FISHER, KENNETH

Name: Kenneth Fisher
Rank/Branch: O3/United States Air Force, pilot
Unit: 390th TFS
Date of Birth: 10 December 1936
Home City of Record: Bronx NY
Date of Loss: 07 November 1967
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 174500 North  1062500 East
Status (in 1973): Returnee
Category:
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: F4C
Missions: 59
Other Personnel in Incident: Leon Ellis, returnee

Source: Compiled by P.O.W. NETWORK from one or more of the following: raw
data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA
families, published sources, interviews.

REMARKS:  730314 RELEASED BY DRV

Synopsis:   
It all began about 4:30 in the afternoon on November 7, 1967 when Fisher and
Ellis rolled in on an active flak site about 30 miles north of Dong Hoi. It
was their first mission together, although both had more than 50 missions
under their belt. The aircraft was hit immediately after bomb release, and
it exploded into three pieces. Ellis ejected a few seconds later and had an
exciting but gentle parachute letdown to the ground. The North Vietnamese
were all around and both were captured after having time only for Ellis to
make a short transmission on the survival radio.

SOURCE: WE CAME HOME  copyright 1977
Captain and Mrs. Frederic A Wyatt (USNR Ret), Barbara Powers Wyatt, Editor
P.O.W. Publications, 10250 Moorpark St., Toluca Lake, CA 91602
Text is reproduced as found in the original publication (including date and
spelling errors).
UPDATE - 09/95 by the P.O.W. NETWORK, Skidmore, MO

KENNETH FISHER
Major - United States Air Force
Shot Down: November 7, 1967
Released: March 14,1973

I was born on December 10, 1936 in the Bronx, New York. I was the fifth son
in our family and the fifth son to see combat. I grew up in East Meadow, New
York where I graduated from W. C. Mepham High School. The next four years
were spent attending the University of Pennsylvania. Upon graduation I was
commissioned via the ROTC program. I completed pilot training in April 1960
and stayed on at Laredo AFB, Texas as a Flight Instructor with a short tour
at Maxwell AFB, Alabama to attend Squadron Officers School. During 1965 and
1966 I was a flight examiner assigned to the 317th FIS at Elmendorf AFB,
Alaska. I completed the F-4C upgrading at MacDill AFB, Florida in July 1967
and was assigned to the 390th TFS at Da Nang AB, South Vietnam.

I was shot down on November 7, 1967 while on my 57th combat mission. Captain
Leon F. Ellis and I flew our first mission together that day and fortunately
spent most of our five and a half years of captivity together. I was a
career officer before I was shot down and still plan to remain in the Air
Force. I plan to return to flying as soon as I complete Intermediate Staff
College.

Before I left for Vietnam I briefed my wife, Maggie, on what to expect
should I be shot down. Of course, the worst she could expect would be that I
would be listed MIA. In that case, l told her she would have Susan, our ten
month old daughter, as a bond between us. The day I left Susan said "Da Da"
for the first time and took twenty steps. During my absence Susan was a
great comfort to Maggie and helped her endure the long strain. Upon my
arrival at Maxwell AFB where I met Maggie and Susan for the first time in
five and one half years, Susan gave me a big hug and kiss and said, "Now I
have a Daddy just like all the other kids." In the days that followed, I
learned that Maggie had been very active in the struggle to obtain "our"
release. I am just now beginning to realize the fulfillment of our love
which has endured these years and given me strength when I needed it. It is
this love within a family and within our nation that helps our nation
prevail through difficult times. I am proud to be an American. God Bless you
all.

December 1996
Kenneth Fisher retired from the United States Air Force as a Colonel. He and
Maggie live in Florida.