KNIGHT, ROY ABNER, JR.

Remains Identified/announced 6 June 2019

Name: Roy Abner Knight, Jr.
Rank/Branch: O4/US Air Force
Unit: 602nd Fighter Squadron, Udorn RTAFB
Date of Birth: 01 February 1931 (Garner TX)
Home City of Record: Millsap TX
Date of Loss: 19 May 1967
Country of Loss: Laos
Loss Coordinates: 202437N 1041331E (VH192569)
Status (in 1973): Missing In Action
Category: 2
Acft/Vehicle/Ground: A1E
Refno: 0690

Other Personnel In Incident: (none missing)

Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 15 October 1990 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 2019.

REMARKS:

SYNOPSIS: The Douglas A1 Skyraider ("Spad") is a highly maneuverable,
propeller driven aircraft designed as a multipurpose attack bomber or
utility aircraft. The A1 was first used by the Air Force to equip the first
Air Commando Group in counterinsurgency operations, and was later used in
such diverse roles as electronic intelligence, antisubmarine warfare and
rescue missions.

Maj. Roy A. Knight, Jr. was a "Spad" pilot assigned to the 602nd Tactical
Fighter Squadron at Udorn Airbase,  Thailand. On May 19, 1967 Knight was
flying a mission over Laos when his plane was shot down in Houa Rhan
Province in extreme northern Laos. Although the U.S. believes the Lao could
account for Knight, no information has been received regarding his fate.

Knight is one of nearly 600 Americans lost in Laos. When the Peace accords
were signed in 1973, they did not provide for the release of any Americans
held by the Lao, nor has their release been negotiated for since that time.

Nearly 2500 Americans did not come home from the war in Vietnam. The
Vietnamese and their communist allies can account for most of these men.
Some hundred were known to be held as prisoners, some were photographed in
captivity, some were alive in radio contact with personnel in their area,
still others simply disappeared.

Years after our military involvement ended, reports of Americans held
captive continue to mount. Thousands of reports have been received
indicating that Americans are still being held prisoner in Southeast Asia.
The U.S. Government continues to press the Vietnamese for information, as it
has for nearly 15 years. The U.S. views the problem as humanitarian, while
the Vietnamese are concerned with reconstruction aid promised by signed
agreement but not delivered. Until we are willing to negotiate for their
release, these Americans will die in communist prisons wondering why their
country abandoned them.

Roy A. Knight, Jr. was born in Garner, Texas, the fifth of seven children.
He graduated from high school in Millsap Texas and joined the Air Force in
1948. In 1967, he was sent to Thailand to fly missions in Vietnam from Udorn
Air Base. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel during the period he was
maintained Missing in Action.