Vietnam MIA / KIA bracelet for a pilot

[StevenL]

I wanted to share this bracelet and what I was able to find out about this man here. A trip to the flea market, 2 quarters and a quick Google search turned up one good result but it was enough to tell his story. Read was a pilot with the 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, 7th Air Force and was posthumously promoted to a full Colonel. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Air Medal and appropriate Vietnam service medals, also posthumously.

http://www.teachvietnam.org/thewall/anClip=173515

 

Major Charles Harold Wickliffe Read Jr. was the Pilot and 1st Lieutenant Melvin Earl Ladewig the Weapons System Officer onboard an F4D PHANTOM fighter aircraft on 24 August 1968 assigned to an armed reconnaissance mission over North Vietnam.

As their flight was over Quang Binh Province, located about 10 miles southwest of the city of Quang Khe, a bombing run was made and afterwards their aircraft was seen as a large fireball on the ground by the pilots of the lead aircraft.

They reported no radio contact with either pilot prior to the crash, nor did they see parachutes or hear any emergency radio beeper signals to indicate that either Read or Ladewig ejected from their aircraft prior to its downing.

However, neither officer was declared dead, so the possibility existed that they may have safely exited their aircraft.

They remain to this day as being Missing In Action.

Both officers were promoted during the period they were maintained in Missing In Action status.

The Secretary of the Air Force eventually approved Presumptive Findings of Death for the two officers with Captain Ladewig on 8 November 1973 then later Colonel Read on 25 July 1978.

Their remains have still not been repatriated.

Since dog tags go in this forum I figure it's as good a place as any for this bracelet, feel free to move it if need be.