WHAT I CAN DO - I WILL -

NO PARA OBS - NO BEEPER - J

The F105 Thunderchief ("Thud"), in its various versions, flew more missions against North Vietnam than any other U.S. aircraft. It also suffered more losses, partially due to its vulnerability, which was constantly under revision. Between 1965 and 1971, the aircraft was equipped with armor plate, a secondary flight control system, an improved pilot ejection seat, a more precise navigation system, better blind bombing capability and ECM pods for the wings. The D version was a single-place aircraft.

Captain David J. Earll was a pilot assigned to the 469th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Korat Airbase, Thailand. On 21 October 1966, he was assigned a bombing mission over North Vietnam. Earll flew as the number two aircraft in a flight of two.

Earll was seen to release his rockets on the target and start recovery when his aircraft exploded into a fireball. No parachutes were seen, and efforts to contact Earll by radio were unsuccessful. Still, there was the chance that he ejected safely unseen. Earll was classified Missing in Action. The target was located near the city of Quang Khe in Quang Binh Province, North Vietnam.

Throughout the remainder of the war, Earll's status remained uncertain. Government officials were fairly sure that the enemy knew his fate, but had no solid information that he had been captured. But in 1973, when 591 Americans were released from prisoner of war camps, Earll was not among them. Neither were hundreds that had been known or suspected to be prisoners of war.

Following the war, refugee reports began to flow in related to Americans missing in Southeast Asia. Earll's status remained Missing in Action. Then, thirteen years after his aircraft crashed, he was administratively declared dead by the Department of the Air Force based on no specific information to indicate he was still alive.

David J. Earll was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel during the period he was maintained missing.

Biographical and incident of loss information was obtained from either POW/NET and/or Task Force Omega, Inc (unless otherwise noted). Additional information may be found via remembrances at The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund or The Virtual Wall Vietnam Veterans Memorial.