On May 23, 1967, an SH-3A Sea King (bureau 148985, call sign "Chink") with a crew of four took off from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CVS 12) in the Gulf of Tonkin on a search and rescue mission. On their approach, the crew radioed that they expected to be at the destination within half an hour, but made no further contact and was not seen again. A radio check was conducted on all frequencies, but contact with the crew could not be re-established. The helicopter never returned to the Hornet. Aerial and surface searches continued but none of the crew members were ever recovered. 

Lieutenant Richard Wendal Homuth, who joined the U.S. Navy from California, was a member of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 2, embarked aboard the Hornet. He was the copilot aboard this Sea King when it went missing, and was lost with the aircraft. His remains were not recovered. After the incident, the Navy promoted LT Homuth to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. Today, Lieutenant Commander Homuth 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.