WOODS, BRIAN DUNSTAN
RIP 09/16/2015
Name: Brian Dunstan Woods
Rank/Branch: O4/US Navy
Unit: Attack Squadron 97, USS CONSTELLATION (CVA 64)
Date of Birth: 23 March 1932 (FAB Coco Solo, Canal Zone, Panama)
Home City of Record: San Diego CA
Date of Loss: 18 September 1968
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 183200N 1054100E (WF721491)
Status (in 1973): Released POW
Category:
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: A7A
Other Personnel in Incident: (none missing)
Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 15 May 1990 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 2023.
REMARKS: 730212 RELSD BY DRV
SYNOPSIS: The USS CONSTELLATION provided air power to the U.S. effort in
Vietnam early in the war, having participated in strikes against Loc Chao
and Hon Gai in North Vietnam during August 1964. One of the first American
POWs of the war, and certainly one of the most well-known, LTJG Everett
Alverez, launched from her decks and was captured during this series of
strikes in 1964. The CONSTELLATION was large and carried a full range of
aircraft. Fighters from her air wing, CVW-14, earned the carrier the
Meritorious Unit Commendation in 1968 during a particularly intense period
of air attacks. VF-96, a premier fighter squadron awarded the Clifton Trophy
two straight years, flew from the CONSTELLATION in October 1971. During this
period, two of her pilots, LT Randall H. Cunningham and LTJG William
"Willie" Driscoll became the first American aces of the Vietnam War, having
shot down five Russian-made MiG enemy aircraft. The CONSTELLATION remained
on station throughout most of the war.
One of the aircraft launched from the decks of the USS CONSTELLATION was the
Vought A7 Corsair II. The Corsair was a single-seat attack jet utilized by
both the Navy and Air Force in Vietnam. The aircraft was designed to meet
the Navy's need for a subsonic attack plane able to carry a greater load of
non-nuclear weapons that the A4 Skyhawk. The aircraft's unique design
completely freed the wingspace for bomb loading; the Pratt and Whitney jet
engine was beneath the fuselage of the aircraft. The Corsair was used
primarily for close air support and interdiction, although it was also used
for reconnaissance. A Corsair is credited with flying the last official
combat mission in the war - bombing a target in Cambodia on 15 August 1973.
LTCDR Brian D. Woods was an A7A pilot assigned to Attack Squadron 97 onboard
the USS CONSTELLATION. On September 18, 1968, Woods launched in his A7A
aircraft as one of a five-plane strike mission. As the strike group retired
from the target area a few miles south of the city of Vinh, LTCDR Woods'
aircraft was not seen when the group reformed.
Woods' aircraft disappeared over Ha Tinh Province. A crewmember of another
aircraft approximately ten miles from the target area reported having seen
an aircraft that had been hit, burst into flames and continue in a steep
dive until it impacted the ground. the burning aircraft was observed on the
ground and an emergency radio beeper signal was then heard for approximately
20 seconds. This beep, commencing within two minutes of the crash, was
estimated to originate from an area just east of the crash site. No
parachute was observed at any time. Attempts to establish voice contact with
Woods was met with negative results. The area in which LTCDR Woods went down
is a densely populated area allowing almost no possibility of evading
capture.
On September 18th and 19th, foreign propaganda broadcasts alluded to the
shooting down of an aircraft over North Vietnam. It was later confirmed that
Woods had safely ejected the aircraft and was captured almost immediately,
which precluded him from making any further contact on his emergency
survival radio.
LTCDR Woods was placed in a casualty status of Missing in action on
September 18, 1968. This status was changed to Captured on January 14, 1969.
He was repatriated as a Prisoner of War in the Hanoi prisoner exchange
called "Operation Homecoming" on February 12, 1973. During the years of his
captivity he had been promoted to the rank of Commander.
Since the war ended, nearly 10,000 reports relating to Americans missing,
prisoner or unaccounted for in Southeast Asia have been received by the U.S.
