Jon-An's MIA Heros




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My adopted Louisiana MIA's
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Maj. Frank Alton Armstrong III
"Dutch"
A man that flew higher than the stars
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Rank/Branch: O4/US Air Force
Unit: 1st Air Commando Squadron
Date of Birth: 07 March 1930
Home City of Record: Shreveport LA
Date of Loss: 06 October 1967
Country of Loss: Laos
Loss Coordinates: 143757N 1072758E
Status (in 1973): Killed/Body Not Recovered
.Category: 2
.Acft/Vehicle/Ground: A1E
.Other Personnel in Incident: (none missing)
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Source:Compiled by Homecoming II Project 15 March
1991 from one or more of the following: raw data from U.S.
Government agency sources, correspondence with
POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews.........
Copyright 1991 Homecoming II Project.
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REMARKS:
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SYNOPSIS:The Douglas A1 Skyraider ("Spad") is a highly
maneuverable,propeller driven aircraft designed as a
multipurpose attack bomber or utility aircraft. The E model
generally carried two crewmen. The A1 was first used by
the Air Force in its Tactical Air Command to equip the first
Air Commando Group engaged in counterinsurgency
operations in South Vietnam, and later used in a
variety of roles, ranging from multi-seat electronic
intelligence gathering to Navy antisubmarine warfare and
rescue missions. The venerable fighter aircraft was retired
in the spring of 1968 and had flown in more than twenty
model variations, probably more than any other U.S.
combat aircraft.
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Maj. Frank A. Armstrong III was the pilot of an A1E
which was on an ordnance delivery mission on October 6,
1967. Armstrong's was the lead aircraft in a flight of two
A1Es from the 1st Air Commando Squadron based at
Pleiku, South Vietnam.
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Armstrong's aircraft was struck by hostile ground fire as
the flight was in Attopeu Province, Laos, near the tri-border
area of Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. According to other
flight members, Maj. Armstrong did not have time to
parachute out of the aircraft as it crashed to the ground
in an inverted position.
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Frank A. Armstrong is listed among the missing because
his remains were never found to send home to the country
he served. He died a tragically ironic death in the midst
of war. But, for his family, the case seems clear that he
died on that day. The fact that they have no body to bury
with honor is not of great significance.
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For others who are missing, however, the evidence leads
not to death, but to survival. Since the war ended, over
10,000 reports received relating to Americans still
unaccounted for in Indochina have convinced experts that
hundreds of men are still alive, waiting for their country to
rescue them. The notion that Americans are dying without
hope in the hands of a long-ago enemy belies the idea that
we left Vietnam with honor. It also signals that tens of
thousands of lost lives were a frivolous waste of our
best men.
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This is an e-mail I received from

Keith McDaniel, Col,USAF,DC(Ret)

He was stationed with Maj. Armstrong.

I was a dental officer at Pleiku AB from June '67 to

June '68 and did know Maj Armstrong. I can attest that

he was a heroic A-1E pilot who had the "right stuff" and

demonstrated raw courage on almost a daily basis. I was

with the flight surgeon when we transported "Dutch" from

the flight line to the 71st Evac Hosp-- he had just returned

from a mission and had received a bullet wound in the calf

muscle . He was sent home for a short period until it healed,

then he returned to Pleiku for more action.

Although I was not a close friend, I distinctly remember

the day that he did not come back from his last mission.

Although he may never receive adequate recognition or

appreciation for his loyal service, courageous actions and

ultimate sacrifice for his country, Major Frank Armstrong

(A-1E pilot) is an exemplary, unsung, American hero.

This man, and others like him, should never be forgott

Keith McDaniel, Col,USAF,DC(Ret)

Pictures sent by Keith McDaniel

This is an e-mail I received from

Colonel Robert A. Klimek Jr. (USAF Retired)

Frank Armstrong and I were aviation cadets together at Greenville AFB, Miss in later
1954 and early 1955. We were in USAF Pilot Training Class 55-I.
http://pilotclass55india.org/
We all graduated on February 24, 1955. I always remember Frank as a down to
earth, fun loving and great guy to be around. After we graduated as 2^nd Lieutenants
with our silver pilot wings, Frank stayed at Greenville as an instructor pilot and
I transferred to Webb AFB, Tx also as an instructor pilot. I never served with Frank again,
but to this day I look back with fond memories of our days together as USAF aviation cadets.
I was deeply saddened when I learned that he had been killed. But, I know he was doing what he loved.

Regards,Bob

Colonel Robert A. Klimek Jr. (USAF Retired)

This is an e-mail I received from
Hank Goetz (Captain USAF Retired)

Hi…

My name is Hank Goetz (ex-F-100 & F-105 pilot) and I was one of Dutch’s roommates back at Nellis AFB while we were all in F-100 training (1960). Both Dutch and I were assigned to Ramstein AB, Germany although to two different squadrons. We were both living in the BOQ at Ramstein and were good friends. I knew his wife and just wanted to let you know I was fond of Dutch as most of us were. We all miss him.

Hank (Capt. USAF & retired B-747 Captain for TWA)

Hank Goetz

This is a list of all the Louisiana Hero's that I know about.

I have made a page for each one. If you knew any of these

men and would like to add some things about them on their

page, please E-mail me

Fifty thousand names carved in a wall
This is a very moving tribute to our service men.
http://home.comcast.net/~singingman7/TNOTW.htm

ROBERT A. BELCHER	GEORGE PARKER MCKNIGHT
LONNIE P. BOGARD	BRYFORD G. METOYER
Porter E. CALLOWAY	THOMAS MOORE
ROBERT F. COADY	WILLIAM J. MORGAN
JACK L. CROXDALE II	WILLIAM V. PHARRIS
WILLIAM R. FINN	CHARLIE S. POOLE
JAMES W. GATES	WILLIAM ROLAND PREWITT
JAMES W. GRACE	HENRY M. SEREX
EDWARD J. GUILLORY	HARRY WINFIELD SMITH
HUBIA J. GUILLORY	CURTIS R. SMOOT
THOMAS TRUETT HENSLEY	VIRGIL G. STEWART
CARL E. JACKSON	KEAVIN L. TERRELL
MARVIN NELSON LINDSEY	MICHAEL S. WALKER
RALPH WAYNE MAGEE	.

+GEORGE C. MC CLEARY	+OSCAR M. DARDEAU
+ROBERT G. COZART JR.	*GLENN H. DAIGLE
+ROBERT L. LILES JR.	*KEITH A. ALBERT
*MURPHY N. JONES	*LAWRENCE BARBAY
*LEE D. HENRY	+DAVID B. WILLIAMS
+HAROLD J. HELLBACH	+MICHAEL B. VARNADO
?SERVERO J. PRIMM III	+LONNIE JOSEPH TULLIER
+GEORGE EDWARD ...FLYNN III	.