Obituaries (4 Viewers)

[Thumpalumpacus]

MADISON, Wis. — Federal officials have identified the remains of a U.S. Air Force pilot from Wisconsin who went missing during the Vietnam War nearly 60 years ago.

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced Tuesday that its scientists in December positively identified the remains of U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Donald W. Downing of Columbus.


Downing was piloting an F-4C Phantom II aircraft during an armed night reconnaissance mission over the then-Democratic Republic of Vietnam in September 1967 when his plane disappeared. Another plane in the formation reported a midair fireball and Downing's plane didn't respond to any further radio calls, according to the accounting agency.

Search-and-rescue efforts yielded nothing and Downing was reported as killed in action in April 1978. He was a captain when he disappeared but was posthumously promoted to lieutenant colonel.

Decades of investigation yielded nothing until a recovery team in May and June 2024 discovered life support equipment, aircraft wreckage and bone tissue at a site in Quang Binh Province, Vietnam.

The accounting agency's scientists used DNA testing and other evidence to identify Downing. His funeral will be held in Arlington National Cemetery on an as-yet-undetermined date.

Remains of pilot lost over Vietnam nearly 60 years ago identified

Lt. Col. Donald Downing was piloting an F-4C Phantom II aircraft during a night mission when his plane disappeared in a fireball.

www.marinecorpstimes.com

 

[fubar57]

 

[fannum]

MADISON, Wis. — Federal officials have identified the remains of a U.S. Air Force pilot from Wisconsin who went missing during the Vietnam War nearly 60 years ago.

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced Tuesday that its scientists in December positively identified the remains of U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Donald W. Downing of Columbus.


Downing was piloting an F-4C Phantom II aircraft during an armed night reconnaissance mission over the then-Democratic Republic of Vietnam in September 1967 when his plane disappeared. Another plane in the formation reported a midair fireball and Downing's plane didn't respond to any further radio calls, according to the accounting agency.

Search-and-rescue efforts yielded nothing and Downing was reported as killed in action in April 1978. He was a captain when he disappeared but was posthumously promoted to lieutenant colonel.

Decades of investigation yielded nothing until a recovery team in May and June 2024 discovered life support equipment, aircraft wreckage and bone tissue at a site in Quang Binh Province, Vietnam.

The accounting agency's scientists used DNA testing and other evidence to identify Downing. His funeral will be held in Arlington National Cemetery on an as-yet-undetermined date.

Remains of pilot lost over Vietnam nearly 60 years ago identified

Lt. Col. Donald Downing was piloting an F-4C Phantom II aircraft during a night mission when his plane disappeared in a fireball.

www.marinecorpstimes.com

My thoughts are with Col. Downing's family, and with sincere appreciation to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency for their unflagging and underappreciated efforts.

From honorstates.org: On September 5, 1967, four men were on a combat mission in two McDonnell Douglas Phantom II Fighter F-4 jets over Quang Binh Province, North Vietnam.
Paul D Raymond was the pilot of the F-4D Phantom II #63-7547 "Sharkbait 42" with Donald W Downing as his bombardier navigator.
Carl D Miller was the pilot of the F-4D Phantom II (65-0723) "Tide 02" with Thomas P Hanson as his bombardier navigator.
Both aircraft crashed on their missions near the coast of Vietnam. Raymond and Downing went down about 10 miles north of the city of Vinh Linh, while Miller and Hanson went down about 20 miles north of Vinh Linh. All four of these men are classified as Missing in Action.
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There are many media mentions about identifying Col. Downing, but no mention of the F-4's pilot, Paul Raymond.

Also, oddly one media report claims this was a "spy mission," which I'd assume might refer to photo-recon, though at night, that seems odd. I can only assume it was more 'creative editorial license!'

 

[Airframes]

 

[Wurger]