Ronald Nicholas SittnerMajor555TH TFS, 8TH TFW, 7TH AF United States Air Force 20 November 1937 - 23 August 1967 South Euclid, Ohio Panel 25E Line 035 |
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The database page for Ronald Nicholas Sittner
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You were the one who always put your arms around me in pictures when I was a little girl. The one who defended me when someone tried to harm me at 12. You were there checking out boys I dated, and when I became engaged you and your friends had a talk with my future husband. Handsome, so very bright and witty you could keep people laughing for hours. You excelled at everything you tried. Friends were loyal to you,family adored you. Next to a husband you were the most important and loved person in my life. You willingly served your country and wrote home you wanted your sisters to raise their children in freedom. You were my hero long before you gave your life for our country. You'll always be held in my heart and mind, dear and beloved. There'll never be enough words to say about you. I'm thankful that God gave me a brother that can be held in such high esteem and admiration. Looking forward to the day when we meet again.
Your little sister,
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Notes from The Virtual WallOn 23 Aug 1967 USAF units based in Thailand conducted heavy strikes on targets in the Hanoi area. All told, there were nine flights of F-105s (36 aircraft) and four flights of F-4s (16 aircraft). The 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron provided two flights of four F-4D aircraft, "FORD" flight and "FALCON" flight.As FORD flight approached its target at 15,000 feet, they were taken under attack by MiG-21 aircraft. In the ensuing fight, two were hit by air-to-air missiles. Both aircraft crashed. Immediately thereafter, FALCON flight arrived in the area. Although they avoided the MiGs, two more aircraft were hit by antiaircraft fire while making their bomb runs. When the raid ended, three 555th TFS aircraft were down in North Vietnam and one damaged F-4 was limping toward Nakon Phanom RTAFB in Thailand. Although other aircraft in the area attempted to determine the status of the downed aircrews, they were able to establish voice contact with only one of the six men. The high-threat location precluded extended searches and there was no question of bringing in a helicopter. The crew of the damaged F-4 was more fortunate; they got out of North Vietnam, crossed Laos, and were only about 60 miles northeast of Nakon Phanom when they were forced to leave their aircraft. Both crewmen were picked up by SAR helicopters. The four aircraft and their respective crews were
Sittner and Lane were continued in Missing in Action status until the Secretary of the Air Force approved Presumptive Findings of Death for them - Lane in October 1973 and Sittner in September 1974. Post-war investigations began in 1991 and led to the recovery of aircrew equipment and partial remains which were identified as belonging to Major Sittner (repatriated 1992, identified 1997). Captain Lane's remains have not been located. |
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The point-of-contact for this memorial is his youngest sister, Rosamond E. Stidam E-Mail may be forwarded via the Webmaster@VirtualWall.org |
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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 15 Oct 2003
Last updated 12/24/2007