NIEDECKEN, WILLIAM CLINTON
Name: William Clinton Niedecken
Branch/Rank: United States Navy/O2
Unit: Attack Squadron
105
Date of Birth: 10 November 1945
Home City of Record: CORPUS CHRISTI TX
Date of Loss: 15 February 1969
Country of Loss: LAOS
Loss Coordinates: 161957 North 1063158 East
Status (in 1973): Killed In Action/Body Not Recovered
Category: 3
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: A7A
Missions:
Other Personnel in Incident:
Refno: 1385
Source: Compiled by P.O.W. NETWORK from one or more of the following: raw
data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA
families, published sources, interviews and CACCF = Combined Action
Combat Casualty File. 2020
REMARKS:
CACCF/CRASH/PILOT/3 YRS UNITED STATES NAVY
No further information available at this time.
On February 15, 1969, LTJG William C. Niedecken was the pilot of an A-7A Corsair aircraft (#153181), call sign Canyon Passage 412, from Strike Fighter Squadron 105 (VFA-105) "Gunslingers" aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63). He was the Number Two in a flight on a night strike mission over Laos. During pullout from a strafing run, LTJG Niedecken reported, “I’m taking fire.” His aircraft was observed to crash 2000-3000 feet beyond the target. No ejection was seen and no radio signals were heard. An extensive search effort was unsuccessful. His remains have not been recovered. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]
Submitted by William M. Killian
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02/2020
https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt00000001UhAEAU
Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG) William Clinton Niedecken entered the U.S. Navy from Texas and was a member of Attack Squadron 105, embarked aboard the USS Kitty Hawk (CVA 63). On February 15, 1969, he was the pilot of a single-seat A-7A Corsair II (bureau number 153181, call sign "Canyon Passage 412") as wingman in a flight of two conducting a night strike mission against an enemy truck park in Laos. While pulling up following a run at the target, LTJG Niedecken reported, "Two off, I'm taking fire." Following this transmission, the flight leader observed LTJG Niedecken's aircraft to crash beyond the target, in the vicinity of (GC) XD 641 165. No ejection was seen and no rescue beepers detected. An extensive search failed to locate LTJG Niedecken, and he remains unaccounted for. Today, Lieutenant Junior Grade Niedecken 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 Active Pursuit.
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