Our 3 Berks County Brothers listed as POW/MIA’s from Vietnam are very special to us.
We have been very fortunate to have met and be part of the Angstadt and Dugan families.
As we met and talked with them, we can see they have gone through so many ups and downs.
For the ANGSTADT FAMILY it is the frustration of feeling nothing is being done to locate Ralph.
His sister Janet Clouser and her husband Kurt, Attended many POW/MIA Family Meetings and Workshops across the country.
Having appointments to meet with top Military Officials but given the same updates year after year.
They never even changed the dates on the – updated paperwork they were shown, once again.
Their case representative not even reviewing the file before he opened the folder in front of them.
Being told they would be doing some underwater searches in the area that Ralph’s plane went down but never following through with it.
There is No closure for the Angstadt Family.
The DUGAN FAMILY went through the anticipation of them locating their beloved Tom.
Finding the crash site, identifying the plane and then the disappointment of no DNA match for him only his Co-Pilot.
They were given a box of plane fragments, shreds of clothing, pins and buttons. But no proof it was Tom.
The Dugan family has no closure.
Now we’ll take a closer look at each of our 3 missing Berks County Hero’s from Vietnam. We’ll learn their story and we’ll find out that
they all have a scenario that makes you wonder
Were they captured?
Did they survive their crash?
Coud they still be alive?
Listen carefully as I give the synopsis of their casualty reports and you will hear in each of their stories that there is that possibility.
LIEUTENANT COLONEL RALPH ANGSTADT
Ralph’s interest in airplanes started at a young age, His father was with the Civil Air Patrol and did many night watches and patrols
As a young boy he had lots of exposure to these big flying machines.He built model air planes in the basement and hung them from the rafters.
At 11:01 a.m. on Tuesday, October 18, 1966, the then Major Ralph Angstadt, Rescue Commander/Pilot of a HU16 Albatross and his crew of six departed Da Nang Airbase, Republic of Vietnam,
Their mission was to rescue a downed pilot approximately 80 miles off the China coast in the northern sector of the Gulf of Tonkin.
All contact was lost with the amphibious aircraft at 5:45 p.m. approximately 35 miles off the coast of North Vietnam.
For the next 7 days an extensive search for the aircraft was conducted
There were no sightings of the crew or aircraft.
Even though the HU16 was believed lost over water, the men on board were not declared killed, but Missing In Action.
The possibility exists that they were captured by one of the numerous enemy vessels that were present offshore from North Vietnam
Let me say that again, it is possible that they were captured by one of the many enemy vessels that were present offshore.
If you were to research Lt. Col. Angstadt and his crew you would find some very interesting information that really makes you question if they may have survived the crash. About one year after the incident, one of his crew members family received a call from an International Red Cross representative She stated that this crew member was "alive, and in a hospital in Southeast Asia," I won’t go into all the details; you can go home and fill in the blanks if you do some research, but I hope I gave you enough info to make you wonder. To make you think, and give you hope that Ralph and his crew could still be alive.
COLONEL THOMAS WAYNE DUGAN
Tom was a member of the Civil Air Patrol at the Reading Airport. That is where he learned to fly and decided to make the Air Force his career.
On December 13, 1968, then Major Thomas Dugan, pilot; and Major Francis McGouldrick, co-pilot; comprised the crew of a B57B Canberra, call sign "Yellowbird 72." Their night bombing mission was being guided by a C123K Provider, call sign "Candlestick 44," their mission was to direct the bombers against a convoy of enemy trucks.
These roads were cut through the rugged jungle covered mountains.
They were used by the Communists to transport weapons, supplies and troops from North Vietnam into South Vietnam,
Flying at an altitude of no more than 2000-3000 feet, the Provider crew's mission was to spot enemy truck convoys traveling along the trail,
and then to drop flares to illuminate the area for the accompanying bombers to attack.
At 0300 hours, as the B-57 was executing an attack against ground targets, the B-57 collided with the upper surface of the circling C-123K.
Both aircraft – and nine air crewmen - went down.
Only one was rescued, the pilot of the C-123. He deployed his parachute and, on his descent, he saw another parachute below him. Did you hear that he saw another parachute below him. Who was on that parachute???
He landed safely in a tree top and was rescued from there at dawn.
The others simply disappeared into the Laotian jungles about 30 miles southwest of the Ban Kari Pass.
A ground search was impossible due to total enemy control of the area, but airborne search-and-rescue operations continued until it was terminated on 15 December.
On April 8, 2007, a joint team located a possible crash site. From October 2011 to May 2012, joint U.S. and Laos teams recovered human remains and aircraft wreckage consistent with the B-57. There were several attempts to go back to the site; However, the site had to be aborted due to fuel oils coming to the surface and live ordnances discovered.
