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Rank/Branch: O3 (Captain)/US Air Force
Other Personnel In Incident: John J. Smallwood (missing)
Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 01 September 1990 from one or more of the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondencewith POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews.
REMARKS: SURVIVAL UNLIKELY PER AAR
SYNOPSIS: 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 very maneuverable and handled well at low and high altitudes. The F4 was selected for a number of state-of-the-art electronics conversions, which improved radar intercept and computer bombing capabilities enormously. Most pilots considered it one of the "hottest" planes around.
Captain Samuel B. Cornelius was the pilot of an F4E Phantom assigned a strike mission in Cambodia on June 16, 1973. His electronic weapons officer on the flight was CAPT John J. Smallwood. Over the target area, the F4 was hit by hostile fire and crashed. No parachutes were seen, and no emergency beeper signals were heard indicating that the crew ejected safely. The official word was that their survival was unlikely.
Few American planes were shot down in Cambodia during this time period. Peace documents had been signed in Paris ending hostilities in Vietnam in January of that year, but strikes in Cambodia continued. Another F-4 piloted by Douglas Martin and with backseater Samuel L. James had been shot down April 18. One of the crew of an HH53C helicopter, MSGT David V. McLeod, Jr., went missing onJune 14, 1973. These were the only Americans missing during the spring and summer of1973 in Cambodia.
In July 1973, a South Vietnamese agent reported talking to a refugee who had
seen three Americans dressed in flight uniforms in captivity near Kompong Barey
Hamlet in Prey Veng Province. (Note that all events described are occurring
AFTER the war with Vietnam "ended" and 591 American POWs were released from Vietnam.) The agent was able to make contact with a Communist cadre who said the three were airmen who had been downed in July 1973. The cadre went on to say that they were being taken to Loc Ninh (South Vietnam) to be held for exchange at a later date. No exchange ever occurred. It is assumed, since these three aircraft are the only ones missing in Cambodia, that this report pertains to three of the five Americans involved. Nothing has been heard of the five since.
The United States did not bargain or negotiate with Cambodia for any prisoners
held there. U.S. bombing of Cambodia continued until August 1973. Any who were lucky enough to return had earlier been moved from the border areas of Cambodia into Vietnam and released from Vietnam. Evidence points to many Americans being moved to Vietnam from Laos and Cambodia and held beyond the end of the war.
Because of the genocide perpetrated upon Cambodia by Pol Pot in the mid-70's,
the chances of survival are decreased significantly for anyone still held
prisoner of war in Cambodia. However, we owe our best efforts to those men lost
in Cambodia, and in all of Southeast Asia to seek their release if alive, and
determine their fates if deceased.
Unit: 336th Tactical Fighter Squadron
Date of Birth: 02 April 1943
Home City of Record: Lubbock TX
Loss Date: 16 June 1973
Country of Loss: Cambodia
Location on Wall: Panel 101W Line 119
Loss Coordinates: 133500N 1063700E (XA736029)
Status (in 1973): None
Category: 3
Acft/Vehicle/Ground: F4E
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June 27, 1997
