MOTT, DAVID PHILLIP
RIP 10 Sept 2025
| Name: David Phillip Mott Rank/Branch: O3/USAF, pilot Unit: 20th TASS Date of Birth: 21 Jan 1942 Home City of Record: Fargo ND Date of Loss: 19 May 1972 Country of Loss: South Vietnam Loss Coordinates: 164400N 1071800E (YD465527) Status (in 1973): Released POW Category: Acft/Vehicle/Ground: OV10A Missions: 100+ Other Personnel in Incident: William E. Thomas (released POW) |
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Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 01 April 1991 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. 2025
REMARKS: 730327 RELSD BY PRG
SYNOPSIS: The OV10 Bronco was among the aircraft most feared by the Viet
Cong and NVA forces, because whenever the Bronco appeared overhead, an air
strike seemed certain to follow. Although the glassed-in cabin could become
uncomfortably warm, it provided splendid visibility. The two-man crew had
armor protection and could use machine guns and bombs to attack, as well as
rockets to mark targets for fighter bombers. This versatility enabled the
plane to fly armed reconnaissance missions, in addition to serving as
vehicle for forward air controllers.
Capt. David P. Mott and Chief Warrant Officer William E. Thomas, Jr. were
the crew of an OV10A aircraft sent on a combat mission over South Vietnam on
May 19, 1972. During the mission, the aircraft was shot down a few miles
from Quang Tri city in Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam. Both Mott and
Thomas, unknown to U.S. authorities, were captured by the Vietnamese and
taken to Hanoi.
For the next 11 months, Thomas and Mott were "guests" in the Hanoi prison
system. They were officially prisoners of the Viet Cong, but were held in
North Vietnam. On March 27, the two were released in Operation Homecoming,
during which 591 Americans were released by the Vietnamese.
Since the war ended, over 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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
David Mott retired from the United States Air Force as a Colonel. He and his
wife Liz reside in Colorado.
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CC: from DM... Colonel (Ret.) David Phillip Mott 21 Jan 1942 – 10 Sep 2025
Colonel (Ret.) David Phillip Mott, USAF, passed away on September 10, 2025, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, at the age of 83.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, he grew up in Brainerd, Minnesota, and
Jamestown, North Dakota. He earned a mathematics degree from North
Dakota State University, where he met his first wife, Phyllis Heaton,
with whom he had two children, Andrea and David. He later earned a
master’s in business from Auburn University. Commissioned in 1965, David served as a T-38 instructor pilot before becoming a forward air controller in Vietnam, where he flew 485 combat hours. Shot down and captured in 1972, he endured nearly a year as a prisoner of war before his release in 1973. He went on to fly the F-4D and later held a variety of command and staff roles, ultimately retiring as a Colonel after accumulating more than 4,200 flying hours as a Command Pilot.
His decorations included the Defense Superior Service Medal, the
Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Purple Heart.
In 1976, David married Elizabeth Splichal, and together they spent many
years stationed in Germany — including five consecutive assignments
working with NATO from 1978 until his retirement in 1995. They traveled
widely, skied often, and enjoyed the cultures and cuisines of Europe
before retiring to Colorado Springs.
He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; his children, Andrea Mott and
David Mott; and grandsons, Harrison and Alexander Mott. He was preceded
in death by his parents, Sidney and Coletta Mott, and his brother, Roger
Mott.
David will be remembered for his courage and the qualities that defined
his life. His dry sense of humor endeared him to most, while his
storytelling and joy for cooking brought people together with meals that
nurtured deep friendships. His wit and authenticity, along with his
strength, made him someone whose presence was appreciated and whose
memory will be long cherished. David lived by two favorite rules in life: “Be smarter than the equipment you are working with” and “Beer starts at good.” |
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