This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Capt Michael Brennan (Mike)
to remember
Brennan, Herbert, Col.
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On 26 November 1967, Colonel Herbert O. Brennan, pilot and 1st Lt. Douglas C. Condit, co-pilot, comprised the crew of an F4C, call sign Pinhead 1, that departed DaNang Airfield as the lead aircraft in a flight of two. Their morning strike mission was against enemy truck traffic moving toward the Ban Karai Pass on its way to the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Pinhead flight's briefed flight path was from DaNang Airfield northwest paralleling the coastline, then ingressing into North Vietnam 30 miles northwest of Channel 109 to proceed to the target area. Their return was to be by the reverse route.
During the heat of battle, Pinhead 2 did not see any hostile ground fire directed at the lead aircraft, and while they did not see any parachutes, they did hear two emergency beepers coming from an area very near the crash site. At 0942 hours, moments after the lead aircraft was downed, search and rescue (SAR) efforts were initiated. Each time search aircraft passed over the crash site, they received enemy ground fire. The pilot of an A1E Sandy reported light to moderate small arms fire in the target area along with .50 caliber heavy weapons fire. All SAR operations were suspended one hour after both beepers ceased transmitting. At that time Herbert Brennan and Douglas Condit were both listed Missing in Action.
Brennan was a full Colonel who had a distinguished Air Force career spanning 20 years. Even though he was not required to serve in Vietnam, he willingly volunteered for a tour of duty there. His prior assignment was as an instructor at the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
His status was changed from MIA to Died While Missing Oct 18, 1974.
The location of his remains is unknown.
Other Comments:
He attended West Point, graduating in 1947. (class of Alexander Haig and others.).
Some notes:
Newspaper account of 1954, states he was a veteran of the Korean War. On this occasion, he piloted a C-54 with one engine feathered, the other in trouble, bringing the aircraft safely down on a hillside, thus avoiding crashing in Pittsburg. (Stars and Stripes, 3 Feb 1954).
