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Shareware Supreme Volume 6 #1
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P136.ZIP
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1990-06-05
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PREVOST, ALBERT MICHAEL
Name: Albert Michael Prevost
Rank/Branch: O2/US Marine Corps
Unit: VMGR 152, 1st Marine Air Wing
Date of Birth: 30 January 1935
Home City of Record: Norwalk CT
Date of Loss: 01 February 1966
Country of Loss: North Vietnam/Over Water
Loss Coordinates: 172038N 1072217E (YE520190)
Status (in 1973): Killed/Body Not Recovered
Category: 5
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: KC130F
Other Personnel In Incident: Peter Vlahakos; Richard A. Alm; Russell B. Luker;
Galen F. Humphrey; Donald L. Coates (all 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: The Lockheed C130 Hercules was one of the most important aircraft used
in Vietnam. It served many purposes, among them transport, tanker, gunship,
drone controller, airborne battlefield command and control center, weather
reconnaissance craft, electronic reconnaissance platform, search, rescue and
recovery.
The U.S. Marines employed the KC130F version which served primarily as a
probe-and-drogue refueling plane, although when the rubber fuel bladders were
removed from the cargo compartment, the plane also served as a transport. The
KC130F was capable of refueling two aircraft simultaneously.
On February 1, 1966, a U.S. Marine Hercules tanker was operating in the Gulf of
Tonkin near the coast of North Vietnam, about 10 miles north of the island of
Hon Co. During a refueling operation, the tanker was hit by ground fire and
crashed into the ocean. All crew onboard the aircraft were considered to have
died in the crash of the plane.
The pilot of the aircraft was 1LT Albert M. Prevost; crew chief SSGT Peter G.
Vlahakos; other crew members included Maj. Richard A. Alm; SSGT Donald L.
Coates; GYSGT Galen F. Humphrey, navigator; and SSGT Russell B. Luker. All were
declared Killed in Action, Bodies Not Recovered.
According to family members of the crew, however, it was reported that there was
not a single piece of wreckage to be found. This seems improbable for an
aircraft weighing in excess of 60,000 pounds involved in a crash - especially
one carrying a jet fuel cargo. Some family members are suspicious of the
reported circumstances of the crash and believe it may have occurred elsewhere,
thus explaining the lack of wreckage found.
Regardless, if the Marine Corps crash site location is accurate, there can be no
question someone was aiming the gun that shot the aircraft down. Someone knows
the fate of the aircraft and crew. Beyond those on the ground, the shoreline of
Vietnam was heavily trafficked by fishermen and patrol boats. There is no doubt
that the Vietnamese could account for the men onboard the KC130 lost near Ho Co
Island on February 1, 1966.
Since American involvement in the war in Southeast Asia ended, over 10,000
reports relating to Americans prisoner, missing, or unaccounted for in Southeast
Asia have been received by the U.S. Government. Many authorities, having
reviewed this largely-classified information have concluded that hundreds of
Americans are still alive in captivity today.
Perhaps the entire crew of seven perished on February 1, 1966. But, perhaps they
are among those experts believe are still alive, still held prisoner. We cannot
forget a single man, lest he be left behind. They must all be brought home.