SYNOPSIS: 1Lt. Albert E. Rodriguez and Maj. Ernest A. Olds comprised the
crew of an F4D Phantom fighter/bomber sent on a mission over North Vietnam
on March 11, 1968. Their mission area was near a railroad which runs
parallel to the Nguon Nay River in Quang Binh Province.
The F4 Phantom D model had only arrived in Vietnam the previous May and was
initially part of the 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron's aircraft inventory.
The D model was improved over the C model with the addition of a
lead-computing sight and central air data computer for both bombing and
navigation. The computer automatically determined the weapon release point
for all bombing modes - dive or level, at night or in bad weather. The D
model also launched Walleye television guided missiles and laser guided
bombs. All in all, the Phantom was the "hot" aircraft of the day, and pilots
were proud to fly them.
Rodriguez and Olds are both in "pilot" classifications, so it is unclear
which is the pilot and which was the backseater/bomber/navigator on this
flight, but given the ranks and the fact that Rodriguez' military
occupational specialty is classified, it is rather safe to assume that Olds
was the pilot and Rodriguez the "guy in back" - the one with the extensive
systems knowledge.
At a point about 5 miles southwest of the city of Ron, Olds and Rodriguez'
aircraft was shot down. Other aircraft in the area saw the crash site, but
heard no emergency beepers, nor did they see any parachutes indicating that
one or more of the crew ejected from the crippled aircraft.
Because the area in which the aircraft went down was a populous one, there
is reason to believe that, if the crew survived, the enemy knew their fate.
The area was not conducive for rescue efforts, although one would have
commenced if there had been any indication that the crew was safe.
Since 1968, the Vietnamese have denied any knowledge of the fates of Olds
and Rodriguez. Then on July 24, 1989, it was announced that remains
"discovered" and returned by the Vietnamese to the U.S. had been positively
identified as being those of 1Lt. Albert E. Rodriguez.
The Rodriguez family can now lay their well loved son to rest. They know now
that he is dead. In light of the thousands of reports of Americans still in
captivity in Vietnam, however, they may never know when - or how - he died.
http://www.pownetwork.org/bios/r/r024.htm
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Rec'd 3.3.12 from Maj. Bob Storey:
"Here are two photos with Lt Rodriguez in them, I think! In the first one - 480 TFS Pilots - 1967 - I believe he is sitting on the engine intake. In the second one - 480 TFS Pilots - 67-68 - I believe he is sitting on the rear cockpit, 4th from the left.
An interesting note about the first photo. Standing in the center, just to the right of the Gunfighter emblem is the Sq CC, Lt Col John W. Armstrong. Sitting on the ground, 4th from the left is 1st Lt Lance P. Sijan. They were crewed together when shot down on 19 Nov 67. Col Armstrong was never heard from nor recovered. Lt Sijan was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his escape and evasion and actions as a POW. He died in Hanoi prison."
PERSONAL DATA
Home of Record: Franklinville, New York
Date of birth: Saturday, 07/18/1942
MILITARY DATA
Service: Air Force (Regular)
Grade at loss: O2
Rank: Captain (See Note below)
ID No: 080341423
MOS: 1115 Pilot
LenSvc: Between 2 and 3 years
Unit: 480TH TFS, 366TH TFW, 7TH AF
Note: O2 at loss. Promoted while in MIA status
CASUALTY DATA
Start Tour: Tuesday, 09/12/1967
Incident Date: Monday, 03/11/1968
Change Status: Tuesday, 10/09/1973
Missing to Died while Missing
Age at Loss: 25
Remains: Body not recovered
Repatriated: Thursday, 12/15/1988
Identified: Thursday, 07/20/1989
Location: Province not reported, North Vietnam
Type: Hostile, died while missing
Reason: Air loss or crash over land - Fixed Wing - Pilot
http://www.virtualwall.org/dr/RodriguezAE01a.htm
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