 |  SWANSON, WILLIAM EDWARD Name: William Edward Swanson Rank/Branch: O2/US Navy Reserves Unit: Attack Squadron 95, USS RANGER (CVA 61) Date of Birth: 01 November 1937 (Zimmerman MN) Home City of Record: Minneapolis MN Date of Loss: 11 April 1965 Country of Loss: Laos Loss Coordinates: 172758N 1054358E (WE778311) Status (in 1973): Killed/Body Not Recovered Category: 3 Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: A1H Other Personnel in Incident: (none missing) Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 15 May 1990 from one or more of the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews. REMARKS: FLAK CRASH - EXPLODE - J SYNOPSIS: The USS RANGER was a seasoned combat veteran, having been deployed to Vietnam for Flaming Dart I operations. The carrier played a steady role for the remainder of American involvement in the war. The first fighter jets to bomb Haiphong in Operation Rolling Thunder came from her decks. One of the aircraft launched from the decks of the RANGER was the Douglas A1 Skyraider ("Spad"). The Skyraider is a highly maneuverable, propeller driven aircraft designed as a multipurpose attack bomber or utility aircraft. The H model was a single seat aircraft. 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 the aircraft as escort for rescue units. The general procedure for a rescue escort entailed two A1 aircraft flying directly to the search area to look for sign of the downed crewmen while two other A1s escorted the rescue helicopter to the area. If it was necessary, the A1s would attack enemy in the area with bombs, rockets and cannon fire so that the helicopter could land. LTJG William E. Swanson was an A1H pilot assigned to Attack Squadron 95 onboard the USS RANGER. On April 11, 1965, Swanson launched in the late morning on an armed reconnaissance mission flight into Laos, flying in a flight of two with the Operations Officer, LTCDR Shea. Approximately 20 minutes after they had commenced their reconnaissance route the two aircraft encountered heavy anti-aircraft fire and LTJG Swanson's aircraft was hit and began trailing smoke. Swanson flew straight and level for about 5 to 10 seconds and then made a slow descending turn to the right and crashed into a dense jungle area. From the time Swanson was hit until the aircraft crashed, LCDR Shea made several radio transmissions to him, advising him that he had been hit and to leave the aircraft. At no time between the time the aircraft was hit and the time it crashed did Shea observe the canopy coming open or Swanson exit the aircraft. Immediately after the aircraft impacted the ground, several aircraft were dispatched to the area and a complete search was made. Search efforts were negative. It was suspected that LTJG Swanson did not exit the aircraft and perished in the crash. Swanson is listed among the Americans prisoner, missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam war because his remains were never found. His last known location is approximately 5 miles south of the city of Na Phao in Khammouane Province, Laos. For William E. Swanson, death seems a certainty. For hundreds of others, however, simple answers are not possible. Adding to the torment of nearly 10,000 reports relating to Americans missing in Southeast Asia is the certain knowledge that some Americans who were known to be prisoners of war were not released at the end of the war. Others were suspected to be prisoners, and still others were in radio contact with would-be rescuers when last seen alive. Many were known to have survived their loss incidents, only to disappear without a trace. The problem of Americans still missing torments not only the families of those who are missing, but the men who fought by their sides, and those in the general public who realize the full implication of leaving men unaccounted for at the end of a war. Tragically, many authorities believe there are hundreds of Americans still alive in captivity in Southeast Asia today. What must they be thinking of us? What will our next generation say if called to fight if we are unable to bring these men home from Southeast Asia?
 
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