03 Mar 2005 I was stationed with LTC Boyanowski at the MACV Training Directorate in Siagon. I did not know him well; I was a personnel clerk with the outfit. I remember he got on my butt and scolded me because I had a picture of Nixon rigged in a rather nasty pose on my locker door. It seems LTC Boyanowski and others had performed a surprise inspection and didn't like my antiwar display. You know, he was right about respect. I might not have liked Nixon's policies but I should always show respect to the office and the position. LTC Boyanowski opened my eyes to what respect is about and the importance of military tradition. I have thought often about him; I remember the day our CO told us he had been lost at sea. I thought about, and still do, his family, his wife. I still grieve for him, as well as the other 58,000 men and women who lost their lives in Nam. I still fly an MIA/POW flag in my front yard. We should never forget. Sky Redpath Dellrose, Tn skyredpath@aol.com

 

11 Oct 2005 I was LTC Boyanowski's XO at the 3d ST Bn, 3d Inf Div about 6 months before he left for Vietnam. He was a fine officer who I have never forgotten. I was his XO for almost one year. This officer was destined for General Officer status. He had a wonderful sense of humor and was highly intelligent. He worked long and hard hours as CO. He hated to fly and it was shocking to all that he died in a airplane crash. My very best to his family. From a friend, Ed Morris 634 Winter Street, Onalaska, Wi 54650 mjgabi@aol.com

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall On 14 Dec 1971, a U-21A liaison aircraft (tail number 66-18041, call sign "LONG TRIP 041") departed Phu Bai airfield for a short flight to Da Nang air base, about 42 miles to the southeast. The aircraft's crew and passengers included CW2 Otha L. Perry, pilot, Cmd Acft Co, 165th Avn Grp CPT Cecil C. Perkins, co-pilot, Cmd Acft Co, 165th Avn Grp LTC John Boyanowski, passenger, Trng Directorate, MACV CPT Gregg N. Hollinger, passenger, Trng Directorate, MACV SSG Floyd D. Caldwell, passenger, Trng Directorate, MACV SP4 Dwight A. Bremmer, passenger; HHC, 11th Avn Grp As an administrative flight with no combat role, its flight plan was intended to keep it out of harm's way. Upon departure from Phu Bai, the aircraft was to continue out over the Gulf of Tonkin before making a starboard turn to the approach path for Da Nang, remaining over water for virtually the entire trip. During the flight, CW2 Perry reported that he had lost his #2 (starboard) engine and that the aircraft was on fire, giving their location and requesting airborne SAR support. Very shortly thereafter radio and radar contact with the aircraft was lost. By the time SAR aircraft arrived at the U-21's last known position there was no sign of the U-21A or its crew and passengers. Inclement weather and poor visibility curtailed immediate search efforts, but extensive searches were conducted for the next three days, over water and the adjacent shore area, but no trace of the aircraft or personnel was ever found. The last known position placed LONG TRIP 041 approximately 8 miles seaward of the tip of the Vung DaNang peninsula, Thua Thien Province, South Vietnam. When the search effort was terminated, the six men were placed in MIA status. Sixty days after LONG TRIP 041 disappeared, a case study of the loss incident was completed. After careful review, the board of inquiry determined the aircraft was lost at sea and the crew and passengers died in the mishap. Under the circumstances of loss, it was further determined the remains of all six men were probably not recoverable. The status of the six men was changed to Died, Body Not Recovered. Additional information is available on the POW Network and Task Force Omega sites.

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