| William James Brashear | |
|---|---|
| Location on the Wall: | Panel 25W - Line 21 |
| Age at Loss: | 39 |
| Race: | Causasian |
| Sex: | Male |
| Date of Birth: | 01 Mar, 1934 |
| Home of Record: | Chula Vista, CA |
| Religion: | Methodist |
| Marital Status: | Married |
| Branch: | Air Force |
| Length of Service: | 20 years |
| Grade: | 05 |
| Rank: | Lieutenant Colonel |
| ID Number: | |
| Unit: | |
| MOS: | Fixed Wing Crew |
| Date of Loss: | 08 May, 1969 |
| Country of Loss: | LZ, Laos |
| Loss Coordinates: | 152000N 1070500E |
| Status: | Body Not Recovered |
| Type of Loss: | Hostile, died missing |
| Reason: | Air Loss, Crash on Land |
| Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: | F4C |
| Incident Ref. #: | 1437 |
Other info:On May 8, 1969 pilot Henry G. Mundt and bombardier/navigator William J. Brashear flew an F4C on assigned mission over Laos.The aircraft was shot down over Attopeu Province, near Chavane. The U.S. Air Force placed both men in the category of Missing in Action.Source: Virtual WallOn May 8, 1969 1Lt. Henry G. Mundt was the pilot and Maj. William J. Brashear the bombardier/navigator on board an F4C assigned a mission over Laos. As they were over Attopeu Province, near Chavane, the aircraft was shot down.The U.S. Air Force placed both men in the category of Missing in Action. The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) further refined that category according to enemy knowledge, concluding that there was ample reason to believe the enemy knows the fate of 1Lt. Mundt and Maj. Brashear.
The families of Brashear and Mundt understood that the two could have been captured by either Pathet Lao forces or North Vietnamese, and waited for the war to end.
09/12/03
“Paul Lazarski” <PPaul at zianet dot com>
I did find one error in the info provided on William [Bill] Brashear and Jerry Mundt. It had Mundt listed as the pilot, and Bill as bomb/nav. Bill was in fact the aircraft commander, or pilot, and Mundt was the back seat
weapons systems operator.
I was in the squadron [559] with them and knew them personally as we all lived together. So the info source is me, first hand knowlege. The flight that was with them actually had radio contact with one of them alive on the
ground, it is my personal belief that it was Bill Brashear. If I can help further let me know. They were both outstanding individuals and I hope they can come home some day.
Mundt was a “pilot” [gib] and that may be why the confusion
Also, I can recall and maybe contact other flight members on that mission. I also heard the tape of the downed pilot that day after the flight returned and that is why I have my opinion. I have helped other families on other shoot downs that occured in my squadron at that time. If survivors of these two great hero’s would like to contact me, that would be great.
Paul
Source: P.O.W. NETWORK