OFFICIAL STATUS: DEAD, BODY NOT RECOVERED

CASE SUMMARY: SEE ATTACHED

RATIONALE FOR SELECTION: Maj. Metz was seen to eject and descend with a good parachute. No radio contact was made with him. The next day radio Hanoi reported a shootdown and capture which positively correlated to Maj. Metz. No correlated reports of death have been received concerning Maj. Metz.

REFNO: 1130 20 Apr 76

(U) CASE SUMMARY

1. On 15 April 1968 Maj. James H. Metz was the pilot of the lead F105D, ( #61-0206), in a flight of two on a reconnaissance mission over North Vietnam. Maj. Metz' aircraft was observed to be on fire, apparently hit by flak from 37MM and 57MM anti-aircraft artillery fire (AAA). He was advised that his aircraft was on f ire and was told to turn to the right and climb, as the coast was about eight nautical miles away. About 15 seconds later, (1500 hours), Maj. Metz was seen to eject at an altitude of 4,500 feet. A good seat separation and parachute deployment was observed, with a strong parachute beeper heard shortly after the parachute deployed, until about five minutes after the parachute landed in a tree on a hillside; (vicinity of grid coordinates (GC) XE 488 529). The aircraft crashed about 1 1/2 nautical miles from the pilot's landing position. No radio contact was established with Maj. Metz. Several passes were made over a road about 400 feet from the parachute, but no one was seen in the area. The wingman refueled and returned to the area where the parachute was last seen and searched for about 30 minutes, but the parachute was no longer visible. Despite attempts to contact Ma Metz on the guard channel, no communication was established. (Ref 1)

2. On 16 April 1968 "Radio Hanoi" reported the downing of an F105 aircraft over Quang Binh Province at 1530 hours that day, and also reported that the pilot had balled out and was captured. (There is positive correlation of' this report to Maj. Metz). (Ref 2)

3. Maj. Metz never appeared on any of the DRV listing or in the POW chain.

4. 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. 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. Metz is currently carried in the presumptive status of Dead, Body Not Recovered.

REFERENCES USED

1. RPT (U), 386th TFW, AF form 484 w/statements, 19 Apr 68.

2. RPT (U), AFMPC/CB, w/enclosures, 15 May 75.