THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. It is my fervent hope you will be returned home.

On February 12, 1970, pilot 1LT Michael H. Breeding and RIO (radar intercept officer) 1LT Robert S. Bradshaw III comprised the crew of a U.S. Marine Corps McDonnell Douglas F-4B Phantom II (#151454), call sign “Love Bug 225,” from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 (VMFA-122), Marine Aircraft Group 13 (MAG-13), 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW) based at Chu Lai Air Base. Love Bug 225 was the second aircraft in a flight of two F-4B’s on a combat patrol. Both aircraft carried five MK-83 low-drag general purpose bombs. At 5:34 PM, after taking off from Chu Lai, the two jets were orbiting over the South China Sea while awaiting mission instructions. After receiving their assignment, the two jets changed their heading and altitude. While heading to their objective, the flight lead saw Love Bug 225 in his mirrors climb slightly with wings level, then roll inverted and go out of sight. The lead plane made five transmissions asking for Love Bug 225’s position. 1LT Bradshaw eventually responded, radioing, “It’s OK, we’re alright.” The transmission was spoken in a rapid manner and caused some alarm for the flight lead. The lead tried to regain contact with his wingman with negative results, and all other attempts to establish radio communications failed. The lead requested a radar check from the Air Support Radar Team which failed to visualize his wingman. They then descended through cloudy conditions to 500 feet in an attempt to initiate a search. Unable to make visual contact with the water, they climbed back up and returned to base after jettisoning their ordinance. Love Bug 225 was declared overdue at 7:30 PM due to fuel. Subsequent search and rescue efforts were unable to locate the two missing fliers. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]

Robert...Honoring you on your birthday.......YOU will never be forgotten..
God Bless

We trained together, we served together, we fought together, we laughed together. I know you will vouch for me when my time comes to help you ‘guard the streets of heaven’. Until we meet again Rest In Peace brother, you sacrificed for your family and country and Corps; you fought the good fight to save the lives of so many of your brothers in arms who never knew you like I did. Semper Fi.

DEAR LIEUTENANT BRADSHAW,
THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE AS A NAVAL FLIGHT OFFICER - EA-6A/B - PILOT. SEMPER FI. YOU ARE STILL MIA.
PLEASE COME HOME.
TODAY WAS ONCE CALLED DECORATION DAY, THEN BECAME MEMORIAL DAY, BUT ON ALL DAYS WE SHOULD HONOR YOU. IT HAS BEEN FAR TOO LONG FOR ALL OF 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 ANGELS BE AT YOUR SIDE. REST IN PEACE. YOU ARE ALL IN OUR PRAYERS.