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In the early hours of April 22, 1970, an AC130 gunship flown by veteran pilot Major William Brooks departed Ubon Airbase with a crew of ten for a Commando Hunt mission over the Ho Chi Minh Trail in southern Laos. The aircraft, code named "Ad Lib", was joined near its estimation by two jet escort fighter bombers, code named "Killer 1" and "Killer 2", and immediately began air strikes against enemy traffic below. The crew of the aircraft included Brooks, the pilot; SSgt. Thomas Y. Adachi, the aerial gunner; Lt. Col.. Charlie B. Davis, a navigator; Maj. Donald G. Fisher, a navigator; SSgt. Stephen W. Harris; SSgt. Ronnie L. Hensley; Master Sgt. Robert N. Ireland; Airman Donald M. Lint; Lt. Col.. Charles S. Rowley; and 1Lt. John C. Towle.  During its fourth strike, the gunship was hit by anti-aircraft fire and began burning. Brooks radioed, "I've been hit, babe". Fisher, the navigator, reported that his position was OK. Fields and Hensley, battling the blaze in the rear of the aircraft, lost contact with each other in the smoke. Fields inched his way to Adachi's position, and found Adachi gone and the left scanner window open.  Fields used an auxiliary parachute to abandon the aircraft.  Killer 1 reported seeing no parachutes, although Killer 2 reported the crew was bailing out. Just before Killer 1 departed the area for refueling, it received one emergency beeper signal from the ground. Killer 2 established voice contact with a member of the crew identifying himself as Ad-Lib 12 (Fisher), who reported that he had burns on his face and hands. Killer 2 also left for refueling, while other aircraft monitored the downed craft and waited for morning to attempt rescue of the survivors.  The following morning, Ad-Lib 11 (Fields) was rescued, but due to hostile ground forces, no ground search or photographs were made at the time.  The Air Force assumed at the time that Fields had incorrectly identified himself, and announced that 6 of the crew had been killed and four were missing.  The rest of the story is confusing. The family of one of the crew was told that a ground crew had been inserted and that partial remains of one crew member had been recovered.  Another family was advised that photographs of the crashsite existed. A photograph of a captive airman having burn bandages on his hands was identified as being Fisher by his family. Rowley's family was informed of a secret intelligence report indicating that 8 of the crew had been captured, and that a controlled American source had witnessed them being tortured to death for their "crimes."  A returned POW reported seeing Rowley in a propaganda film. Another returned POW stated that Fisher had been a POW. Although the Air Force would not allow family members to contact the only survivor, Fields, Fisher's son located him after 18 years.  Fisher denied ever being in contact with any of the Killer jet escorts. It was not he who identified himself by radio to rescue forces.  Apparently, at least some of the crew of Ad Lib survived to be captured in  Laos, often called the "Black Hole" of the POW issue because of nearly 600 lost there, not a SINGLE man was released that had been held in Laos.  The Pathet Lao stated on several occasions that they held prisoners, yet we never negotiated their freedom, and reports continue to be received that some of these men are still alive.  The surviving crew members lost that day were abandoned by the country for which they bravely fought.

The remains of Col. Charlie Davis, Col. Charles Rowley, Capt. John Towle, Chief Master Sgt. Ronnie Hensley, Chief Master Sgt. Robert Ireland, Senior Master Sgt. Donald Lint,Sgt. Stephen Harris and three others whose identities were not released at their families wishes were recovered November 15, 1993.  The remains were later identified in Hawaii and returned to the mainland September 27th, 1993. 

My Humble Opinions

I have worn Col. Rowley's POW/MIA bracelet since 1990.  In 1991 we went through another war, Operation Desert Storm.  My husband is a USAF Major today, back in '91 he was fresh out of Officer Training School and attending navigator school.  It was then that the POW/MIA bracelet became ever more important to me, the POW/MIA bracelet had from the beginning reminded me of how grateful I was that this man had gone to war in representation of our freedom, a freedom I had never questioned and one that I was now starting to understand is not something that can or ever should be taken for granted.  I have since tried to find out Colonel Rowley's status, September of 1997 I found out.  But, (yes there is a but) ... the information I found was not completely up front or truthful, go to the next page to read the letter sent to me from Ms. Lynn O'Shea of the National Alliance for Families for the Return of America's Servicemen who has & still does work with Col. Rowley's family.
I suppose I do not have to share this letter, I just simply cannot do that because how many POW/MIA's records are inaccurate, is this fair, I think not ... but, I will let you be the judges click here to read the letter.

This Candle burns in Loving Memory of Jason (Moonduster)
A remarkable man who freely gave of himself to maintain
The Operation Just Cause Switchboard 
Thank You Moonduster - God Bless - May You Rest In Peace.

"God Bless The USA" by Lee Greenwood is playing.
Wonderful Miracles™© 1997+ by Mary aka Dizzy
Page Created 11th November 1997 - Veteran's Day
All Rights Reserved.