SYNOPSIS: The Phantom, used by Air Force, Marine and Navy air wings, served a
multitude of functions including fighter-bomber and interceptor, photo and
electronic surveillance. The two man aircraft was extremely fast (Mach 2),
and
had a long range (900 - 2300 miles, depending on stores and mission type).
The
F4 was also extremely maneuverable and handled well at low and high
altitudes.
The F4 was selected for a number of state-of-the-art electronics conversions,
which improved radar intercept and computer bombing capabilities enormously.
Most pilots considered it one of the "hottest" planes around.
LT. William D. Frawley was a pilot assigned to Fighter Squadron 143 onboard
the
aircraft carrier USS RANGER. On March 1, 1966, he launched in his F4B Phantom
with his Radar Intercept Officer (RIO), LTJG William M. Christensen. Along
with
two other F4 aircraft, they were assigned an armed coastal reconnaissance
mission.
After routine aerial refueling, they began their mission into what was
deteriorating weather conditions. While just off the coast of North Vietnam
and
at extremely low level, all three aircraft began a coordinated low-level turn
through inclement weather. Midway through the turn, the lead aircraft lost
contact with Frawley's plane.
The flight leader radioed Frawley to see if he held the flight leader
visually.
Frawley responded that he did not. The flight leader then joined up on the
third F4, but neither were able to contact or get a visual on Frawley's
aircraft. The flight leader contacted a rescue destroyer and gave the shop
the
last known position of frawley's aircraft.
Limited search efforts were begun by the USS BERKELEY, USS ISBELL and HU-16
and
A-1H aircraft, covering an area from the shoreline out to 10 miles. No visual
or
electronic signals were made of the two crewmembers. The other two F4s
returned
safely to the RANGER without further incident.
It was learned later that during the course of events, the crew of the second
aircraft did near a surface-to-air missile (SAM) alert warning on UHF radio,
but
no missiles were seen or reported fire. Circumstances strongly suggest
collision
with the water, however enemy action was not ruled out. Their last known
location was approximately 50 miles southwest of Haiphong, and about 10 miles
south of the city of Hoanh Dong, North Vietnam. Both men were declared
Missing
in Action, but because it was suspected they crashed in the Gulf of Tonkin,
it
is not believed their remains, if killed, are recoverable.
The following day, evidence of an aircraft crash was located just off the
shoreline which was believed to increase the chance that the plane was shot
down
by enemy fire. No trace was ever found of Frawley or Christensen, and the
decision to keep them in Missing in Action status rather than Killed status
was
made. This status was maintained for the next 7 years.
In 1973, 591 Americans were released from prisons in Vietnam. A list of those
who died in captivity was provided, and some of their remains were
repatriated.
Some remains have been repatriated since. There were many men who were
known to
have survived their loss incident who did not return. The Vietnamese deny any
knowledge of these men, even though some were photographed as their captives.
Unlike "MIAs" from other wars, most of the over 2300 remaining missing in
Southeast could be accounted for. Because of this, and because the U.S. has
received thousands of reports indicating hundreds of Americans are still held
captive in Southeast Asia, we cannot close this chapter of the Vietnam war.
Perhaps Frawley and Christensen perished. Perhaps in their story, they have
another mission to fly -- that of telling us never to quit, never to give up
until ALL Americans are home, especially those who are still alive, captive
and
fighting the war that claimed America's best sons -- like Bill Christensen
and
Bill Frawley.
All Biographical and loss information on POWs provided by Operation Just Cause have been supplied by Chuck and Mary Schantag of POWNET. Please check with POWNET regularly for updates.
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