OFFICIAL STATUS: MISSING

CASE SUMMARY: SEE ATTACHED

RATIONALE FOR SELECTION: Maj. Brand was seen to eject and a few minutes later attempted to establish voice contact from the ground. No subsequent reports have been received to indicate Maj. Brand's possible capture or death.

REFNO: 0432 14 Apr 75

(C) CASE SUMMARY

1. On 17 August 1966, Maj. Joseph W. Brand, pilot, and Maj. Donald M. Singer, electronic warfare officer (EWO), departed Takhli RTAFBL Thailand, in the lead aircraft (63-8308) of a flight of four F105 aircraft. The mission was a search and destroy mission of surface-to-air missiles (SAM) and antiaircraft artillery (AAA) sites in North Vietnam. The flight had just departed the target area when the flight leader sighted a lucrative target and directed his and the number two aircraft to expend their remaining ordnance. During their attack, number three and four performed MIG cover. Immediately after lead's rockets were launched, number three observed lead's canopy jettison and both crew members eject simultaneously, and then the aircraft crashed into the target area. Number three saw one parachute blossom and the other appeared to be only a streamer. Number two did not witness either ejection but called for the SAR effort. Number four observed one fully deployed parachute and one which appeared to be partially open. Due to his maneuvering, number four lost sight of both parachutes before they contacted the ground. The parachutes quickly disappeared after ground contact near the aircraft wreckage (vicinity VJ 655 515). After one turn around the area, number four heard Maj. Brand state that he was all right. Two way radio communications could not be established due to noise and chatter on the radio. No other contact was established with the pilot or EWO except that one emergency radio beeper continued to transmit for several hours. (Ref 1)

2. AlE's arrived in the area and made low passes looking for any signs of flares, smoke, or signals. They transmitted directions for the downed crew to turn their beepers on and off if they heard the transmission; this was done by at least one of the crewmen. The area was populated and covered with rice paddies. All efforts to locate and recover the downed crew were unsuccessful. (Ref 1)

3. (U) Hanoi news service reported on 30 August 1966 that a U.S. aircraft was downed on 17 August in Nghia Lo Province. On 22 December 1969, it was learned that Mrs. Cora Weiss as a representative to "The Women's Strike for Peace Organization,," had visited Hanoi and had returned with five letters which she stated had been returned by the North Vietnamese. One of the letters returned was addressed to Maj. Singer by his wife. According to Mrs. Weiss, the North Vietnamese stated the five addresses had died in their parachutes or in the crash of their aircraft. A news release on 7 January 1971 reported that Win Ton Lay, a DRV spokesman in Paris, stated that Maj. Singer was known to be dead. (Ref 2)

4. (U) Although reportedly dead, Maj. Singer was not identified on any list provided to the U.S. government. The DRV should have more information regarding these men. Individual case folders were forwarded to the FPJMT for use in negotiations. (Ref 2)

5. (U) During the existence of JCRC, the the area precluded any visits to or ground inspections of the sites involved in this case. Details of this case together with information indicating enemy knowledge of the case were turned over to the Four-Party Joint Military Team on 29 August 1973.

6. (U) Maj. Brand and Maj. Singer are currently carried in the status of Missing.

(U) REFERENCES USED

1. RPT (C), 355 CSG (CBPO-PA), w/statements, 18 Aug 66.

2. RPT (U), File Record Summary of Maj. Singer, undated.

(U) ASSOCIATED INDIVIDUALS

1. Joseph W. Brand 0432-0-01

2. Donald M. Singer 0432-0-02