OFFICIAL STATUS: CAPTURED

CASE SUMMARY: SEE ATTACHED

RATIONALE FOR SELECTION: LTJG Graham's parachute was observed by flight members, The flight leader made a pass within 200 feet of the parachute at an altitude of about 800 feet and saw LTJG Graham raise his hand and wave. The parachute was observed all the way to the ground and was seen to land in some low trees bordering a small town. There have been two source reports of LTJG Graham's possible capture, with no correlated reports of death.

REFNO: 0667 19 Apr 76

(U) CASE SUMMARY

1. On 4 May 1967 LTJG James S. Graham, Flying an A4C, (BUNO 148514), was assigned as second section wingman for an attack on a newly implaced surface-to-air missile site located about three miles WNW of Sam Son, North Vietnam. The flight rendezvoused as briefed and proceeded to the target area. Light 37 mm anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) fire was seen over Sam Son and in that vicinity. The flight leader skirted the barrage of fire, and the flight attacked in sequence, (with approximately five seconds between aircraft), and encountered increasing AAA fire as the attack progressed. During his dive attack recovery, LCDR [blank], the section leader, noticed a parachute over the target area, and caught a brief glimpse of an A4C passing under him. He alerted the flight and began a radio check, which determined the Missing aircraft to be that of LTJG Graham. The flight leader passed within 200 feet of the parachute and saw LTJG Graham raise his hand and wave. The flight leader then climbed and alerted Search and Rescue (SAR) forces for any call from LTJG Graham. He instructed the remainder of the flight to stay high and outside of the target over water. The parachute was observed all the way into low trees bordering the small town of Kieu Thon in the vicinity of grid coordinates WG 917 846. The flight leader made a low pass over the area parallel to the tree line where the parachute was last seen, but did not sight either the parachute or LTJG Graham. No radio signals were heard from LTJG Graham, so it was determined that the commitment of SAR forces would be futile,, and that LTJG Graham must be presumed to have been captured. The flight leader terminated the SAR efforts after thirty minutes and returned to the USS ENTERPRISE. (Ref 1)

2. Two North Vietnamese sources independently provided information which was tentatively correlated to this incident and LTJG Graham. Both sources reported he had been captured. One source stated that LTJG Graham landed in a tree and shot one of his captors in the right leg. He was then helped down from the tree and taken by jeep to Hanoi. (Ref 2 & 3)

3. During the existence of JCRC the hostile threat in 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 with a request for any information which would assist in determining status and resolution. No response was forthcoming. LTJG Graham is currently carried in the status of Captured.

REFERENCES USED

1. RPT (U), CDR Attack Sq 113, 7 Jun 67.

2. DD Form 1480 (U), DIR-4H, 7 Oct 75.

3. DD Form 1480 (U), DIR-4H, 30 Jul 75.