The type of aircraft in which Richard and Crew flew into History AC-130A Spectre Gunship 16th Special Operations Squadron Ubon, Thailand |
UPDATE NOVEMBER 13, 1998
Today, I spoke with former National Security
Agency Analyst, Jerry Mooney, regarding a report he had made referring to
Richard's crew. Mr. Mooney immediately acknowledged the report, stating
that it was very easy to remember because of the circumstances and
cover-ups in the case. He had, in fact,at the time of the incident,
performed an analysis of every report pertaining to the case. He further
stated that "there were positively and without a doubt, survivors among
the 12 MIA crew members." Upon further questioning, Mr. Mooney
declared that there was also no doubt that there were three captured crew
members, and that this was confirmed by source reports. When I questioned
about why this information was covered up, he related to me that
originally it was because of the sensitivity and nature of the mission,
and that it has continued to be covered up because so many would go to
prison for the lies and cover-ups. I then questioned him about the report in
which he alluded to Richard's crew being possible candidates for a group
execution of ten in 1972, at High Point 310, south of Khe Sanh. Mr. Mooney
hastened to assure me that the Spectre 11 crew (Richard's), was only a
speculative logistical possibility among several others, because of
location, and time frame. He further explained that there was not even
enough information to know whether or not those executed were Americans.
He also felt that because Spectre 11 was an Electronic Warfare Aircraft
with highly skilled officers, they would have been held captive rather
than executed, because of their usefulness and knowledge. Live prisoners
of this type were the goal. Mr. Mooney testified before several
congressional committees on this case, even to the fact that he had
tracked Air Force Captain Mark Danielson by name and rank electronically for at
least 48 hours after the shoot down. In addition, the debriefings of the
three rescued survivors of the shoot down, testified to the fact that
several parachutists were seen and beepers were heard by all three! And
according to a July 14th 1973 Memo, Crew member, Gerald Ayers was listed
as "probably captured" (Evidence supports Analysis Indicates Capture). the
memo further states "Beeper contact was established shortly after downing
of the aircraft. Returned POWs also stated that subject (Ayers) was POW in
Hoa Lo Prison in North Vietnam from 1 July to 4 Sep 72."
Beverly Haire J224B 3800 Ser: 307 12 Nov 1993To: Commander, United States Army Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii Subj: REQUEST FOR DOCUMENTATION - REFNO 1879 Ref: (a) CDRUSACILHI MSG 181729ZOCT93, Request for documentation pertaining to REFNO 1879
1. In response to reference (a), this letter provides Joint Task
Force-Full Accounting (JTF-FA) analysis of the REFNO 1879 case file information.
2. In June 1972, SSGT Newman, SGT Lehrke, SSGT Nyhof, SGT Hunt, MSGT
Mercer, SSGT Klinke, SSGT Cole Jr, CAPT Danielson, MAJ Ayers, MAJ
Harrison, CAPT Wilson, CAPT Gilbert, 2LT Reid, SSGT Patterson, and CAPT
Bocher were aboard an AC-130 aircraft when it was hit by a shoulder-fired
surface to air missile (SA-7). The aircraft commander rang the egress
(bail out) bell, but an explosion occurred several seconds later, and the
right wing separated from the aircraft. The first explosion was
followed immediately by a second, which threw three crew members (CAPT
Bocher, SSGT Patterson, 2LT Reid) clear of the aircraft. These three
individuals were able to deploy their parachutes and land safely.
3. According to a witness in another aircraft, the AC-130 was hit by
a missile and began a hard right turn. A few seconds later, the
aircraft broke apart and descended in four large fireballs. He stated that
while orbiting the crash site, which continued to burn, he received
signals from at least two emergency beepers. The following day,
Search-and-Rescue (SAR) forces rescued the three survivors. Aerial surveillance
was maintained around the crash site for six days, but failed to
obtain any signs of survivors. The hostile threat in the area precluded a
detailed ground inspection of the site.
4. In June 1993, a joint investigation team located two witnesses who
produced dog tags relating to two individuals (Harrison, Wilson)
involved in this incident, along with three flight helmets. The team
photographed the dog tags and helmets which were retained by the witnesses.
The team traveled to the crash site and conducted a survey. During the
survey, the team recovered portions of a flight suit and survival vest.
The team also observed the tail assembly from a C-130 aircraft.
5. During August and September 1993, a joint team excavated the crash
site and recovered teeth, bone fragments, and ID media (Ayers) from the
site. The material evidence recovered from the site confirms a minimum
of four individuals were aboard the aircraft at impact. Additionally, a data
plate, 20mm cannon, 40mm Bofers gun, and a UHF radio control panel recovered
from the site, confirms that the aircraft was an AC-130 aircraft. According to
JTF-FA records, the REFNO 1879 aircraft is the only AC-130 which crashed within
40 kilometers of this site.
6. Analysis of the reporting from on-scene SAR forces, survivor
statements, and testimony from villagers who visited the crash site, indicate
that only three of the fifteen crew members exited the aircraft before
impact. JTF-FA files contain no evidence which suggests that any of
the twelve remaining crewmembers survived the crash of the aircraft.
THOMAS H. NEEDHAM |
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