Donald Edwin Siegwarth

The database page for Donald Edwin Siegwarth

21 July 2002 I proudly wear LTJG Donald E. Siegwarth's MIA bracelet, although I don't know much about him. His home city is listed as Newark, NJ, however when I purchased his MIA bracelet the book listed him being from Toms River, NJ. Donald E. Siegwarth was a pilot. On June 17, 1966, a C130E "Hercules" aircraft departed Cam Ranh Bay, South Vietnam en route to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa on an operational airlift support mission. Aboard the flight were LTjg Donald E. Siegwarth and crew. Siegwarth was probably a co-pilot on this mission although this information is not included in public data relating to the loss. Crew positions of the remaining crew members are not available. About 30 minutes into the flight, when the aircraft was 43 miles northeast of Nha Trang, the crew of a naval gunboat cruising off South Vietnam coast observed the C130E explode and crash into the South China Sea. No hostile fire was observed, and the exact cause of the crash could not be determined. The vessel arrived at the crash scene within minutes of impact and began an immediate search. The accident took place so swiftly that it must be assumed all aboard perished instantly. Some debris and wreckage was recovered including parts of the aircraft and personal belongings. Only one body was recovered from the crash site. The others are listed as Dead-Body Not Recovered. If anyone has any additional information on Donald E. Siegwarth please contact me. John P. Russo jpr6@verizon.net

21 Dec 2005 Don and I spent summers at Silver Bay, New Jersey, until I enlisted in the Navy. I still miss my old buddy "Baywolf." From a friend, Ed Reuther erufus39@aol.com

A Note from The Virtual Wall The C-130 carried a total of 14 men, 8 from VR-7 and 6 passengers assigned to the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing at Danang AB. Contrary to some reports, two bodies were recovered; the remaining twelve men are missing at sea: VR-7 aircrew: LCDR Ralph B. Cobbs, Pilot LTJG Donald E. Siegwarth, Copilot LTJG Clement R Stevenson, Copilot (remains recovered) LTJG Edward L. Romig, Navigator ADJ2 Curtis D. Collette YN2 Jack I. Dempsey ADR2 Stanley J. Freng AN M.J. Savoy 12th TFW passengers: Capt Connie M. Gravitte, USAF, 391st TFS 1stLt Claiborne P McCall, USAF, 391st TFS (remains recovered) SSgt Robert A. Cairns, USAF, 51st Fld Maint Sqd SSgt Gene K. Hess, USAF, 51st Fld Maint Sqd SSgt Oley N. Adams, USAF, 12th A&E Maint Sqd A2c Larry E. Washburn, USAF, 51st Fld Maint Sqd

Top of Page www.VirtualWall.org Back to To alpha index S NJ State Index . Panel 08E VR-7 Index Contact Us

With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Last updated 11/13/2010