“It is my duty, as a member of the Air Rescue Service, to save life and to aid the injured. I will be prepared at all times to perform my assigned duties quickly and efficiently, placing these duties before personal desires and comforts. These things I do that others may live.”

Pararescueman Killed in Action

DATE OF LOSS:             18 October  1966 COUNTRY OF LOSS:     North Vietnam (Gulf of Tonkin) LOSS COORDINATES:   175500N   107090E   (YE278821) Call sign:                         Crown Bravo OTHER PERSONNEL ON SAME AIRCRAFT:  Inzar W. Rackley; John H.S. Long; Robert L. Hill; John R. Shoneck; Lawrence Clark; Ralph H. Angstadt. Synopsis: At 11:01 A.M. on October 18, 1966, a HU16 Albatross aircraft (serial # 51-7145) departed DaNang Airbase, Republic of Vietnam, to rescue a downed pilot in the Gulf of Tonkin off the coast of North Vietnam. The crew of the aircraft consisted of Maj. Ralph H. Angstadt, rescue commander and pilot; 1st. John H.S. Long, co-pilot; SSgt. John R. Shoneck and TSgt. Robert L. Hill, flight mechanics; SSgt. Lawrence Clark, radio operator; and Capt. Inzar W. Rackley, Jr.,navigator. Also aboard the aircraft was A2C Steven H. Adams, a  Pararescueman. The aircraft headed to the pilot's location, which was approximately 80 miles off the China coast in the northern sector of the Gulf of Tonkin. Two A1E’s were escorting the rescue aircraft and remained on station until the mission was completed, then the escort aircraft returned to DaNang Air Base. The last contact with the rescue aircraft (HU-16 Albatross) was at 5:45 P.M., and at that time, there was no indication of any trouble. The rescue aircraft was returning to the Air Base at DaNang, and last contact was in the vicinity of coordinates YE278821, approximately 35 miles off the coast of North Vietnam. All contact was lost with the amphibious aircraft in marginal weather conditions, and although an extensive search for the aircraft was conducted, there were no sightings of the crew or the aircraft. Even though the HU-16 was believed lost over water, the men on board were not declared killed, but were listed as Missing In Action. RANK:     E-3, United States Air Force    Promoted to MSgt during periods listed as MIA UNIT:      33rd Air Rescue/Recovery Squadron DATE OF BIRTH:      25 September  1944 HOME OF RECORD:   Spencer, Iowa DATE OF LOSS:       18 October  1966 COUNTRY OF LOSS:     North Vietnam (Gulf of Tonkin) LOSS COORDINATES:    175500N   107090E   (YE278821) STATUS (in 1973):   Missing In Action CATEGORY: 4 AIRCRAFT/VEHICLE/GROUND:  HU16- Aircraft REFNO:   0496 OTHER PERSONNEL IN INCIDENT:  Inzar W. Rackley; John H.S. Long; Robert L. Hill; John R. Shoneck; Lawrence Clark; Ralph H. Angstadt.                                                       (ALL MISSING)
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