| The Incident
The A3 Skywarrior is a
three-place light bomber, reconnaissance plane, electronic
warfare craft or aerial tanker, depending upon its outfitting.
The KA3H was outfitted as an aerial tanker. Its function was to
stand by at a safe distance from target areas to be ready to
refuel fighter aircraft.
ENS Bruce M. Patterson and AE2
Charles D. Hardie were part of the crew of a U.S. Navy KA3H. On
27 July 1967, their aircraft was airborne about 200 miles due
east from the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) when it encountered
difficulties requiring the three crewmen to parachute from the
crippled aircraft. The crew safely parachuted from the plane, but
only the pilot was rescued. Patterson and Hardie were never
found. It was assumed they drowned. Both were classified Killed,
Body Not Recovered.
The Defense Intelligence Agency
further expanded the classification to include an enemy knowledge
ranking of 5. Category 5 includes personnel who are considered to
be dead, and whose remains have been declared
non-recoverable.
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