THE WALL OF FACES

DEAR TECH SERGEANT BELFLOWER,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. I DO NOT KNOW YOUR MOS, BUT YOU ARE APPRECIATED. IT IS A NEW YEAR, WHICH MAKES IT FAR TOO LONG FOR YOU TO HAVE BEEN GONE. WE APPRECIATE ALL YOU HAVE DONE, AND YOUR SACRIFICE. WATCH OVER THE U.S.A., IT STILL NEEDS YOUR COURAGE.. GOD BLESS YOU. MAY THE SAINTS AND ANGELS BE AT YOUR SIDE. REST IN PEACE.

JH was my husband and the father of two beautiful daughters and one fantastic son. He loved life and our family and his many friends. He was always smiling. One of the things he loved most was flying. He lived for flying assignments. It is only fitting that he lost his life in a plane. I often wonder what he was thinking when it happened but believe he had to be thinking about me and our children. Very sad day for all of us but he was doing what he loved. He also loved the military and believed in what we stand for and for what we defend. He never met a stranger and loved talking to everybody he met. Sadly for our family, our son has joined him in heaven. Their presence we miss, their memories we treasure.

On April 25, 1969, a U.S. Air Force Lockheed EC-121R Super Constellation (#67-21493) with the call sign of BATCAT 21 from the 553rd Recon Squadron, was scheduled for a combat tactical mission out of Korat, Thailand. BATCAT 21 started engines approximately 15:20 and commenced taxi to run-up position at 15:30. After completing engine run-up, the flight was cleared for takeoff by Korat Tower at 15:54 and was advised to contact departure control. BATCAT 21 established contact with departure control and requested information on the position, direction of movement and speed of the thunderstorm cell near the base. Departure control advised BATCAT 21 that the thunderstorm was over the base and extended 20 miles southwest. BATCAT 21 requested a right turn after takeoff and radar vectoring around the thunderstorms. The controller requested the crew to maintain runway heading and indicated that he would vector the aircraft around the thunderstorms. Prior to becoming airborne, BATCAT 21 was advised that he was cleared to turn right to two eight zero degrees. The flight reported airborne at 15:58 and departure control advised the heading was two eight zero degrees and he would radar identify BATCAT 21. This was acknowledged and a short time later the crew requested to make a right turn if possible as it was very turbulent. Korat departure control approved the request. No further transmissions were received from BATCAT 21. At approximately two and one half miles after lift-off and about 500 feet altitude, the aircraft entered a down draft which also was an area of strong wind shear. The aircraft experienced turbulence, but more significantly, the relative wind swiftly changed from a 20 knot head wind to at least a 20 knot tail wind. As the aircraft descended it entered the region closest to the ground where the tail wind was the strongest. Witness reports and wind damage estimates indicate the there was a most likely 60 knot tail wind at the surface when the aircraft crashed. The aircraft impacted with the ground gear up, engine power METO (Maximum Except Take Off). The initial point of impact was in a rice paddy at a ground speed of 221 knots. Indicated airspeed was approximately 150-160 knots. As the aircraft traversed the rice paddies the under part of the wings and the propellers began to disintegrate. A dike separating the rice paddies, 80 yards from impact, started the disintegration of the accessory section of the engines. The right wing then struck a tree stump causing the path of the aircraft to veer slightly right. It continued on this path an additional 30 yards, struck another stump and returned to its original path across the ground, striking a tree with the number 2 engine and exploding 255 yards from impact. The fuselage continued down the rolling hill separating the two rice paddy areas and flipped to the right (the right side of the cockpit being the pivot point), finally coming to rest 300 yards from the touchdown point. Eighteen personnel, the entire crew, were lost with the BATCAT 21 crash. They included TSGT James H. Belflower, TSGT Albert N. Booker, MAJ Thomas M. Brandom Jr., A1C Michael J. Cotterill, SSGT Jerald C. Davis, A1C Ronald C. Deforrest, TSGT Warren C. DeLaney, SSGT Paul Faulk, TSGT Kenneth W. Fowler, LTC Emerson E. Heller, CAPT George R. Kidd, MAJ Paul R. Lunsford, 1LT John A. Marsh, LTC William C. McCormick Jr., SGT Mitchel Messing, SSGT James D. Moore, SGT Mark M. Steeley, and A1C William D. Stepp. [Taken from aviation-safety.net]

Dear TSGT James H Belflower, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, Sir

Curt Carter

You gave your life for your country and for this we Salute You.