As the two planes entered the mission area, they were briefed by departing aircraft who had been receiving anti-aircraft flak from the northern edge of
the mission area. Lt. Harrison worked the southern end of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) while the other aircraft went north to try to find the source of the anti-aircraft fire.
The northern aircraft, while observing for a pair of fighter aircraft on a gun position, had a malfunction and could not mark the target, so the observer pilots agreed to trade area locations. During the change, as the aircraft passed each other, 1LT Harrison's plane was hit in the left rear cockpit area,
between the pilot and the observer. The aircraft continued straight for a few seconds, and then started a slow descending right turn. The turn became tighter as the descent rate increased until impact. There were no radio transmissions
from Harrison's plane after it was hit.
Due to approaching darkness, and the difficulty in locating the crash site, only an electronic search could be made that night. The next day, the downed plane's wing and fuselage were located and vehicle tracks around the wreckage were seen. It appeared that the wreckage had been moved to a more visible location in
order to draw rescue aircraft into a trap. As aircraft went near the wing, intense anti-aircraft fire was received. No contact was ever made with the crew. The area was never searched because of intense hostility in the area.
When 591 Americans were released from Vietnamese prisons at the end of the war, Bezold and Harrison were not among them. They are among nearly 2400 who are still missing in Southeast Asia.
Tragically, over 10,000 reports relating to Americans prisoner, missing, or unaccounted for in Southeast Asia have been received by the U.S. Government, convincing many experts that hundreds of Americans are still alive, waiting for their country to come for them. Steven Bezold and Donald Harrison could be among them. It's time we brought our men home.
Donald Harrison was promoted to the rank of Major and Steven Bezold to the rank of Captain during the period they were maintained missing.
[note: Vietnam Helicopter Pilot's Association, Ocober '94, reports incident as "Official description: Died while missing as a result of hostile action from vehicular accident while serving as pilot in a fixed wing aircraft."]
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