RUPINSKI, BERNARD FRANCIS

Name: Bernard Francis Rupinski
Branch/Rank: United States Navy/O2
Unit: VF 102
Date of Birth: 20 August 1943
Home City of Record: EDWARDSVILLE, PA
Date of Loss: 16 June 1968
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 184800 North  1051700 East
Status (in 1973): DIED IN CAPTIVITY
Category: 2
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: F4J #155548
Missions:
Other Personnel in Incident: Walter Wilber, returnee, injured
Refno: 1209

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. Updated 1999 with information from the family of
Bernard Rupinski. Updated 2003 with information on unit from Bob Pagan.
Updated 2012 with information from Jim Harding.  2020

REMARKS: WILBER THINKS DIED IN CRASH -- Never listed KIA/BNR

Nghe An, 25 miles NW of Vinh

CACCF/CRASH/AIRCREW/6YRS UNITED STATES NAVY

Synopsis: On Jun 16 1968 the F-4J tail #155548 with Lt. Rupinski and pilot
Walter E. Wilber was shot down In North Vietnam.  It is possible this was
Rupinski's his first mission. It was Wilber's 20th.  Rupinski was part of
the Diamond Backs stationed on the USS America.

The pilot was able to eject. He survived captivity, only to return to the
U.S. to face mutiny charges filed by then Commander James Stockdale.

 

Date: Tue, 8 May 2012 17:45:02 -0500

 
As CDR Wilber and RIO Lt Rupinski split into a combat spread from their wingman Lt Brown, they were responding to the call of ‘Migs in the Air.” The expectation was that the North Vietnamese (or Russian Pilots) would be using a high / low tactic in a potential dogfight. The high Migs was on every radar scope in the theater while the low Migs was using terrain masking to hide his maneuver. Wilber was to take the high aircraft while Brown looked out for the low aircraft as it was expected to engage the most vulnerable aircraft in the flight. The Cruiser, USS St. Louis was patrolling in the Tonkin Gulf off the coast of North Vietnam. The St. Louis’s CIC was controlling the intercept. As the high MIg and the F-4J raced towards each other the St. Louis gave Wilber a reciprocal vector which caused him to think that the Mig had somehow gone past him. Wilbur pancaked over to pursue the Mig which in fact was still heading towards him. The high Mig launched an air to air Atoll missile which went right up one of the hot F-4’s engines. Wingman Brown saw Wilbur eject but no one came out the rear seat before the Phantom exploded. The minute Wilbur hit the ground he became a very valuable POW, squadron commanding officer and propaganda asset to the North Vietnamese.

At the time, I was the Strike Journalist aboard the AMERICA and a Syracuse University Degreed Journalism major.  I knew both men during this deployment and the ’67 Med deployment. I never broke faith with these and my other POW brothers always keeping them in my prayers to this day.

Jim Harding, Navy Journalist, X Div. AMERICA

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02/2020

https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt00000001UOZEA2

LT BERNARD FRANCIS RUPINSKI

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On June 16, 1968, a F-4 Phantom II (tail number 155548, call sign "Milkvine 101") with a crew of two was the lead aircraft in a flight of two on a combat air patrol mission over the Gulf of Tonkin. The flight was directed inland to repel enemy aircraft reported to be south of the 19th parallel, and encountered enemy MiGs over Nghe An Province, North Vietnam. During the ensuing combat, a MiG-21 fighter fired a missile which hit the Phantom in the fuselage, causing it to explode and crash. The pilot ejected, parachuted to the ground, and was captured by enemy forces. The second crew member was not seen to eject, and he is believed to have died in the crash.  

Lieutenant Bernard Francis Rupinski, who joined the U.S. Navy from Pennsylvania, served with Fighter Squadron 102 aboard the USS America (CVA 66). He was the copilot aboard the Phantom when it crashed, and he remains unaccounted for. Lieutenant Rupinski 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.

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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