Pilots and aircrews in Vietnam and Laos were called upon to fly in many dangerous circumstances, and they were prepared to be wounded, killed or captured. It probably never occurred to them that they could be abandoned by the country they so proudly served.

Since the end of the Vietnam War well over 21,000 reports of American prisoners, missing and otherwise unaccounted for have been received by our government. Many of these reports document LIVE America Prisoners of War remaining captive throughout Southeast Asia TODAY.

The crew was lost to enemy fire over Laos on May 15, 1966.
Arlington National Cemetery Burial on May 15, 2000.
Crew members: CMSgt. James Arthur Preston, Col. George W. Jensen, Capt. Marshall L. Tapp, Col. Lavern G. Reilly, CMSgt. George W. Thompson, CMSgt. James E. Williams, CMSgt. William L. Madison and SMSgt. Kenneth D. McKenney.

The eight-man crew of the AC47D are among nearly 600 Americans who disappeared in Laos. Many of these men were known to be alive on the ground. The Laotians admitted holding "tens of tens" of American Prisoners of War, but these men were never negotiated for either by direct negotiation between our countries or through the Paris Peace Accords which ended the War in Vietnam since Laos was not a party to that agreement.

When the gunship failed to return to the base as scheduled, an aerial search was conducted beginning at first light on 16 May 1966. The search operation continued throughout the day, but failed to locate any sign of Spooky 10 or its crew. Further, no parachutes were sighted and no emergency beepers heard. At the time the formal search was terminated, all 8 Americans and the 2 ARVN aboard Spooky 10 were listed Missing in Action.

The crew was lost to enemy fire over Laos on May 15, 1966.
Arlington National Cemetery Burial on May 15, 2000.
Crew members: CMSgt. James Arthur Preston, Col. George W. Jensen, Capt. Marshall L. Tapp, Col. Lavern G. Reilly, CMSgt. George W. Thompson, CMSgt. James E. Williams, CMSgt. William L. Madison and SMSgt. Kenneth D. McKenney.

Col. George W. Jensen was a 3-war veteran having served in World War II and the Korea War as well as in Vietnam.

We all stood by helplessly as we watched a flag-draped coffin containing 30 non-Mt-DNA tested bone fragments being interred into our nation's most elite military cemetery. Bone fragments that our US government and its POW/MIA accounting agencies are determined to falsely insist are the co-mingled remains of the entire crew of United States Air Force crew of ‘Spooky 10’. Lost over Laos and declared Missing In Action. - Amanda Y. Kidd, Relative of CMSgt. James A. Preston

Amanda Y. Kidd, Relative of CMSgt. James A. Preston Loadmaster of USAF Crew "Spooky 10" Missing In Action - Laos - May 15, 1966 Twice Abandoned in Southeast Asia: May 15, 2000

The American flag is presented to each family of the crew of the AC-47D Gunship "Spooky 10"

Their fight has been long... Their journey homeward is not over... And their struggle to be heard continues. But we must NEVER allow Shame to overshadow Honor. And with God's help and guidance, the Truth that is still waiting to be uncovered WILL prevail.