LANE, CHARLES JR.
Name: Charles Lane Jr.
Rank/Branch: O3/US Air Force
Unit: 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron
Date of Birth: 21 April 1942
Home City of Record: Yankton SD
Date of Loss: 23 August 1967
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 215000N 1052000E (WK550020)
Status (in 1973): Missing in Action
Category: 2
Acft/Vehicle/Ground: F4D
Other Personnel in Incident: Larry E. Carrigan (released POW)
Refno: 0805
Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 15 March 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 2020.
REMARKS:
SYNOPSIS: The Phantom, used by Air Force, Marine and Navy air wings, served
a multitude of functions including fighter-bomber. The 2-man aircraft was
very fast (Mach 2), and had a long range (900 - 2300 miles). The F4 was also
extremely maneuverable and handled well at low and high altitudes. Most
pilots considered it one of the "hottest" planes around.
Capt. Charles Lane, Jr. was the pilot and Capt. Larry E. Carrigan the
bombardier/navigator on an F4 sent from Ubon Airfield, Thailand, on a strike
mission over North Vietnam on 23 August 1967. The aircraft was number four
in a flight of four aircraft.
About 25 miles southwest of Hanoi, the aircraft was struck by hostile fire
and disintegrated. Other members of the flight observed the crew to eject
and saw two parachutes. One emergency beeper signal was heard.
The Department of Defense later learned that Larry E. Carrigan was a
Prisoner of War. He was released during Operation Homecoming in 1973, but
there was no further word of Charles Lane, Jr.
Since the war ended, over 10,000 reports have been received by the U.S.
relating to Americans still unaccounted for from the Vietnam war. Many
authorities now believe hundreds are still alive in captivity today. The
U.S. Government, although involved in talks with the Vietnamese since the
end of the war, has been unable to bring home a single live prisoner. The
Vietnamese, on the other hand, refuse to let the issue die, with the
ultimate hope of normalizing relations with the west.
The Americans who are still captive have been reduced to bargaining pawns
between two nations. For their sakes, everything possible must be done to
bring them home. The sacrifice of tens of thousands of America's young men
is mocked by the abandonment of their comrades. For the sake of our future
fighting men and those who have given their lives in the defense of their
country, we must see to it that we never again abandon our soldiers to enemy
hands.
Although six years passed before Lane was administratively declared dead,
based on no new information he was alive, Lane was not advanced in rank.
Carrigan's rank remained the same during the period he was a prisoner of
war.
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01/2020
https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt0000000KZPkEAO
On August 23, 1967, an F-4 Phantom II (tail number 66-0247, call sign "Ford 04") with two crew members was one of four aircraft on a strike mission against enemy targets in North Vietnam. While en route to the target, the flight was attacked by enemy MiG-21 fighters that fired missiles and hit two of the aircraft, including "Ford 04." After the two aircraft were shot down, three parachutes were seen and signals from four rescue beepers were detected. One of the crew members aboard "Ford 04" survived the incident and was captured by enemy forces, and returned to U.S. custody following the war. The other crew member was not located following the incident.
First Lieutenant Charles Lane Jr. entered the U.S. Air Force from South Dakota and served in the 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron. He was the pilot of "Ford 04" when it was shot down and was lost along with the aircraft. Further attempts to locate his remains were unsuccessful. Following the incident, the Air Force promoted 1st Lt Lane to the rank of Captain (Capt). Today, Captain Lane 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 Deferred.
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.
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