On April 4, 1967, an F-4B Phantom II (bureau number 151493, call sign "Silver Kite 207") with two crew members participated in a combat air patrol over the Gulf of Tonkin with one other aircraft. After takeoff, the other aircraft's pilot asked the crew of "Silver Kite 207" to make a visual check of a possible fire in the nose section of his aircraft. The two aircraft were then observed to pitch up and invert at roughly 500 feet above the water before crashing near (GC) 48Q YF 742 676. No ejections were seen, and though the pilot of the Phantom survived the incident and was rescued, the other crew member was lost along with the aircraft. 

Ensign David Earl Martin entered the U.S. Navy from Florida and served in Fighter Squadron 92 embarked aboard the USS Enterprise (CVN 65). He was the radar intercept officer aboard "Silver Kite 207" and was the crew member who went missing with the aircraft. Attempts to locate him following the incident were unsuccessful. Today, Ensign Martin 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.