THE WALL OF FACES

On January 29, 1969, pilot Maj William E. Campbell and co-pilot Capt Robert E. Holton comprised the crew in a U.S. Air Force McDonnell Douglas F-4D Phantom II (#66-7474) fighter-bomber, call sign Bennett 02, in a flight of two F-4D’s from the 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron on an armed visual reconnaissance mission over Laos. As the number two aircraft in the flight, Campbell’s Phantom fell back in normal trail position behind the flight leader as they approached their assigned area. While performing reconnaissance along the designated route, Campbell informed his flight leader that he visually sighted a moving vehicle and requested permission to make an attack. The flight lead gave the go ahead, then moved to orbit over the target area to observe the ordnance impact and be in position to suppress any anti-aircraft fire. As Campell started his initial pass on the target, 37mm anti-aircraft fire was directed at their jet. No hits were seen, but several aerial bursts were observed around the aircraft. They dropped their ordnance and seconds later the Phantom impacted the ground in an exploding fireball. No parachutes were observed nor electronic emergency signals heard. Immediate attempts to contact the crew were unsuccessful. Visual and electronic searches conducted by the flight leader and two Forward Air Controllers lasted approximately one hour. Several low-level, high-speed passes were made over the crash site which was in a forested valley between two mountains approximately one mile northeast of Ban Pha Nop, Laos. No sightings of the downed officers were made, and no signals were heard. Electronic surveillance was maintained through February 1, 1969, with negative results. Both men were placed in a status of Missing in Action; Campbell was subsequently promoted to Colonel. Beginning 1994, multiple joint Lao-U.S. recovery efforts located repatriated remains of Campbell and Holton. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]

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POSTED ON 11.14.2024

POSTED BY: Andre Ribeiro

Bracelet

Always wanted to wear a bracelet to honor those that gave it all. Found on an antique shop. My father-in-law, West Point graduate served two tour in Nam !!! Honored to remember !!!

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POSTED ON 7.23.2024

POSTED BY: Julie Davis

MIA Bracelet Lt. Col. William Campbell 1/29/69

Cindy Campbell worked at my grandparents gift shop when she was a teenager in Independence, KS (Wilson's Gift Shop). I requested her father's bracelet ,and wore it faithfully for quite sometime. I'd love to share this with the family if they are interested.

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POSTED ON 5.28.2024

POSTED BY: stephen hamilton

The bracelet

I also wore Colonel Campbell's bracelet and came upon it again when going through my "special" drawer of various keepsakes. My father and mother are both buried at Arlington. My dad was a bombardier in a B-17 and was shot down on Oct. 10 1943 over Bremen, Germany. He was gravely wounded but survived after 7 weeks in a German hospital and then18 months in a prison camp for officers. He eventually rose to Colonel in the Army reserves in the 70's I believe. The Bloody 100th bomb group was recently memorialized in Masters of the Air, an 8 part series on Apple +. Howard "Hambone" Hamlton, later a Ph.D. and professor of Electrical Engineering. So happy that Colonel Campbell finally got to come home. God Bless you all.

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POSTED ON 1.9.2024

POSTED BY: Lucy Micik

Burial information

Col. William Campbell is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

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