Missing in action, but not in hearts
Some wounds won't heal until all of the men and women who fought for this country during the Vietnam War are accounted for and brought back home. Until then, the pledge to never forget the Prisoners of War and the Missing in Action burns on. Three men at Pease AFB, NH have kept that pledge to never forget by making some permanent, visible changes to the aircraft they flew and took care of. In 1989, POW/MIA names from New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine were painted in the crew chief blocks of the FB-111A. 1stLt. Harold Berens, bomber branch assistant officer in charge, explained that the project started when he was talking to Capt. Robert J.Ott, instructor pilot from the 393rd Bombardment Squadron. The two officers were discussing recent POW/MIA ceremonies and parade, and how they felt good about the events that had taken place. They wanted to do their share in remembering those men so they came up with the idea of displaying the names on the FBs. Both felt it was a perfect way to say that Pease had not forgotten.
The idea was to put the POW/MIA's name in the crew chief block. With two blocks on the aircraft, one on each side of the cockpit, there was room for two names. By doing that, they were able to use all Air Force names with one third of the names coming from the other services. The third men to join the project was TSgt. Willie French from the 509th FMS corrosion control shop whom was actively involved in the POW/MIA program. After researching Air Force Regulation 66-2, which outlined what can be done to a crew chief's block, they found out that changes were determined locally and they received immediate approval from Col. Orin L.Godsey, 509th Bombardment Wing commander and other appropriate officials. The blocks contained the names of the pilot, navigator, crew chief and assistant crew chiefs as well as the MIA's name.
According to TSgt. French, the first block to be designed was too big and looked awkward. The second design used the size of the original block using one-half inch letters but the names could not be seen clearly. The third and final try proved to be successful. The block was made a little bigger with one inch letters and one inch spacing between lines was used. The aircraft were painted as soon as they had 'down time', which is when an airplane is grounded for maintenance or other problems. In December 1989, nine aircraft were painted with the rest of the FBs completed by early spring.
One aircraft had an extra special meaning for Captain Ott and Sergeant French. Navy Cmdr.J.P.Dunn, MIA since Feb.14,1968, was one of the names painted on Captain Ott's aircraft, No 514. Commander Dunn's name had been on his bracelet since he was in high school. Commander Dunn was a Lieutenant when he was shot down over China and was given his rank in normal progression out of respect. The other name on Captain Ott's aircraft was TSgt Jack McCrary, MIA since Dec.29,1967. The name was taken from Sergeant French bracelet.
Aircraft # |
Pilot |
Navigator |
Crew Chief |
67-7193 |
LtCol. B.Berklund Maj.J.F.Overlock (16/8/68) |
LtCol. J.Eggers Maj.H.D.Stephenson(29/3/72) |
SSgt. D.Pechal |
67-7196 |
Capt. F.Logan Lt.D. J.Wax (20/12/65) |
Capt. G.Castillo Maj. B.C.Wrye (12/8/66) |
Sgt. M.Cogil |
68-0270 |
Capt. G.Barber SPC4 Q.E. Muleaway (29/1/68) |
Capt. M.Ray Capt. A.L.Page (6/8/67) |
SSgt. R.Bushey |
68-0287 |
Capt. J.Olden Capt. R.O.Ganley (24/11/69) |
Capt. L.Hose Maj. G.R.Helmich (12/11/69) |
Sgt. D.Hickling |
68-0288 |
Capt. M.Skinner LtCol. S.J.Burnett (7/3/71) |
Lt. M.Noelte SSgt. F.N.Badolati (29/1/66) |
SSgt. N.Stebbins |
69-6503 |
Capt. A.Guillemot Sgt. W.R.Pearson (6/4/72) |
Capt. J.Slavoski SFC R.J.Sullivan (12/7/67) |
SSgt. T.Finch |
69-6504 |
Capt. T.C.Blake Lt. M.A.Avore (18/7/65) |
Capt. G.Schuman SPC4 J.H.R.Brooks (13/5/69) |
Sgt. M.Pahel |
69-6508 |
Capt. M.Sherman Capt. P.E.Getchell (13/1/69) |
Capt. J.Harrington SPC4 R.C.Dority (3/11/70) |
SSgt. M.Murphy |
69-6509 |
Col. O.Godsey SSgt. C.D.Alloway (7/6/70) |
Col. F.Schwarz SMS. P.J.Stickney (31/5/66) |
Sgt. J.Pineault |
69-6512 |
LtCol. C.Wallace PFC B.C.Dyer (27/4/67) |
Maj. J.Henderson Lt. W.L.Hall (10/6/65) |
Sgt. M.Koehler |
69-6514 |
Capt. B.Ott CDR J.P.Dunn (14/2/68) |
Capt. J.Atkins Tsgt. J.McCrary (29/12/67) |
Sgt. J.Swain |
715th BMS - Blue Flight
67-7195 |
Maj. D.Casey SSgt. E.J.Darcy (29/12/67) |
Capt. D.Jack Lt. J.E.Duffy (4/4/70) |
Sgt. M.Sampey |
68-0272 |
Capt. J.Ciabattoni Capt. W.S.Sanders (30/6/70) |
Capt. T.Sykes TSgt.A.J.Avery (6/4/72) |
SSgt. E.Friedrich |
68-0273 |
Capt. S.Chesnut Maj. E.P.Boresik (31/5/68) |
Capt. T.Novak Lt. C.L.Bifolchi (8/1/68) |
Sgt. W.Roberts |
68-0276 |
Capt. C.Seibach Capt. C.R.Churchill (3/5/70) |
Capt. M.Dates Capt. R.M.Elliot (14/2/68) |
SSgt. B.Shafer |
68-0281 |
LtCol. C.Rasmussen SSgt. F.T.Garside (23/3/61) |
LtCol. T.Krull Lt. R.D.Hauer (5/9/70) |
Sgt. T.Guilford |
68-0284 |
Capt. K.Gentile Capt. D.H.Holmes (15/3/66) |
Capt.R.Radford Lt. L.L.Kaster (6/8/64) |
Sgt. G.Russell |
69-6506 |
Capt. P.Caszatt Maj. H.E.Mac Cann (28/3/68) |
Capt. P.Cannizzo Capt.J.A.Magnusson (4/4/65) |
Sgt. B.Falk |
69-6507 |
Maj. R.Ferguson A1C K.D.Mc Kenny (15/5/65) |
Capt.B.Walters MSgt. A.V.McLaughlin (20/12/72) |
SSgt. M.Donelli |
69-6510 |
Capt. G.Kramlinger Lt. J.R.Harvey (28/11/72) |
Capt. J.Kirk Maj. D.M.Russell (5/12/67) |
Sgt. J.Bainter |
69-6513 |
Capt. B.Naylor LtJG. T.H.Hanley (1/1/68) |
Capt. S.Luxion Pvt J.N.Huntley (27/9/69) |
SSgt. R.Ouelette |
