Vance T-6s fly missing-man formation in Youngstown

  • Published
  • By Joe B. Wiles
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Six members of the 33rd Flying Training Squadron flew a four-ship missing-man formation at the funeral of Air Force Capt. James Cross, who died in Laos 38 years ago and was buried near Youngstown, Ohio, Friday, Oct. 10. 

Piloting the four T-6 Texan II propeller-driven trainer aircraft from the 33rd FTS, were Capts. Christopher York and Dan Healey in the lead aircraft; Lt. Col. Robert Capozzella, the 33rd FTS commander, in the number 2 aircraft; Capts. Steve Jensen and Ryan Smith in number 3; and 1st Lt. Beau Block in number 4. 

Captain Cross was a Raven, a small group of forward air controllers, all volunteers, who flew small observation aircraft to provide information to ground troops in Laos during the Vietnam War. In April, 1970, his U-17 was shot down by enemy fire. Both he and his copilot, Capt. Gomer Reese, were declared dead. 

Both men's remains were recently recovered and repatriated. Captain Cross's remains were positively identified last July by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command's Central Identification Lab in Hawaii. 

The funeral was held at Crown Hill Burial Park in Vienna, near Youngstown. An Air Force honor guard from Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, carried Captain Cross to his final resting place. 

The four T-6s and six pilots left Vance Thursday night, Oct. 9. The next morning they were airborne by 11 a.m. "After the 21-gun salute and playing of taps, we were over the ceremony," said Colonel Capozzella. Captains Jensen and Smith, flying aircraft number 3, pulled up and out, creating the missing-man formation. 

The Honorable Craig Duehring, assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, presented the Cross family the United States flag that draped Captain Cross's casket. 

Secretary Duehring, also a Raven, flew with Captain Cross in Laos. Secretary Duehring arrived in Laos in early April 1970, to replace one of two Ravens who had disappeared during a mission. Captain Cross was due to go home at the end of the month. 

"Capt. Jim Cross was a former Senate page and a very type-A guy," said Secretary Duehring, in a recent communication with Col. Mark Nowland, 71st Flying Training Wing commander. 

On April 23, another new Raven, Dave Reese, showed up. After breakfast the next morning Secretary Duehring; Mark Diebolt, a senior FAC; Captain Cross and Dave Reese took off for a mission and a check ride. 

"A few hours later we all heard a mayday call. Jim and Dave had been hit by heavy caliber anti-aircraft artillery over Ban-Ban Valley," said Secretary Duehring. "Mark intercepted them and escorted them south towards less hostile territory. 

"Jim and Dave crashed just short of clearing the ridge line and we had no chance of getting them out," he said. 

The Ravens flew O-1s, U-17s and AT-28Ds, all propeller driven aircraft. It was great to have four propellers churning through the skies, said Secretary Duehring, "as we lay my friend to rest, after a 38-plus year tour in Southeast Asia." 

Colonel Capozzella and Lieutenant Block returned to Vance after the flyover Friday. Captain York, who organized the mission and flew the lead T-6, and Captains Healey, Jensen and Smith remained in Youngstown to attend a reception at the request of Captain Cross's family.