AMERICAN ARMOURED FOUNDATION TANK MUSEUM

Robert Duval Owen    Lee Dufford Harley    POW MIA

Missing In Action Ribbon Bar

Lee Dufford Harley
Major\ United States Air Force
attached to the 557th Tactical Fighter Squadron
Cam Ranh Bay Airbase

On May 18, 1966 then Captain Harley, pilot of a Cessna 01E Bird Dog aircraft was conducting a visual reconnaissance mission in Laos to locate and direct strike aircraft against enemy forces movement on the infamous Ho Chi Minh Trail. While beginning their return flight to base, voice communications between the aircraft  and airborne battlefield command and control suddenly stopped. A visual search of the area was initiated by an accompanying aircraft and it was shortly reported that two columns of smoke and burning wreckage was sighted. An SAR (search & rescue) operation was immediately implemented and several SAR operations were made, but enemy fire was interfering with the search and rescue.  The formal search was terminated and Harley was listed Missing in Action.

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