on a forward air control mission over Highway 9 in Savannakhet Province, Laos. He radioed he was hit by hostile ground fire and made what appeared to be a controlled landing not far from Tchepone and within one mile of a hostile antiaircraft battery. Another forward air controller flying overhead reported seeing Captain Holmes' body motionless in the cockpit for 30 minutes after the crash and reported the aircraft completely intact. Search and rescue arriving on the scene after the departure of the FAC reported finding an aircraft which had been totally destroyed to the extent that it could not be identified as to aircraft type. U.S. air strikes later destroyed the antiaircraft battery near Captain Holmes crash site.

A ground search of the crash site on March 16 located his aircraft but no evidence of Captain Holmes. Emergency radio signals were heard on March 20-21 coming from the type of radio used by Captain Holmes but the absence of proper radio procedures suggested his radio had been captured and was being used by his captors. One hearsay report received in 1974 and indicating a pilot was captured during the war might have referred to Captain Holmes.

Captain Holmes was not seen alive in the northern Vietnamese prison system and his remains have not been repatriated. He was initially declared missing and was declared killed in action, body not recovered in November 1978.

North Vietnam Everett A. McPherson Brent E. Davis (0279)

On March 18, 1966, First Lieutenants McPherson and Davis were the crew on board an EF-10B, one in a flight of two aircraft on an electronic counter-measures mission in support of an air strike approximately 10 miles west of Thanh Hoa City, Thanh Hoa Province. Their flight received 85mm anti-aircraft fire during the mission. There was an explosion in their aircraft while at an altitude of 26,000 feet and over neighboring Nghe An Province. They were believed to have been hit and downed by enemy surface to air missile. A SAR mission over the area produced negative results.

Both airmen were initially declared missing in action. Returning U.S. POWs had no information on their fate. Both airmen were initially declared dead/body not recovered, based on a presumptive finding of death.

In December 1988, Vietnamese officials acknowledge having knowledge of their loss incident.

Laos James W. Gates John W. Lafayette (0297)

On April 6, 1966, Captains Gates and Lafayette departed Phu Bai, South Vietnam in an OV1 in a flight of two aircraft for a reconnaissance mission over Laos. A "Mayday" was heard from both OV1 aircraft, and wreckage was found 30 kilometers inside Laos near Route 922 in Saravan Province. A forward air controller reported seeing all four alive on the ground and both aircrews reported they were all right. The FAC described the area of their shoot down as containing track vehicle marks, trucks and engineer equipment.

Radio contact was lost with Captains Gates and Lafayette after they reported Vietnamese communist forces closing in on them. The other crew was rescued.

Captains Gates and Lafayette were not seen alive in the northern Vietnamese prison system and their remains have not been repatriated. They were initially declared missing and declared killed in action, body not recovered in October 1977.

China William A. Glasson, Jr. Larry M. Jordan Reuben B. Harris (0299)

On April 12, 1966, there were four crewmen on board a KA-38 on a 700 mile over water flight from Cubi Point, Republic of the Philippines to the U.S.S. Kitty Hawk in the Gulf of Tonkin. The flight duration was to be one hour and fifty minutes. The aircraft never reached its destination and the crew were declared missing. A search and rescue mission failed to locate any evidence of either the aircraft or its crew. Returning U.S. military detainees captured during the war and held by China had no information that any of the crew survived into captivity.

The 7th Air Force received an intelligence report that People's Republic of China forces had shot down an aircraft at 1345 hours on the day the four KA-38 crewmen were lost. U.S. Naval intelligence obtained a copy of a television film broadcast by Beijing Television which showed the wreckage of a U.S. aircraft and the helmet of the bombardier/navigator. Lieutenant JG Jordan was the bombardier/navigator. The aircraft reportedly crashed on the Leichow Peninsula in Guangdong Province.

On April 12, 1975, the People's Republic of China acknowledged it had the remains of one of the crewmen, PR2 Kenneth W. Pugh but no information about the other crewmen. China returned two sets of remains to American Red Cross representatives in Hong Kong on April 15, 1975. One set of remains was identified as Kenneth W. Pugh. In March 1976, the Joint Casualty Resolution Center took action leading to a change in loss location from over water to lost over China.

In a June 1980 letter to Congressman Ben Gillman, the People's Republic of China stated that Harris and Jordan had died but Harris' remains were lost at sea and Chinese officials were unable to locate Jordan's remains. The Chinese had no information on Glasson's fate.