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Remembering the Crew and Cryptologist Passengers of RG-407 - From StationHypo.com

We invite you to visit StationHypo.com for the full article about the Crew & Cryptologist Passengers of RG-407, but below is a brief synopsis as provided by the site:

Ten Sailors gave their lives during the Vietnam War in the defense of their country while flying over the South China Sea on December 12, 1971.

The surviving family members directly petitioned the Navy, through official Navy channels, to have the names of their loved ones placed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, DC. However, none of the names of the crew, or passengers, of flight RG-407 are inscribed. This report seeks to inform key decision makers to address this missing honor by providing as complete a picture as possible of the circumstances surrounding this flight, its crew, and its mission. It is our sincere hope that a fresh set of eyes and a clearer, modern-day perspective of both Navy cryptologic and logistical support operations will cast the Sailors’ Vietnam Memorial Wall eligibility in a more favorable light.

The Crew

Rank Name Age Squadron Home of Record
LT Vetal C. LaMountain 28 VRC-50 Elmont, NY
LTjg Gale V. Woolsey 24 VRC-50 Edwards, IL
ABH3 Richard C. Gaynor 21 VRC-50 Oak View, CA
AN James M. VanBussum 22 VRC-50 Owensboro, KY

The Cryptologists

Rank Name Age PERMDUSTA Home of Record
CTOC Donald E. Dickerson 34 NCS San Miguel Chowchilla, CA
CTR1 Walter R. Woods 25 NCS San Miguel Long Beach, CA
CTM2 Gregory K. Zeller 23 NCS San Miguel Pasadena, CA
CTO3 James M. Coon 20 NCS San Miguel Van Wert, OH
CTOSN Stephen H. Elliott 21 NCS San Miguel Rock Island, IL
CTISN John R. Deremigio 25 NSGA Misawa Logansport, IN

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