SMALL, JOSEPH III

Name: Joseph Small III
Rank/Branch: O4/US Marine Corps
Unit:
Age: 39
Home City: Racine WI
Date of Loss: 25 February 1991
Country of Loss:
Loss Coordinates:
Status: Prisoner of War
Status in 2002: Released 03/05/91
Acft/Vehicle/Ground: (observation plane)

Other Personnel in Incident: David Spellacy (missing)

Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 09 March 1991 from one
or more of the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources,
published sources, interviews. Updated by the POW NETWORK 2002.

REMARKS: OPERATION DESERT STORM

SYNOPSIS: Observation planes, including such models as the OV10 Bronco, were
among the aircraft most feared by the Viet Cong and NVA forces during the
Vietnam war, because whenever they appeared overhead, air strikes seemed
certain to follow. The aircraft, because they flew low and were only lightly
armed, were also vulnerable to enemy anti-aircraft fire.

Capt. David Spellacy was the observer and Major Joseph Small III the pilot
of an observation aircraft flying as Forward Air Control on February 25,
1991. The aircraft was shot down by enemy fire. The incident was not
initially announced by the Pentagon. Both crewmen were missing.

On March 6, 1991, Small was released by the Iraqis in a group of 15 American
POWs.