FRYER, CHARLES WIGGER

Name: Charles Wigger Fryer
Branch/Rank: United States Navy/O3
Unit: Attack Squadron VA-152 "Mavericks"
Date of Birth: 01 SEPTEMBER 1939
Home City of Record: OKLAHOMA CITY OK
Date of Loss: 07 August 1966
Country of Loss: North Vietnam/Over Water
Loss Coordinates: 191158 North 1054659 East
Status (in 1973): Killed In Action/Body Not Recovered
Category: 5
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground:  A1H
Missions:
Other Personnel in Incident:
Refno: 0416

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 and CACCF = Combined Action
Combat Casualty File. 2020

REMARKS:

CACCF/CRASH/PILOT/4 YRS United States Navy

BORDER NGHE AN 5 MILES ENE THO TRANG BARELY OVER WATER

No further information available at this time.


Subject: Submission
Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2018 17:32:33 +0000
From: William M. Killian <wkillian@pvhspanthers.org>

 

On August 7, 1966, LT Charles W. Fryer was the pilot of a U.S. Navy A-1H Skyraider (#139701) from Attack Squadron VA-152 "Mavericks" aboard the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany (CV-34). LT Fryer was part of a section of aircraft on an armed reconnaissance mission over North Vietnam attacking vehicles when his Skyraider was hit by small arms fire during a firing run. Fryer was heard to transmit, “I’m hit,” and headed towards the sea with the aircraft under control and the engine apparently operating normally. A large, brown hole on the port (left) wing indicated a probable ignition of 20mm ammunition the aircraft was carrying. After crossing the coast, Fryer fired out all the remaining 20mm ammo and the Skyraider suddenly became erratic in flight, gradually losing altitude. Fryer tended to over-correct in response to instructions given him from other aircraft in the section that were accompanying him for both his wing and nose attitudes. The aircraft commenced a steep, nose-down port turn from 1200 feet in which Fryer was observed to initially recover, but continued descending until entering the water with wings level. The Skyraider exploded on impact. Witnesses reported not seeing a parachute, and search of the immediate area found no trace of Fryer. It was later suspected that Fryer had suffered wounds which had incapacitated his ability to control the aircraft. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]


 

Submitted by William M. Killian

 

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01/2020

https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt0000000KZAfEAO

LT CHARLES WIGGER FRYER

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Lieutenant Charles Wigger Fryer entered the U.S. Navy from Oklahoma and served in Fighter Squadron 152, embarked aboard the USS Oriskany (CVA 34). On August 7, 1966, he took off in a single-seat A-1H Skyraider (bureau number 139701, call sign "Locket 501") on a strike mission against enemy targets in North Vietnam. While attacking a concentration of enemy vehicles, LT Fryer's Skyraider was hit by enemy fire, and he flew the aircraft away from the target out to sea. Other aircraft on the mission reported that soon after, LT Fryer's aircraft began maneuvering erratically before diving and crashing into the water near (GC) 48Q WG 823 229, exploding on impact. Witnesses saw no parachutes and searches of the crash area failed to locate any sign of LT Fryer following the incident. Today, Lieutenant Fryer 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.

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