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This Remembrance Profile was originally created by Sgt Stephen Willcox - Deceased
The incident that led to the death of SSGT Billie Leroy Roth (Loadmaster), Capt. Carl Edwin Jackson (Pilot) and fourteen Chinese Nationalists was apparently shrouded in secrecy until the early 1990's, when some information was declassified by the DOD. Yet, the official story of the incident still evokes doubt among family members and others, especially in light of persistent rumors regarding other scenarios as to what might have happened to both Capt Jackson and SSgt Roth. Reported Jackson family discussions with former CIA Agents further cast doubt on the official explanation for both men's death. A more detailed discussion on the controversy can be found at http://www.pownetwork.org.
Certainly the pilot was part of a highly secret 1st Flight Detachment, MACV, 1131st Special Activities Squadron, 12th Detachment. Information on http://www.vvmf.org reflects that SSgt Roth was part of the same units, but other records (see right side panel) indicate he was with the 37th Consolidated Air Maintenance Squadron. Since SSgt Roth was "on stand-by as a C123 Cargo Master, the night he was assigned to fly with Jackson," it wouldn't be uncommon for pilots, navigators and other crew to fly with other than their own units on occasions, so Roth could have been with the 37th and filled in for someone else. Of course, its also possible he did serve with the 37th and the MACV units. What's certain is that he was involved with highly secret missions.
The official government story is that while on final approach to Ton Son Nhut Air Base, the C123 was hit by groundfire and crashed. There are rumors that the plane actually crashed in North Vietnam. Another rumor reflects that Capt. Jackson was a POW and that an operation to free him and other POWs failed. Whatever the truth, it does seem odd that if the plane indeed crashed on approach to Ton Son Nhut, some remains of Capt Jackson and SSgt Roth would have been recovered and returned to their families.
This Veteran has an (IMO) In Memory Of Headstone in Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial, Hawaii, with another IMO Stone in Lacon cemetery, Lacon, IL.
Other Comments:
Additional Information from http://www.footnote.com:
Major Command: 13th AF, 37th TFW, 37th CA Maint SQ (Note: 27th Consolidated Air Maintenance Squadron)
