A Vietnam War pilot who had been missing for over 50 years has finally been identified. U.S. Marine Corps Captain Ronald W. Forrester was piloting an A-6A Intruder on a nighttime mission over northern Vietnam when his plane lost radio contact.
He was just 25 years old when his aircraft disappeared during the combat mission in 1972. Search-and-rescue efforts came up empty, and in 1978, the Marine Corps officially changed his status from missing in action to killed in action.
Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.
Point phone camera here
After decades of investigation, a breakthrough came when remains and evidence believed to be linked to both Forrester and his copilot were found. The discoveries were tied to a crash site in central Vietnam.
In order to identify the remains, scientists used mitochondrial DNA testing, along with evidence found at the crash site. Captain Forrester’s name is listed on the National Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Washington, and at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu.
Soon, a rosette be placed next to his name, to show he has finally been accounted for. He’ll be laid to rest on Oct. 7, at Arlington Cemetery.
Jack Aylmer
A VIETNAM WAR PILOT WHO HAD BEEN MISSING FOR OVER 50 YEARS HAS FINALLY BEEN IDENTIFIED.
U.S. MARINE CORPS CAPTAIN RONALD W. FORRESTER WAS PILOTING AN A-6A INTRUDER ON A NIGHTTIME MISSION OVER NORTHERN VIETNAM WHEN HIS PLANE LOST RADIO CONTACT.
HE WAS JUST 25 YEARS OLD WHEN HIS AIRCRAFT DISAPPEARED DURING THE COMBAT MISSION IN 1972.
SEARCH AND RESCUE EFFORTS CAME UP EMPTY, AND IN 1978, THE MARINE CORPS OFFICIALLY CHANGED HIS STATUS FROM MISSING IN ACTION TO KILLED IN ACTION.
AFTER DECADES OF INVESTIGATION, A BREAKTHROUGH CAME WHEN REMAINS AND EVIDENCE BELIEVED TO BE LINKED TO BOTH FORRESTER AND HIS CO-PILOT WERE FOUND.
THESE DISCOVERIES WERE TIED TO A CRASH SITE IN CENTRAL VIETNAM.
IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY THE REMAINS, SCIENTISTS USE MITOCHONDRIAL DNA TESTING ALONG WITH EVIDENCE FOUND AT THE CRASH SITE.
CAPTAIN FORRESTER’S NAME IS LISTED ON THE NATIONAL VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AND AT THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL CEMETERY OF THE PACIFIC IN HONOLULU.
SOON A ROSETTE, WILL BE PLACED NEXT TO HIS NAME TO SHOW HE HAS FINALLY BEEN ACCOUNTED FOR.
HE’LL BE LAID TO REST ON OCTOBER 7TH, 20-24 AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY.
STAY UP TO DATE ON THIS STORY AND OTHERS LIKE IT BY DOWNLOADING THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP TODAY.
Straight to your inbox.
By entering your email, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge the Privacy Policy.
MOST POPULAR
-
Getty Images
Study on link between COVID-19 and cancer causes buzz online
-
DVIDS
Sen. Mullin blocks promotion of general who led Afghanistan withdrawal
-
Getty Images
Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend drops assault and defamation lawsuit
-
Getty Images
GOP senator introduces bill to dismantle Department of Education