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! |
UPDATE: July 15, 2005 |