Human remains, parts of the plane and several other items were found.
The DNA was tested and it confirmed that Col. Francis McGouldrick Jr, Dugan’s co-pilot was positively identified. However, there was no DNA match to Col. Thomas Dugan.
CAPTAIN DAVID ERIC PANNABECKER
On March 27, 1972, Capt. David E. Pannabecker, and his crew of 4 went on a morning escort mission into Cambodia. The aircraft departed Nakhom Phanom Airbase at 8:30 as the second aircraft in a flight of two.
Following aerial refueling over southern Thailand, the two Super Jolly's rendezvoused with the rest of the flight. Upon sighting the aircraft to be escorted, the lead radioed "Tally Ho," the signal acknowledging he had visual contact with the other aircraft. When there was no response from Capt. Pannabecker's helicopter, they attempted to locate him visually.
After completing a 180-degree turn, they reported seeing a column of black smoke rising from the dense jungle 5 miles away.
A search and rescue/recovery team from the lead helicopter was lowered to the ground at the crash site to check for survivors. They could not get close enough to the burning wreckage to determine if there were crew members trapped inside the aircraft due to the intense heat.
However, the team searched the surrounding area and reported finding two partially deployed parachutes, but no trace of the men who had used them, near the burning helicopter. Again, let me repeat that they found two partially deployed parachutes but no men attached to them.
There were no further attempts to locate or recover any crewmen from the downed Super Jolly Green That was due to the presence of hostile forces who had moved into the area.
There are several ways to look at Capt. Pannabecker’s status.
The plume of black smoke and the heat of the fire that did not allow others to get close enough to see if there were survivors seems like he may have perished with his helicopter. But when they found 2 partially deployed parachutes and no bodies it makes you think, is it possible they were taken hostage; did they survive the crash?
It is these scenarios that give you hope that they could still be alive and being held against their will as Prisoners Of War.
These are the stories of our 3 local Hometown Hero’s.
There are still 80,843 other families who have so many unanswered questions. That is why we must continue to be their voice. We need to educate others, We need to be sure the POW/MIA flag is flying as a visible reminder that there are still missing and unaccounted for from all wars and conflicts.
We must fulfill the promise written on the Bottom of that Black and White flag: “YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN”!
We have been very fortunate to have met and be part of the Angstadt and Dugan families.
As we met and talked with them, we can see they have gone through so many ups and downs.
For the ANGSTADT FAMILY it is the frustration of feeling nothing is being done to locate Ralph.
His sister Janet Clouser and her husband Kurt, Attended many POW/MIA Family Meetings and Workshops across the country.
Having appointments to meet with top Military Officials but given the same updates year after year.
They never even changed the dates on the – updated paperwork they were shown, once again.
Their case representative not even reviewing the file before he opened the folder in front of them.
Being told they would be doing some underwater searches in the area that Ralph’s plane went down but never following through with it.
There is No closure for the Angstadt Family.
The DUGAN FAMILY went through the anticipation of them locating their beloved Tom.
Finding the crash site, identifying the plane and then the disappointment of no DNA match for him only his Co-Pilot.
They were given a box of plane fragments, shreds of clothing, pins and buttons. But no proof it was Tom.
The Dugan family has no closure.
Now we’ll take a closer look at each of our 3 missing Berks County Hero’s from Vietnam. We’ll learn their story and we’ll find out that
they all have a scenario that makes you wonder
Were they captured?
Did they survive their crash?
Coud they still be alive?
Listen carefully as I give the synopsis of their casualty reports and you will hear in each of their stories that there is that possibility.
LIEUTENANT COLONEL RALPH ANGSTADT
Ralph’s interest in airplanes started at a young age, His father was with the Civil Air Patrol and did many night watches and patrols
As a young boy he had lots of exposure to these big flying machines.He built model air planes in the basement and hung them from the rafters.
At 11:01 a.m. on Tuesday, October 18, 1966, the then Major Ralph Angstadt, Rescue Commander/Pilot of a HU16 Albatross and his crew of six departed Da Nang Airbase, Republic of Vietnam,
Their mission was to rescue a downed pilot approximately 80 miles off the China coast in the northern sector of the Gulf of Tonkin.
All contact was lost with the amphibious aircraft at 5:45 p.m. approximately 35 miles off the coast of North Vietnam.
For the next 7 days an extensive search for the aircraft was conducted
There were no sightings of the crew or aircraft.
Even though the HU16 was believed lost over water, the men on board were not declared killed, but Missing In Action.
