OFFICIAL STATUS: MISSING

CASE SUMMARY: SEE ATTACHED

RATIONALE SELECTION: The other crewmember survived the aircraft crash and was subsequently found and medically evacuated. All signs indicated CPT McDonnel left the aircraft under his own power. No correlated reports of Capt McDonnel's death have been received since the incident date.

REFNO: 1402 21 Apr 76

CASE SUMMARY

1. (U) On 6 March 1969 CPT John T. McDonnell, aircraft commander, and lLT [blank] pilot, were aboard an AHLG helicopter, #67-15845), as flight leader in a flight of two aircraft on a combat mission in tne vicinity of grid coordinates (CC) 170 960 in South Vietnam. During a firing pass over the taret area, CPT McDonneell's aircraft: was observed receiving enemy ground fire. The aircraft disappeared into an overcast and crashed into a mountain side. At about 1500 hours the following day the wreckage of the aircraft was located in the vicinity of (CC) 177 968. The area was searched, however, CPT McDonnell could not be located. LT [blank] was found and medically evacuated, but he recalled nothing of the incident from the time of impact to the following morning. CPT McDonnell's helmet was found, (without a trace of blood), along with other pieces of equipment. It appeared that CPT McDonnell unlocked his seat belt and left the aircraft. During the search efforts, numerous deserted emeny positions were located in the area, indicating that CPT McDonnell could have been captured. The search continued without success through 26 March. (Ref 1)

2. (C) On 24 July 1973 a rallier reported that he had observed two U.S. Prisoners of War on three occasions. The prisoners was said to be officers who had been captured by the NVA 2,nd Division in Quang Province. The POWs allegedly were collaborating with the division's political and military staff officer in a proselytizing effort directed toward U.S. soldiers. The rallier made no positive identification of CPT McDonnell's photo, but stated that his photo looked very similar to the POW who wore a large ring. (Information in this report correlated to CPT McDonnell.) (Ref 2)

3. (U) CPT McDonnell'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. In August 1973 JCRC proposed a Casualty Resolution Operation at this site. American consul, Da Nang, responded that he believed that because of nearby enemy activity, it would be "somewhat imprudent" to conduct an operation at this site "at this time." 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.

4. CPT McDonnell is currently carried in the status of Missing.

(U)- REFERENCES USED:

1. RPT (U), AVHAG-CC, 12 Apr 69.

2. RPT (C), Saigon, RVN FVS 32,810, 24 Jul 73.