THOMPSON, WILLIAM JOSEPH

Name: William Joseph Thompson
Branch/Rank: United States Navy/O4
Unit:
Date of Birth: 13 December 1930
Home City of Record: KANSAS CITY KS
Date of Loss: 16 January 1968
Country of Loss: North Vietnam/Over Water
Loss Coordinates: 0 0
Status (in 1973): Killed In Action/Body Not Recovered
Category: 5
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: C1A
Missions:
Other Personnel in Incident: 7 rescued
Refno:

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: Air craft overboard, 7 rescued, not Thompson.

CACCF/CRASH/PILOT/12 YRS UNITED STATES NAVY

No further information available at this time.

=================

Library of Congress files:

ARMED SERVICES GRAVES REGISTRATION OFFICE (ASGRO)/ FINDINGS OF
NONRECOVERABILITY OF REMAINS IN THE CASE OF THOMPSON, WILLIAM JOSEPH, LCDR
(USN)
Name: WILLIAM J. THOMPSON

Subjects: Remains

Reel: 154

Page: 15

Type of Document: Miscellaneous

Date of Report: 74 07 19

Date of Information: 00 00 00

Originator: USA

Category: Casualty files


PERSONNEL CASUALTY REPORT/ PILOT OF CIA AIRCRAFT ON OPERATIONAL FLIGHT
Name: WILLIAM J. THOMPSON

Subjects: Aircraft downed; Killed

Comments: OVER WATER

Reel: 154

Page: 3

Type of Document: Miscellaneous

Date of Report: 68 01 24

Date of Information: 68 01 16

Originator: USS KITTY HAWK

Category: Casualty files

 

 

Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2015 01:41:13 +0000
From: William M. Killian
 

Below is info regarding the losses of LT Orville D. Cooley, LCDR William J.
Thompson, A03 William H. Reedy Jr.:
 

On January 16, 1968, LT Orville D. Cooley, a 9 year Navy veteran from Seward,
Nebraska, was the pilot of a U.S. Navy Grumman C-1A Trader that crashed upon
launch from the USS KITTY HAWK (CVA-63). Due to previous rainfall which
made the deck wet, upon break release, the aircraft drifted to the starboard, veering
sharply to the port and striking the Fresnel lens installation as it continued over the
port side, crashing into the sea. The aircraft was a carrying visiting U.S. Senators to
shore when the crash occurred. The senators were among the seven survivors but
unfortunately LT Cooley was not among those who survived. His remains were not
found. Also lost in this incident were co-pilot LCDR William J. Thompson and
passenger A03 William H. Reedy Jr. Their bodies were also not recovered. The
catapult and arresting gear officer who frequently flew on the C-1A (call name
Pawtucket 69) stated that LT Cooley had not slept for two days before his accident
and should not have been assigned to fly the morning of the 16th. LT Cooley was 30
years-old at the time of his death. He was the loving father of Wallace and Molly
Cooley who were 2 years-old and 6 months old at the time, as well as a caring
husband to his widowed wife, Elizabeth. [Taken from togetherweserved.com]

 

Regards,

 

William M. Killian

Social Studies Department Co-Chair

 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

02/2020

https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt0000000BTl9EAG
 

LCDR WILLIAM JOSEPH THOMPSON

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On January 16, 1968, a C-1A Trader (bureau number 146054) carrying ten service members was preparing to launch from the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) on a logistics mission to Da Nang, South Vietnam. The aircraft was taxiing into position for takeoff when it veered due to a damp flight deck surface from an earlier rain shower. After swerving across the deck, the aircraft went overboard and crashed into the water. A UH-2C Seasprite flying in the area spotted the Trader’s tail section before it sank beneath the waves, and was able to rescue seven survivors. The three other personnel aboard were lost with the aircraft and could not be recovered.

Lieutenant Commander William Joseph Thompson entered the U.S. Navy in 1955 from Kansas, and was stationed aboard the USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63). He was the copilot of this Trader when it fell off the flight deck and was lost with the aircraft. His remains were not recovered. Today, Lieutenant Commander Thompson 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.

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