THE CREW OF A U21A AIRCRAFT
CAPT. CHARLES R. BARNES
Missing: 3/16/69
Command Aircraft Company
210th Aviation Battalion
12th Aviation Group
1st Aviation Bridge
Pittsburgh, PA
CAPT. DAVID R. SMITH
Missing: 3/16/69
Command Aircraft Company
210th Aviation Battalion
12th Aviation Group
1st Aviation Brigade
Dayton, OH
PFC RAYMOND BOBE
Missing: 3/16/69
Headquarters Company
USARV
Tarrant, AL
SP4 MICHAEL BATT
Missing: 3/16/69
Headquarters Company
USARV
Defiance, OH
MAJOR MARVIN L. FOSTER
Missing: 3/16/69
Headquarters Company
USARV
Hubbard, TX
On March 16, 1969 this crew of an U21A aircraft, was scheduled to land at
Hue/Phu Bai. Because of low cloud ceilings, poor visibility and rain, the
aircraft was required to use instrument flight rules. They were picked up by
radio and radar but contact was lost during approach. All emergency frequencies
were used but there was no other radio contact with the crew.
Neither the aircraft or the crew were located. SP4 Batt's photo was selected
as a known prisoner from the JCRC photo album of those missing.
Our government claims it does not know why the source selected Batt's photo.
Returning POW's did not indicate that any member of this crew was in the Vietnam
prison system. When 591 POW's were released in 1973, military officials were
"shocked" that hundreds of so-called known POW'S were not among the released.

Intelligence reports suggest that there must have been more than one prison system.
In 1988, "material" was provided to the U.S. government that correlated to Capt. Barnes.
The area where this s-called material was found also correlates with the last known
location of the U21A aircraft. Some have labeled this material as a "dog tag" report,
but others mention remains.  This material, wherever it may be, should not be ignored
as it has been.  Since the aircraft was lost, our government has received over
10,000 reports relation to POW/MIA's still in Southeast Asia. Many believe that hundreds
are still alive and waiting for the country they fought for to bring them home.
They can never be forgotten and for the price of our freedom
THEY CANNOT BE ABANDONED!  BRING THEM HOME!
Next page
UPDATE: July 15, 2005
Lt. Col. Marvin L. Foster, Hubbard, Tex.; Capt. David R. Smith,
Dayton, Ohio; Sgt. 1st Class Michael L. Batt, Defiance, Ohio; and Sgt.
1st Class Raymond E. Bobe, Tarrant, Ala., all U.S. Army have been
identified and returned to the United States! The press release does not
mention Captain Charles R. Barnes by name; he is the "one other
passenger aboard whose remains have not been identified". I have had
the honor of meeting several family members of my adopted
POW/MIA's and would like to keep my page up in their honor!