| The Incident
On 16 March 1969, Captain
Charles Barnes, co-pilot and Captain David R. Smith, aircraft
commander were aboard a U21A aircraft which departed Long Trahn,
North Army Airfield, South Vietnam. The aircraft made two stops,
one at Long Binh and the other at Qui Nhon. At Qui Nohn the plane
picked up the following passengers: SP4 Michael Batt, Major
Marvin L. Foster and PFC Raymond Bobe. The aircraft resumed its
journey north toward Hue/Phu Bai where it was scheduled to land.
During this portion of the mission, the aircraft was required to
revert from visual to instrument flight rules because of the low
cloud ceilings, poor visability and rain showers in the area. The
aircraft was picked up by radio and radar; however contact was
lost during the approach pattern. After loss of contact, all
standard emergency radio frequencies were utilized, but radio
contact with the aircraft could not be regained. Da Nang Air/Sea
rescue was also notified, but initial efforts were limited to a
communications search because of the bad weather. The aircraft
was never located. Based on a replotted flight plan, the
indicated last known location for this aircraft was approximately
one kilometer west of Truoi Mountain, Quang Nam Da Nang (formerly
Tuan Thien Province) Province, South Vietnam.
Batt's photograph was selected
as a known prisoner from the JCRC photo album of those missing,
but the U.S. Government states that it is unknown why the source
selected Batt's photo. Returning POWs did not indicate that any
of the crew or passengers had been held with them in their prison
system.
Examination of intelligence
reports suggest that there was more than one prison "system" in
Vietnam. Those prisoners who were released were maintained in the
same systems. If the missing men aboard the U21A were captured
and kept in another system, the POWs who returned would not know
it.
In 1988, "material" was
provided the United States Government that correlated with
Captain Barnes. Additionally, the area where this "material" was
reportedly found (Hue) generally correlates with the last known
location of Captain Barnes' aircraft. Some reports label this a
"dog tag" report, while others mention remains. As of 1999, the
crew and all the passengers remain unaccounted for, listed as
presumed dead/body not recovered.
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