On July 17, 1968, an EF-10B Skyknight (tail number 12-5793, call sign "Pigment 69") with a crew of two took off from Da Nang Airbase, South Vietnam on an electronic countermeasures mission. The aircraft’s assignment called for a constant orbit from (GC) YD 345 494 to Grid Coordinates XD 306 395. The Skyknight was between Phu Bai and Dong Ha, South Vietnam, when its crew made a radio call to the aircraft they were relieving, "Pigment 68," stating that they were en route. Ten minutes later, "Pigment 68" attempted to reestablish radio contact with "Pigment 69" but was unable to do so. "Pigment 69" failed to arrive at the mission location, and was not seen again. Search efforts failed to locate the aircraft or its crew.

First Lieutenant Ariel Lindley Cross, who joined the U.S. Marine Corps from Iowa, was a member of Marine Composite Squadron 1, Marine Air Group 11, 1st Marine Air Wing. He was the pilot of the Skyknight when it went missing, and remains unaccounted for. After the incident, the Marine Corps promoted 1stLt Cross to the rank of Major (Maj). Today, Major Cross 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 Active Pursuit.

If you are a family member of this serviceman, DPAA can provide you with additional information and analysis of your case. Please contact your casualty office representative.