The possibility exists that they were captured by one of the numerous enemy vessels that were present offshore from North Vietnam
Let me say that again, it is possible that they were captured by one of the many enemy vessels that were present offshore.
If you were to research Lt. Col. Angstadt and his crew you would find some very interesting information that really makes you question if they may have survived the crash. About one year after the incident, one of his crew members family received a call from an International Red Cross representative She stated that this crew member was "alive, and in a hospital in Southeast Asia," I won’t go into all the details; you can go home and fill in the blanks if you do some research, but I hope I gave you enough info to make you wonder. To make you think, and give you hope that Ralph and his crew could still be alive.
COLONEL THOMAS WAYNE DUGAN
Tom was a member of the Civil Air Patrol at the Reading Airport. That is where he learned to fly and decided to make the Air Force his career.
On December 13, 1968, then Major Thomas Dugan, pilot; and Major Francis McGouldrick, co-pilot; comprised the crew of a B57B Canberra, call sign "Yellowbird 72." Their night bombing mission was being guided by a C123K Provider, call sign "Candlestick 44," their mission was to direct the bombers against a convoy of enemy trucks.
These roads were cut through the rugged jungle covered mountains.
They were used by the Communists to transport weapons, supplies and troops from North Vietnam into South Vietnam,
Flying at an altitude of no more than 2000-3000 feet, the Provider crew's mission was to spot enemy truck convoys traveling along the trail,
and then to drop flares to illuminate the area for the accompanying bombers to attack.
At 0300 hours, as the B-57 was executing an attack against ground targets, the B-57 collided with the upper surface of the circling C-123K.
Both aircraft – and nine air crewmen - went down.
Only one was rescued, the pilot of the C-123. He deployed his parachute and, on his descent, he saw another parachute below him. Did you hear that he saw another parachute below him. Who was on that parachute???
He landed safely in a tree top and was rescued from there at dawn.
The others simply disappeared into the Laotian jungles about 30 miles southwest of the Ban Kari Pass.
A ground search was impossible due to total enemy control of the area, but airborne search-and-rescue operations continued until it was terminated on 15 December.
On April 8, 2007, a joint team located a possible crash site. From October 2011 to May 2012, joint U.S. and Laos teams recovered human remains and aircraft wreckage consistent with the B-57. There were several attempts to go back to the site; However, the site had to be aborted due to fuel oils coming to the surface and live ordnances discovered.
Human remains, parts of the plane and several other items were found.
The DNA was tested and it confirmed that Col. Francis McGouldrick Jr, Dugan’s co-pilot was positively identified. However, there was no DNA match to Col. Thomas Dugan.
CAPTAIN DAVID ERIC PANNABECKER
On March 27, 1972, Capt. David E. Pannabecker, and his crew of 4 went on a morning escort mission into Cambodia. The aircraft departed Nakhom Phanom Airbase at 8:30 as the second aircraft in a flight of two.
Following aerial refueling over southern Thailand, the two Super Jolly's rendezvoused with the rest of the flight. Upon sighting the aircraft to be escorted, the lead radioed "Tally Ho," the signal acknowledging he had visual contact with the other aircraft. When there was no response from Capt. Pannabecker's helicopter, they attempted to locate him visually.
After completing a 180-degree turn, they reported seeing a column of black smoke rising from the dense jungle 5 miles away.
A search and rescue/recovery team from the lead helicopter was lowered to the ground at the crash site to check for survivors. They could not get close enough to the burning wreckage to determine if there were crew members trapped inside the aircraft due to the intense heat.
However, the team searched the surrounding area and reported finding two partially deployed parachutes, but no trace of the men who had used them, near the burning helicopter. Again, let me repeat that they found two partially deployed parachutes but no men attached to them.
There were no further attempts to locate or recover any crewmen from the downed Super Jolly Green That was due to the presence of hostile forces who had moved into the area.
There are several ways to look at Capt. Pannabecker’s status.
The plume of black smoke and the heat of the fire that did not allow others to get close enough to see if there were survivors seems like he may have perished with his helicopter. But when they found 2 partially deployed parachutes and no bodies it makes you think, is it possible they were taken hostage; did they survive the crash?
It is these scenarios that give you hope that they could still be alive and being held against their will as Prisoners Of War.
These are the stories of our 3 local Hometown Hero’s.
There are still 80,843 other families who have so many unanswered questions. That is why we must continue to be their voice. We need to educate others, We need to be sure the POW/MIA flag is flying as a visible reminder that there are still missing and unaccounted for from all wars and conflicts.
We must fulfill the promise written on the Bottom of that Black and White flag: “YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN”!
