IN HONOR OF
DONALD LEE HARRISON
Name : Donald Lee Harrison
Rank/Branch : 03/US Army
Unit : HHB, 2nd Btn, 94th Artillery, 108th Artillery Group
Date of Birth : 24 July 1946 (Macon, Georgia)
Home City of Record : Chamblee, Georgia
Date of Loss : 29 October 1968
Country of Loss : North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates : 165627N 1065614E (YD063739)
Status (in 1973) : Missing In Action
Category : 2
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground : 01G
Other Personnel In Incident : Steven N. Bezold (missing)
Source : Compiled by Homecoming II Project 15 June 1990
from one or more of the following : raw data from U.S.
Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA
families, published sources, interviews.
>
Remarks :
Synopsis :
On the afternoon of October 29, 1968, 1LT Donald L. Harrison, pilot, and 1LT Steven N. Bezold, observer, were flying in a Cessna 01G Bird Dog observation plane
(tail #57-6027), with another 01G on an artillery adjustment mission over the DMZ.
As the two planes entered the mission area, they were briefed by departing aircraft who had been receiving anti-aircraft flak from the northern edge of the mission area. Lt. Harrison worked the southern end of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) while the other aircraft went north to try to find the source of the anti-aircraft fire.
The Northern aircraft, while observing for a pair of fighter aircraft on a gun position, had a malfunction and could not mark the target, so the observer pilots agreed to trade area locations. During the change, as the aircraft passed each other, 1Lt Harrison's plane was hit in the left rear cocpit area, between the pilot and the observer.
The aircraft continued straight for a few seconds, and then started a slow descending right turn. The turn became tighter as the descent rate increased until impact. There were no radio transmissions from Harrison's plane after it was hit.
Due to approaching darkness, and the difficulty in locating the crash site, only an electronic search could be made that night. The next day, the downed plane's wing and fuselage were located and vehicle tracks around the wreckage were seen. It appeared that the wreckage had been moved to a more visible location in order to draw rescue aircraft into a trap.
As aircraft went near the wing, intense anti-aircraft fire was received. No contact was ever made with the crew. The areas was never searched because of intense hostility in the area.
Donald Harrison was promoted to the rank of Major and Steven Bezold to the rank of Captain during the period they were maintained missing.
NOTE:
Vietnam Helicopter Pilot's Association, October 94, reports incident as
"Official Description: Died while missing as a
result of hostile action from vehicular
accident...while serving as pilot in a fixed wing aircraft."
But do we 'Know For Sure'?
A Man Is Never Dead Until He Is Forgotten!
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THE VIETNAM MEMORIAL WALL
|
IN HONOR OF
DONALD LEE HARRISON
|
Name : Donald Lee Harrison
Rank/Branch : 03/US Army
Unit : HHB, 2nd Btn, 94th Artillery, 108th Artillery Group
Date of Birth : 24 July 1946 (Macon, Georgia)
Home City of Record : Chamblee, Georgia
Date of Loss : 29 October 1968
Country of Loss : North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates : 165627N 1065614E (YD063739)
Status (in 1973) : Missing In Action
Category : 2
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground : 01G
Other Personnel In Incident : Steven N. Bezold (missing)
Donald Harrison was promoted to the rank of Major and Steven Bezold to the rank of Captain during the period they were maintained missing.
NOTE:
Vietnam Helicopter Pilot's Association, October 94, reports incident as
"Official Description: Died while missing as a
result of hostile action from vehicular
accident...while serving as pilot in a fixed wing aircraft."
But do we 'Know For Sure'?
A Man Is Never Dead Until He Is Forgotten!
DO YOU CARE?
GO HERE To See How You Can Help!
THE WALL: Panel 11W - Row 041
(Details)
Last name: HARRISON
First name: DONALD LEE
Home of Record (official): CHAMBLEE
State (official): GA
Date of Birth: Wednesday, July 24, 1946
Sex: Male
Race: Caucasian
Marital Status: Single
--- Military ---
Branch: Army
Rank: MAJ
Serial Number: 433680774
Component: Reserve
Pay grade: O4
MOS (Military Occupational Specialty code): Unknown/Not reported
--- Action ---
Start of Tour: Tuesday, October 29, 1968
Date of Casualty: Monday, January 14, 1980
Age at time of loss: 33
Casualty type: (A3) Hostile, died while missing
Reason: Air loss - Crashed on land (Pilot - Fixed wing aircraft)
Country: North VietNam
Province: Unknown/Not Reported
The Wall: Panel 40W - Row 053
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