HOSKINS, CHARLES LEE

Name: Charles Lee Hoskins
Rank/Branch: O2/US Air Force
Unit: 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Ubon AB Thailand
Date of Birth: 05 August 1944
Home City of Record: Mission KS
Date of Loss: 16 February 1971
Country of Loss: Laos
Loss Coordinates: 150500N 1070700E (YB279869)
Status (in 1973): Missing In Action
Category: 2
Acft/Vehicle/Ground: F4D
Refno: 1704
Other Personnel In Incident: Ralph N. Pattillo (missing)

Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project  01 April 1991 from one
or more of the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources,
correspondence with POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews. Updated
by the P.O.W. NETWORK 1999.

REMARKS:

SYNOPSIS: The Phantom, used by Air Force, Marine and Navy air wings, served
a multitude of functions including fighter-bomber and interceptor, photo and
electronic surveillance. The two man aircraft was extremely fast (Mach 2),
and had a long range (900 - 2300 miles, depending on stores and mission
type). The F4 was also extremely maneuverable and handled well at low and
high altitudes. Most pilots considered it one of the "hottest" planes
around.

Maj. Ralph N. Pattillo was the pilot and 1Lt. Charles L. Hoskins the
weapons/systems officer of an F4D fighter bomber from the 497th Tactical
Fighter Squadron based at Ubon Airbase, Thailand. At 1930 hours on February
16, 1971, the two were sent on a combat mission over Laos.

During the mission, the aircraft was shot down less than a mile from Ban
Dakyon, Laos, an area which was then under control of North Vietnamese
forces. Because of heavy enemy forces on the ground, ground search was
impossible. Air search efforts failed to produce evidence of the downed
plane or the two officers, and the search was terminated.

A report given to his parents stated that it was possible that either
Hoskins or Pattillo may have been able to successfully eject from the plane
in the darkness, and that it was possible that one or both could have been
captured.

Hoskins' parents, Charles and Margaret say, "We as parents cannot and will
not give up hope. To do so we must have some definite and tangible evidence
to the contrary. We strongly believe there are LIVE men over there in
captivity and urge our government to concentrate on pursuing the release of
each and every one of them and on the repatriation of all remains. Please
help bring Capt. Hoskins home as well as all those still listed as POW and
MIA."

Charles Hoskins was promoted to the rank of Captain and Ralph Pattillo to
the rank of Lieutenant Colonel during the period they were maintained
missing.

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Kansas City Star

MARGARET HELEN HOSKINS Margaret Helen (Fish) Hoskins, 81, Roeland Park,
KS, passed away Wednesday, August 11, 1999, at her home after a short
illness. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, August 14, at D.W.
Newcomer's Sons Overland Park Chapel, 8201 Metcalf; burial in Johnson
County Memorial Gardens.Visitation will be 7-8 p.m. Friday at the
chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Margaret
Hoskins Memorial Fund, c/o Roeland Park United Methodist Church, 5110
Cedar, Roeland Park, KS 66205.Margaret was born September 18, 1917, in
Kansas City, KS, to Silas and Rachel Fish. She graduated from
WyandotteHigh School in 1936 as a member of the National Honor Society.
Margaret married Charles Francis Hoskins in March of 1942. Margaret was
a member of Roeland Park United Methodist Church for 49 years and was
active in the Martha Circle. After 20 years of working for JCPenney she
retired in 1979. Margaret and Charles celebrated their 50th
wedding anniversary in 1992 with a trip to Disney World. Margaret has two
sons, Charles Lee Hoskins who is missing-in-action in Laos since 1971,
and Ronald Dean Hoskins. She is survived by her husband, Charles; her
son, Ron and wife, Susan of Raleigh, NC; Charles Lee's wife, Kathy
Hoskins of Plano, TX; and three grandchildren, Heather, Hilary and Chad.
(Arrangements: D.W. Newcomer's Sons Overland Park Chapel)