U.S. Air Force Reserve Capt. Daniel W. Thomas, missing from
the Vietnam War, has now been accounted for.
On July 6, 1971, Thomas was the pilot of an OV-10A aircraft
with one other crewmember flying over central Laos in support of an
eight man Special Forces reconnaissance team. When the aircraft
arrived in the area, the weather was bad, however it was determined
that this would not affect the aircraft’s mission. Approximately
thirty minutes after the last radio transmission from the OV-10A
aircraft the ground team heard an impact or explosion to their
northeast, but could not determine the distance to the explosion.
Extensive search efforts failed to locate the crash site.
After multiple negative attempts to investigate the crash
site, in April 2014 a Vietnamese witness provided a photograph of an
ID tag associated with one of the two crewmembers. In August 2014,
possible human remains were approved for repatriation and
accessioned. DPAA analysis of aircraft wreckage and life support
items indicated both aircrew members were in the aircraft at the
time of impact. Additionally, through research, analysis, and DNA
testing, the DPAA Laboratory identified the second crewmember, Maj.
Donald Carr, in August 2015.
On April 12, 2016, the DPAA lab received dental remains, ID
tag, and other material evidence from the Vietnamese Office for
Seeking Missing Persons. Laboratory analysis of this evidence, as
well as circumstantial evidence were used in the identification of
his remains.
Interment services are pending.
| NATIONAL LEAGUE OF FAMILIES OF AMERICAN PRISONERS AND
MISSING IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
UPDATE: April 1, 2017 AMERICANS RECENTLY ACCOUNTED FOR: On March 28th, DPAA Statistics listed three USMCpersonnel as recently accounted for: Captain John A. House of NY, Cpl Glyn L. Runnels, Jr., of AL, and LCpl John D. Killen, II, of IA. All were listed as KIABNR on June 30, 1967, in South Vietnam. Their remains were recovered in June, 2012, and identification was authorized on December 22, 2015. DPAA has not yet published the formal announcement with interment plans. On March 7th, DPAA released an announcement that Captain Daniel W. Thomas, USAFR, listed as MIA on July 6, 1971 in South Vietnam, had been accounted for. Remains were recovered by a Vietnamese Unilateral Recovery Team (URT) in August, 2014, and identified in August, 2015, as those of Major Donald G. Carr, USA, the other person in the OV-10A piloted by Capt Thomas. Subsequent recovery efforts by the URT and repatriation of additional remains and material in April, 2016, brought the more recent ID of Capt Thomas. DPAA also listed on its website, under Statistics, the accounting for Colonel William E. Campbell, USAF, listed as MIA in Laos January 29, 1969. His remains were recovered April 17, 2014, identified August 29, 2016, and his name was placed on the DPAA website as accounted for on March 3rd. On February 22nd, DPAA announced the ID of Capt Robert R. Barnett, USAF, listed as KIA/BNR on April 7, 1966 while piloting a B-57B over Laos. His remains were recovered June 18, 2015 and identified August 16, 2016. Earlier this year, a Marine Corps Reserve officer, 1st Lt William C. Ryan, was the first person since June of 2016 announced as accounted for from the Vietnam War. 1st Lt Ryan was listed KIA/BNR in Laos on May 11, 1969. His remains were recovered January 27, 2016, and identified December 7, 2016. |