This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SSgt William May, Jr.
to remember
Rickel, David J., Maj.
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Capt David J. Rickel, class of 1964, was reported missing in action in North Vietnam, 16 May 1968, while on an armed reconnaissance mission as number 2 in a flight of two F-4Ds. As lead aircraft pulled off the target they observed a small explosion and then a larger secondary explosion on the ground in the approximate vicinity where number two had last been observed. An attempt to establish radio contact with the aircraft was unsuccessful. No parachutes and no beepers were heard.
MAJOR DAVID J. RICKEL
and
MAJOR GERALD JOSEPH CROSSON JR.
ON MAY 16, 1968 THESE TWO PILOTS WERE ASSIGNED A MISSION OVER NORTH VIETNAM, IN THEIR F4D 'PHANTOM' FIGHTER / BOMBER.
AT A POINT ABOUT 20 MILES SOUTHWEST OF THE CITY OF QUANG KHE,
QUANG BINH PROVINCE, NORTH VIETNAM, THEIR AIRCRAFT WAS SHOT DOWN.
OTHER AIRCREW IN THE AREA DID NOT SEE ANY PARACHUTES INDICATING THAT THE TWO HAD EJECTED FROM THEIR AIRCRAFT, NOR DID THEY HEAR ANY EMERGENCY RADIO BEEPER SIGNALS. SEARCHES WERE
EVENTUALLY CANCELLED AND THESE TWO FLYERS WERE CLASSIFIED AS BEING MISSING IN ACTION.
DAVID J. RICKEL WAS A DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY AT COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO IN THE CLASS OF 1964 WHERE HE HAD BEEN NAMED TO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S LIST
FOR ALL EIGHT SEMESTERS FROM 1961 TO 1964.