OFFICIAL STATUS: MISSING

CASE SUMMARY: SEE ATTACHED

RATIONALE FOR SELECTION: Major Mauterer made a successful ejection from his aircraft and made a good landing. Two sources reported his possible capture by North Vietnamese security forces. There are no correlated reports of his death since the incident.

REFNO: 0253 14 April 1976 CASE SUMMARY

1. (U) On 15 February 1966, Major Oscar (NMN) Mauterer was a pilot of an AIE aircraft (# 52-133885) as wingman in a flight of two which was providing cover for two O1E Forward Air Controller (FAC) aircraft over Laos. The flight had completed three attack runs on the target and were about to depart the area when Maj Mauterer radioed that he was on 'Lire and was going to bail out. The flight leader observed a good parachute and circled until it reached the ground in the vicinity of -rid coordinates WE 761 257. When the flight 'leader made a low pass to look for Maj Mauterer on the around the FAC observed ground fire from around the downed pilot. Multiple air strikes were conducted in the area to suppress the hostile fire. Rescue helicopters arrived on the scene one hour later, but were unable to attempt a rescue because of enemy fire. Beeper signals were heard at an unspecified time on the emergency radio frequency, however, it could not be determined if these signals were coming from Maj Mauterer or another source. The search and rescue effort was suspended at 1640 hours on 18 February 1966. (Ref 1)

2. (U) A friendly guerrilla team reported on or about 20 February 1966 that the pilot (whose aircraft had crashed at grid coordinates (GC) WE 710 260) was captured by the Vietnamese (NFI). (Ref 2)

3. (C) A source reported that the American pilot of an A1-E aircraft was shot down in the vicinity of Ban Soy (WE 742 247, in Laos), in in March 1966. The pilot was captured and sent on foot to North Vietnam. (Source's information possibly related to the incident involving Maj Mauterer) (Ref 3)

4. (U) During- the existence of JCRC, the hostile threat in the area precluded any visits to or ground inspections of the site involved in this case. This individual's name and identifying data were turned over to the Four-Party Joint Military Team with a request for any information available. No response was forthcoming. Maj Mauterer is currently carried in the status of Missing.

REFERENCES USED

1. RPT (U), 6253d CSG, AF Form 484, w/attachments Undated.