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Ronald Charles Deforrest
Airman First Class
554TH RECON SQDN, 553RD RECON WING, 7TH AF United States Air Force Salem, Massachusetts March 27, 1947 to April 25, 1969 RONALD C DEFORREST is on the Wall at Panel W26, Line 44 |
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Ronald and I grew up together in Salem, Mass, we lived in the same neighborhood and served during Viet Nam. From what I remember he was a quiet kid, always friendly and happy. I was not stationed in Viet Nam during the war and want to ensure he is remembered for giving the ultimate sacrifice for us all.
From a friend, |
A Note from The Virtual WallThe venerable C-121 Super Constellation was used in a variety of transport and air surveillance missions during the Vietnam war. One version, the EC-121R "Bat Cat" modification, was equipped to monitor the electronic sensors emplaced along the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos and within North and South Vietnam. Thirty EC-121K and EC-121P aircraft were modified to the EC-121R configuration. The 553rd Reconnaissance Wing was activated at Otis AFB, Massachusetts, in February 1967 and deployed with 27 aircraft to Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base in October 1967.On 25 April 1969, an EC-121R (tail number 67-21493) of the 554th Recon Sqdn launched on an operational mission. The weather was poor, with thunderstorms around the field. Shortly after getting airborne the EC-121R encountered a severe wind sheer which forced the heavily-laden aircraft into the ground about 4 miles southwest of the airfield, where it exploded and burned. Although rescue crews arrived at the crash site within minutes, none of the 18 aircrewmen aboard survived the crash. Those killed were
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