Remembering the Crew and Cryptologist Passengers of RG-407

Ten Sailors gave their lives during the Vietnam War in the defense of their country while flying over the South China Sea on December 12, 1971.


The surviving family members directly petitioned the Navy, through official Navy channels, to have the names of their loved ones placed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, DC. However, none of the names of the crew, or passengers, of flight RG-407 are inscribed. This report seeks to inform key decision makers to address this missing honor by providing as complete a picture as possible of the circumstances surrounding this flight, its crew, and its mission. It is our sincere hope that a fresh set of eyes and a clearer, modern-day perspective of both Navy cryptologic and logistical support operations will cast the Sailors’ Vietnam Memorial Wall eligibility in a more favorable light.