Lieutenant (LT) Daniel Dean Cooper, who joined the U.S. Navy from Oregon, was a member of Attack Squadron 22, Carrier Air Wing 15, embarked aboard the USS Coral Sea (CVA-43). On February 4, 1972, he was the pilot of a single-seat A-7 Corsair II (bureau number 156870) returning from a strike mission back to the Coral Sea, located in the South China Sea. Lieutenant Cooper made two approaches to the Coral Sea, but was waved off from landing each time due to an obstruction on the flight deck. He then joined a tanked aircraft circling overhead to take on additional fuel. While maneuvering with the tanker aircraft, LT Cooper’s Corsair crashed into the water (vicinity of  49Q BU 750 430). He did not eject from the aircraft before it went down, and search efforts could not locate him following the crash. He remains unaccounted for. Today, LT Cooper 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.

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.