Hurlburt Field in Okaloosa County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Combat Talon Aircrew S-01
Lost During Combat Mission Into North Vietnam
— 29 December 1967 —
Photographed By Mark Hilton, November 17, 2016
1. Combat Talon Aircrew S-01 Marker
Major Charles P. Claxton - Pilot
Captain Edwin N. Osborne Jr. - Aircraft Commander
Captain Frank C. Parker III - Electronic Warfare Officer
Captain Gerald G. Van Buren - Pilot
Captain Gordon J. Wenaas - Navigator
Technical Sergeant Jack McCrary - Flight Engineer
Staff Sergeant Gean P. Clapper - Radio Operator
Staff Sergeant Edward J. Darcy -Loadmaster
Staff Sergeant Wayne A. Eckley - Flight Engineer
Sergeant James R. Williams - Loadmaster
They Made The Ultimate Sacrifice
For God And Country
There is No Higher Calling
Dedicated: 12 July 1998
by
Stray Goose International
Erected 1998 by Stray Goose International.
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Military • War, Vietnam.
Location. 30° 24.804′ N, 86° 42.061′ W. Marker is in Hurlburt Field, Florida, in Okaloosa County. Memorial can be reached from Cody Avenue. Located at the Hurlburt Field Memorial Air Park and access to the base is restricted. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 315 Independence Road, Hurlburt Field FL 32544, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Combat Talon Aircrew S-59 (here, next to this marker); Medal of Honor Recipients (a few steps from this marker); Jockey - 14 Memorial (a few steps from this marker); A-26 Counter-Invader (a few steps from this marker); Spirit 03 (a few steps from this marker); A.A.F. / U.S.A.F. Explosive Ordnance Disposal Memorial
this page online
More about this marker. Stray Goose International (SGI) is an organization bringing together those who served in Combat Talon units in the Pacific Theater over the past 5 decades.
Regarding Combat Talon Aircrew S-01. Combat Talon aircraft, tail # 64-0547, was missing-in-action with its entire 11-man crew on December 29, 1967, on a mission to drop leaflets inside North Vietnam. The Blackbird had completed its leaflet drop leg of the mission at 30,000 ft (9,100 m) and begun its descent to its terrain-following exit altitude. Communication was lost without the Blackbird reporting any threats detected. SOF commanders at the time discounted the possibility of its being shot down because the flight, conducted by an inexperienced aircraft commander under new moon conditions, was not claimed as such by North Vietnam. In November 1992 the wreckage was located near the peak of a mountain 32 mi (51 km) northeast of Dien Bien Phu, and it was surmised that its descent was too steep for its terrain following/terrain avoidance radar to stabilize. Tail # 64-0547 was the only Special Operations MC-130 lost on a combat mission over hostile terrain in the history of the program.
Photographed By Mark Hilton, November 17, 2016
2. Combat Talon Aircrew S-01 Marker under bushes in background.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 22, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 21, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 647 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 21, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 2. submitted on December 22, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.
