I have been investigating the missing LTJG Phillp Paul Stevens, USNR since 1999 after learning of the wonderful site "Operation Just Cause". It was not until recent that I discovered Stevens' true fate. Over the years I have been trying to find out the details of how his plane had gone down, if his remains were lost, or even if he was being kept as a POW over the many years. My questions were finally answered after encountering an article on the recovery of VO-67 Crew 2. LTJG Stevens was indeed KIA on 11 Jan 1968, resulting in a loss of 9 true American Heros, and one brave mascot named Snoopy.

Over the last 30 years, LTJG Stevens' Family has been searching for an answer as to what really happened to their son/brother, and as a result of much time passing, neither his mother or father were to learn of his true fate or able to give him a proper burial. On 03 June 2003, LTJG Stevens was finally put to rest when there was an interment and services held honoring him at East Dalton Oakhill Cemetery, Dalton, Mich. Finally my Shipmate may be able to rest in peace after so many years.

LTJG Stevens was a true patriot, and one whom I have much respect for. He was brave enough to defend our country in a time of conflict and war. As a result of his bravery he lost his life. To learn more about the recovery and identification of VO-67 Crew 2, please click here. You will find complete details of what occurred that day as well as details on the identification process, and burials of all the crew members. Click here to view all News articles related to VO-67 Crew 2

If you knew this hero, were a close friend, or a part of his family, and would wish to share some pictures/stories of him then please, feel free toEmail Me at andreasworld@andreasworld.0catch.com I would like to be able to add some personal touches to his life on my memorial page to him.

Name Phillip Paul Stevens
Rank/Branch O2/US Navy
Unit Observation Squadron 67
Date of Birth 26 July 1942
Home City of Record Twin Lake MI
Date of Loss 11 January 1968
Country of Loss Laos
Loss Coordinates 171800N 1055258E (WE938123)

Map from courtest of the Honolulu Advertiser

Status (in 1973) Killed/Body Not Recovered
Category 3



Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground OP2E

Though this is not the exact aircraft
that LTJG Stevens flew in, it gives you
and idea of what type of plane he was in.
To see More about the P2V, please visit This Page


Other Personnel In Incident
Denis Anderson
Richard Mancini
Delbert Olson
Michael Roberts
Gale Siow
Arthur C. Buck
Donald Thoresen
Kenneth Widon
(all KIA, Remains Recovered)


Source

Compiled by Homecoming II Project 15 March 1990 with the assistance of one or more of the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews.


REMARKS
CRASH CNFM - WE 938123 - NO SERCH -J


SYNOPSIS
The Lockheed P2 "Neptune" was originally designed for submarine searching, using magnetic detection gear or accoustic buoys. Besides flying maritime reconnaissance, the aircraft served as an experimental night attack craft in the attempt to interdict the movement of enemy truck convoys. Another model, the OP2E, dropped electronic sensors to detect truck movements along the supply route through Laos known as the "Ho Chi Minh Trail".

The Ho Chi Minh Trail was used by the North Vietnamese for transporting weapons, supplies and troops. Hundreds of American pilots were shot down trying to stop this communist traffic to South Vietnam. Fortunately, search and rescue teams in Vietnam were extremely successful and the recovery rate was high.

Still there were nearly 600 who were not rescued. Many of them went down along the Ho Chi Minh Trail and the passes through the border mountains between Laos and Vietnam. Many were alive on the ground and in radio contact with search and rescue and other planes; some were known to have been captured. Hanoi's communist allies in Laos, the Pathet Lao, publicly spoke of American prisoners they held, but when peace agreements were negotiated, Laos was not included, and not a single American was released that had been held in Laos.

Delbert Olson was the pilot of an OP2E electronic observation aircraft assigned to Observation Squadron 67 at Nakhon Phanom, Thailand. On January 11, 1968, he and a crew of eight, including Denis Anderson, were dispatched on an armed reconnaissance mission over Laos. The aircraft lost radio and radar contact at 9:57 a.m. When the plane failed to return within a reasonable time, an extensive visual, electronic and photographic search was conducted in the area of the aircraft's last known position.

On January 23, a USAF A1 located a suspected crash site. On January 25th an O2 from the 23rd Tactical Air Support Squadron photographed the site. Using the photographs for photo interpretation, and in conjunction with visual air reconnaissance of the site, it was determined that the wreckage was that of Commander Olson's aircraft. The aircraft crashed on the northern side of a sheer cliff, 150 feet below the 4583 foot summit line, about 15 kilometers northeast of Ban Nalouangnua, Khammouane Province, Laos. It was decided that all indications were that there were no survivors and most probably no identifiable remains. Because of the heavy jungle canopy, irregular terrain and the close proximity of enemy forces, no ground team was inserted to inspect the crash site for remains. There was no indication as to the exact cause of the crash.

All members of the crew were placed in an initial casualty status of Missing In Action. On February 23, 1968, the crew was placed in a casualty status of Presumed Killed in Action/Body Not Recovered.

The crew of the OP2E lost on January 11, 1968 are among nearly 600 Americans lost in Laos. Because Laos was not a party to the agreements ending the war, no Americans held by Laos were ever released. Since the war ended, nearly 10,000 reports have convinced many experts that hundreds of Americans are still being held captive in Southeast Asia. While the crew of the OP2E may not be among them, one can imagine them proudly flying one more mission to bring home the evidence needed to bring them to freedom.


UPDATE: As of December 2001, the remains of 17 American Soldiers were brought back to Hawaii to be honored in a joint arrival ceremony. The remains were honored at the ceremony by an all-service honor guard in front of the 15th Air Base Wing Operations Building at Hickam Air Force Base on July. It is not known if these are the remains of crew 2, however a total of nine sets of remains are believed to be those of American servicemen unaccounted for from the war in Southeast Asia. All 17 sets of remains will be taken to CILHI where they will undergo an extensive forensic identification process. For more information and pictures of the ceremony, please visit the CILHI Home page.

More information on the return of the American Remains.

---

Some Pictures of the discovery/return of the remains.


The Discovery of the Remains.


The return of the Heros.

Johnie Webb, left, of the Army's Central Identification Lab, walks with David Olson of Kansas City and Caroline Rohrer, relatives of crewmembers who died in the Vietnam-era crash in Laos.






Site Index

Recovery and Indentification of VO-67 Crew 2

News Articles related to VO-67 Crew 2

See My other Adopted PoW/MIA:John Bowers Worcester

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