Site hosted by Angelfire.com: Build your free website today!
Lest We Forget


All Gave Some


Quote


This page is dedicated to keeping alive the memory of those POW/MIAs who have not yet returned home. Specifically, it is dedicated to keeping alive the memory of 02 Thomas Carl Daffron, declared Missing In Action on February 18, 1970. The following is a synopsis provided by Operation Just Cause of the events surrounding the disappearance of Major Daffron.


Bio Info


When North Vietnam began to increase their military strength in South Vietnam, NVA and Viet Cong troops again intruded on neutral Laos for sanctuary, as the Viet Minh had done during the war with the French some years before. The border road, termed the "Ho Chi Minh Trail," was used for transporting weapons, supplies and troops. Hundreds of American pilots were shot down trying to stop this communist traffic to South Vietnam. Fortunately, search and rescue teams were extremely successful and the recovery rate was high.

Still, there were nearly 600 who were not rescued. Many of them went down along the Ho Chi Minh Trail and the passes through the border mountains between Laos and Vietnam. Many were alive on the ground and in radio contact with search and rescue and other planes; some were known to have been captured. Hanoi's communist allies in Laos, the Pathet Lao, publicly spoke of American prisoners they held, but when peace agreements were negotiated, Laos was not included, and not a single American was released that had been held in Laos.

The Phantom, used by Air Force, Marine and Navy air wings, served a multitude of functions including fighter-bomber and interceptor, photo and electronic surveillance. The two man aircraft was extremely fast (Mach 2), and had a long range (900-2300 miles, depending on stores and mission type). The F4 was also extremely maneuverable and handled well at low and high altitudes. The F4 was selected for a number of state-of-the-art electronics conversions, which imporved radar intercept and computer bombing capabilities enormously. Most pilots considered it one of the "hottest" planes around.

Capt. Thomas C. Daffron and 1Lt. Charles F. Morley were pilots attached to the 557th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Cam Ranh Bah, South Vietnam. On February 18, 1970, they were assigned an operational mission over the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos. Daffron served as the pilot, while Morley flew as navigator - the "guy in the back."

During the mission, a fireball was seen on the ground which was presumed to be the downed aircraft of Daffron and Morley. Observers saw no parachutes and heard no emergency radio beepers. There was no clear evidence that the crew had safely ejected, but it was not known that they did not. Daffron and Morley were declared Missing in Action.

Over 29 years later, Daffron and Morley still remain listed as Missing in Action, two of nealy 2500 in Southeast Asia, and nearly 600 in Laos who did not return from the war. Unlike "MIAs" from other wars, most of these men can be accounted for. Further, and even more significant, mounting evidence indicates that there are hundreds of them still alive in captivity.

Refugees fleeing Southeast Asia have come with reorts of Americans still held in captivity. There are many such reports that withstand the closest scrutiny the U.S. Government can give, yet official policy admits only to the "possibility" that Americans remain as captives in Southeast Asia.

Until serious negotiations begin on Americans held in Southeast Asia, the families of nearly 2500 Americans will wonder, "Where are they?" And the families of many, many more future fighting men and women will wonder, "Will our sons and daughters be abandoned, too?"

Thomas C. Daffron graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1965.

All Biographical and loss information on Vietnam Era POW/MIAs provided by Operation Just Cause have been supplied by Chuck and Mary Schantag of POW/NET. Please check with POW/NET regularly for updates.


Operation Just Cause


YOU can get involved in keeping the names and memories of those American POW/MIAs still believed being held against their will in Indochina alive in the minds of our legislators. Click the button below for a list of addresses and examples of letters you can write to help bring these Americans home.

I Want To Help



Thanks to Doc at Doc's Patriotic Graphics the George Washington quote and "All Gave Some" graphic.

The Operation Just Cause graphic was made by Dan's Graphics

Back Home