REEDY, WILLIAM HENRY JR.

Name: William Henry Reedy Jr.
Branch/Rank: United States Navy/E4
Unit:  7th Fleet, Task Force 77
Date of Birth: 29 September 1947
Home City of Record: MERCED CA
Date of Loss: 16 January 1968
Country of Loss: North Vietnam/Over Water
Loss Coordinates: 183657 North  1071258 East
Status (in 1973): Killed In Action/Body Not Recovered
Category: 5
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: C1A
Missions:
Other Personnel in Incident: seven others, rescued
Refno:

Source: Compiled by P.O.W. NETWORK from one or more of the following: raw
data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA
families, published sources, interviews and CACCF = Combined Action
Combat Casualty File.   2020
REMARKS:

A/C OVRBD 7 RESCUED

CACCF/CRASH/NON-AIRCREW

No further information available at this time.

 

Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2015 01:41:13 +0000
From: William M. Killian

Below is info regarding the losses of LT Orville D. Cooley, LCDR William J. Thompson,
A03 William H. Reedy Jr.:
 

On January 16, 1968, LT Orville D. Cooley, a 9 year Navy veteran from Seward, Nebraska, was the
pilot of a U.S. Navy Grumman C-1A Trader that crashed upon launch from the USS KITTY HAWK

(CVA-63). Due to previous rainfall which made the deck wet, upon break release, the aircraft drifted
to the starboard, veering sharply to the port and striking the Fresnel lens installation as it continued

over the port side, crashing into the sea. The aircraft was a carrying visiting U.S. Senators to shore
when the crash occurred. The senators were among the seven survivors but unfortunately LT Cooley
was not among those who survived. His remains were not found. Also lost in this incident were
co-pilot LCDR William J. Thompson and passenger A03 William H. Reedy Jr. Their bodies were
also not recovered. The catapult and arresting gear officer who frequently flew on the C-1A (call
name Pawtucket 69) stated that LT Cooley had not slept for two days before his accident and should

not have been assigned to fly the morning of the 16th. LT Cooley was 30 years-old at the time of his

death. He was the loving father of Wallace and Molly Cooley who were 2 years-old and 6 months old
at the time, as well as a caring husband to his widowed wife, Elizabeth. [Taken from togetherweserved.com]

 

Regards,

 

William M. Killian

Social Studies Department Co-Chair
 

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02/2020

https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt0000000BTkVEAW

AO3 WILLIAM HENRY REEDY JR.

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On January 16, 1968, a C-1A Trader (bureau number 146054) carrying ten service members was preparing to launch from the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) on a logistics mission to Da Nang, South Vietnam. The aircraft was taxiing into position for takeoff when it veered due to a damp flight deck surface from an earlier rain shower. After swerving across the deck, the aircraft went overboard and crashed into the water. A UH-2C Seasprite flying in the area spotted the Trader’s tail section before it sank beneath the waves, and was able to rescue seven survivors. The three other personnel aboard were lost with the aircraft and could not be recovered.

Aviation Ordnanceman Third Class William Henry Reedy Jr. entered the U.S. Navy in 1965 from California and was a member of 7th Fleet, Task Force 77, stationed on the USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63). He was a passenger aboard this Trader when it fell off the flight deck, and was lost with the aircraft. His remains were not recovered. Today, Petty Officer Reedy is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual's case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.

If you are a family member of this serviceman, DPAA can provide you with additional information and analysis of your case. Please contact your casualty office representative.

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