Government. Many authorities who have examined this largely classified
information are convinced that hundreds of Americans are still held captive
today. These reports are the source of serious distress to many returned
American prisoners. They had a code that no one could honorably return unless
all of the prisoners returned. Not only that code of honor, but the honor of
our country is at stake as long as even one man remains unjustly held. It's
time we brought our men home.
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Brian Woods retired from the United States Navy as a Captain. He lived in
California until his death.
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USNA: He enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve on May 13, 1950, and served on active duty as an Aviation Ordanceman with VS-661 from July 18, 1951 to June 29, 1952, with part of this service at the U.S. Naval Academy Prep School at Bainbridge, Maryland. Woods entered the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1952, left the academy in March 1953, and then attended the University of California at Los Angeles from March 1953 to December 1955. He entered the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Navy in December 1955, and was commissioned an Ensign and designated a Naval Aviator on February 2, 1957. Woods served at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, from 1957 to 1959, and then attended F9F-8 Cougar Fleet Replacement Training at NAS Miramar, California, before serving as an FJ-4B Fury pilot with VA-146 at NAS Miramar and aboard the aircraft carriers USS Lexington (CV-16) and USS Oriskany (CV-34) from 1960 to 1962. LT Woods served as an instructor pilot with VT-9 at NAS Meridian, Mississippi, from 1962 to May 1965, and then attended Carrier Air Traffic Control Center Training at NAS Glynco, Georgia, from May to July 1965. He served as assistant air operations officer aboard the aircraft carrier USS Midway (CVA-41) from July 1965 to June 1966, and then as air operations officer aboard the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CVS-10) from July 1966 to March 1967. LCDR Woods next attended A-7 Corsair II Replacement Air Group Training with VA-122 at NAS Lemoore, California, before serving as an A-7 pilot with VA-97 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Constellation (CV-64) from June 1967 until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on September 18, 1968. After spending 1,609 days in captivity, CDR Woods was released during Operation Homecoming on February 12, 1973. He was briefly hospitalized at the Naval Hospital in San Diego, California, before attending refresher flight training and then Replacement Air Group Training at NAS Lemoore, in the A-4 Skyhawk and the A-7. CDR Woods served as commanding officer of VA-195 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) from May 1974 to June 1975, and then attended Naval War College at Newport, Rhode Island, from July 1975 to July 1976. His next assignment was as air operations officer aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ranger (CV-61) from September 1976 to February 1977, and then as operations officer aboard the aircraft carrier USS Midway (CV-41) from March 1977 to May 1978. Capt Woods served on the faculty staff of the Naval War College from June 1978 to January 1979, followed by service as commanding officer of the fleet oiler USS Ashtabula (AO-51) from July 1979 to January 1981. His next assignment was as Tomahawk Cruise Missile Branch Chief for the Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet, from January to June 1981, and then as Head of the Carrier Acquisition Programs Coordination Branch on the Staff of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air Warfare at the Pentagon from July 1981 until his retirement from the Navy on October 31, 1983. Brian Woods died on September 16, 2015. His Legion of Merit w/Valor Citation reads For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from September 1968 to February 1973. By his diligent efforts, exceptional leadership, devotion and loyalty to the United States, and under the most adverse conditions, he resisted all attempts by the North Vietnamese to use him in causes detrimental to the United States. While in daily contact with the North Vietnamese guards and officers, he performed duties in staff positions, maintaining good order and discipline among the prisoners. Under constant harassment from their captors, and due to the frustrations of the prisoners during their long internment, many difficult situations arose, requiring perseverance, endurance and ingenuity. Using his extraordinary courage, resourcefulness, and sound judgment, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized. Brian is survived by his sister Barbara Walker of Coronado California, sons Christopher and Michael Woods of Charlottesville and Richmond Virginia, daughters Cathleen Thompson and Shannon Woods of Charleston South Carolina and San Diego California, eight grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. The Navy Relief Society would be appropriate for any remembrances. Interment Service Friday, October 09, 2015 1:30 pm Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Drive San Diego, California 92106.
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