WILLIAMS, DAVID BERYL
Remains Returned - ID Announced 26 October 1989
Name: David Beryl Williams
Rank/Branch: 03/U.S. Marine Corps
Unit: VMA 224, Detachment C
Date of Birth: 06 August 1941
HomeCity of Record: LafayetteLA
Date of Loss: 03 May 1972
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 174859N 1072957E (YE649715)
Status (in 1973): Missing In Action
Category: 3
Acft/Vehicle/Ground: A6A
Refno: 1842
Other Personnel in Incident: Joseph W. McDonald (missing)
Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 01 April 1990 with the assistanceof one or more of the following: raw data from U.S. Government agencysources, correspondence with POW/MIA families, published sources,interviews.
Updated by the P.O.W. NETWORK 1998.
REMARKS:
SYNOPSIS: The Grumman A6 Intruder is a two-man all weather, low-altitude,carrier-based attack plane, with versions adapted as aerial tanker andelectronic warfare platform. The A6A primarily flew close-air-support,all-weather and night attacks on enemy troop concentrations, and nightinterdiction missions. Its advanced navigation and attack system, known as
DIANE (Digital Integrated Attack navigation Equipment) allowed smallprecision targets, such as bridges, barracks and fuel depots to be locatedand attacked in all weather conditions, day or night. The planes werecredited with some of the most difficult single-plane strikes in the war,including the destruction of the Hai Duong bridge between Hanoi and Haiphongby a single A6. Their missions were tough, but their crews among the mosttalented and most courageous to serve the United States.
On May 3, 1972, an A6A flown by 1Lt. Joseph W. McDonald was launched on amission over North Vietnam. Flying as "guy in back" for McDonald was Capt.
David B. Williams. At a point on the coast of North Vietnam, near the cityof Ron in Quang Binh Province, their aircraft was shot down. Both men wereplaced in the category of Missing In Action.
The Defense Intelligence Agency further clarified McDonald's and Williams'categories with an "enemy knowledge" qualifier. Both men received ratings of
Category 3, which indicates "doubtful knowledge" and includes personnelwhose loss incident is such that it is doubtful that the enemy wound haveknowledge of the specific individuals (e.g. aircrews lost over water orremote areas).
Even though both men were classified Missing in Action, Defense Departmentnotes indicate some likelihood that McDonald, at least, was captured. Thereare no such notations relating to Williams. The Vietnamese denied any
knowledge of either crewman.
In late October, 1989, it was announced that remains returned to the U.S. bythe Vietnamese had been identified as being those of David B. Williams. Noword of McDonald has been publicly announced.
Since these men disappeared in May 1972, the U.S. has received nearly 10,000reports relating to Americans missing in Southeast Asia. Many officials whohave reviewed these reports have reluctantly concluded there are stillhundreds of Americans alive in Southeast Asia, held captive by our long-agoenemy.
Whether Joseph W. McDonald survived the crash of his aircraft to be capturedis not known. What is certain, however, is that the Vietnamese should beable to provide answers as to his fate. It's time we got those answers, andtime we brought all living American prisoners home.