SPELLACY, DAVID
Name: David Spellacy
Rank/Branch: O3/US Marine Corps
Unit:
Age: 28
Home City: New River Air Station NC
Date of Loss: 25 February 1991
Country of Loss:
Loss Coordinates:
Status: Killed in Action
Status in 2002: KIA/Body Recovered
Acft/Vehicle/Ground: (observation plane)
Other Personnel in Incident: Joseph Small III (released)
Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 19 March 1991 from one
or more of the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources,
published sources, interviews. Updated by the P.O.W. 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. Spellacy remained missing.
Then on March 12, 1991, without further explanation, the U.S. Government
announced that David Spellacy had been killed in action. It was not announced
whether this declaration was based on the return of remains or was
circumstantial.
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FROM USA TODAY MARCH 20, 1991
GULF MARINE GETS FINAL SALUTE
BY BRUCE FRANKEL
USA TODAY
Worthington, Ohio -- A chill wind blew across the flat cemetery tow where
Marine Capt. David Spellacy -- the last unaccounted for U.S. Marine in the
gulf war and father of three -- was buried Tuesday.
Spellacy, 28, a navigator - bombardier, was shot down over Kuwait one day
before the birth of his youngest child, Michael, and two days before the end
of the war. He is also survived by daughter Amy, 3 and son Matthew, 1......