Welcome Home, Tech Sergeant Edwin Morgan. Your War Is Over.

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 18:45:44 -0400

The town of Salisbury, North Carolina welcomed home Technical Sergeant Edwin Everton Morgan after 49 years. Morgan was the loadmaster of an AC-47D gunship aircraft that failed to return from a mission in March, 1966. From WBTV;

Morgan enlisted in the Navy in June of 1945 when he was 17 years old and served until June of 1949. Morgan served in the Army from 1949 to 1955. While in the Army, he served in Germany and France.

In 1955 Morgan reenlisted in the Air Force. While in the Air Force, Edwin was stationed in Bermuda, Tinker AFB in Oklahoma City, Okla. and Joint Base in Charleston, S.C., before leaving for Tan Son Nhut AB in the Republic of Vietnam at the end of January 1966. Morgan remained at Tan Son Nhut until he was reported as MIA on March 13, 1966. Morgan was awarded the Purple Heart, the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal posthumously.

From Task Force Omega;
On 9 March 1966, Capt. Howard W. Henninger, pilot; Capt. Robert E Pasekoff, co-pilot; Capt. Gerald E. Olson, navigator; then TSgt. Edwin E. Morgan, loadmaster; SSgt. Gene E. Davis, flight mechanic; SSgt. Marshall I. Pauley, aerial gunner and Sgt. Dean A Duvall, aerial gunner; comprised the crew of an AC47D gunship, call sign “Spooky 73.” They departed DaNang Airfield at 0300 hours on an armed reconnaissance mission along Route 92 that ran through the dense jungle covered mountains of Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam.

The mission was scheduled to last 3 hours. Weather conditions were good. It was a moonlit night with scattered to broken clouds, smoke and haze. Approximately 22 minutes after Spooky 73 took off, Capt. Henninger established radio contact with a standard communications check. At that time there was no indication of any trouble with the aircraft.

When Spooky 73 failed to return to base as scheduled, a ramp check of all bases that the AC47D could have diverted to was made. At 0800 hours the aircraft was declared overdue and initial search and rescue (SAR) operations initiated. At 0740 hours on 14 March 1966, full SAR operations using 2 AIE and 1 HE16B aircraft combed the dense jungle covered mountains along Route 92 and their briefed flight path of Spooky 73. This search effort was terminated at 1430 hours with no findings or sightings of the missing aircraft or its crew observed.

The last known location of Capt. Henninger’s aircraft and crew placed them over rugged mountains covered in triple canopy jungle. At that time Spooky 73 was on a heading of 250 degrees; approximately 9 miles south of the South Vietnamese/Lao border, 33 miles southeast of Kham Duc and 58 miles west-southwest of DaNang, Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam.

A service will be held tomorrow for the returning airman who has promoted to Chief Master Sergeant since he was lost.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Jun 26 at 2015 6:48 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 18:48:58 -0400

May he finally find peace.

Response by SrA David White made Jun 26 at 2015 7:08 PM

SrA David White — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 19:08:22 -0400

Welcome home Tsgt Morgan, may you rest in peace. Much respect to your family and friends as they celebrate your return and honor your service.

Response by LTC Ed Ross made Jun 26 at 2015 7:09 PM

LTC Ed Ross — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 19:09:58 -0400

The remains of more than 85,000 men and women in uniform fro WWII, The Korean War, The Cold War and the Vietnam War have not been recovered.

Response by SFC Rollie Hubbard made Jun 26 at 2015 8:29 PM

SFC Rollie Hubbard — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 20:29:46 -0400

Rest in peace CMSGT

Response by TSgt Matthew Greenwood made Jun 27 at 2015 11:16 PM

TSgt Matthew Greenwood — Sat, 27 Jun 2015 23:16:26 -0400

What an amazing story! Thank you Sir for your service to our Country. I am so happy you are finally able to return after so many years. I hope you and your family are now able to find peace