ANDERSON, DENIS LEON

Name:Denis Leon Anderson
Rank/Branch:O2/US Navy
Unit:Observation Squadron 67
Date of Birth:24 October 1942
Home City of Record:Hope KS
Date of Loss:11 January 1968
Country of Loss:Laos
Loss Coordinates:171800N 1055258E (WE938123)
Status (in 1973):Killed/Body Not Recovered
Category:3
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground:OP2E
Other Personnel In Incident:Arthur Buck; Richard Mancini; Delbert Olson; Michael
Roberts; Gale Siow; Phillip Stevens; Donald Thoresen, Kenneth Widon (all
missing)
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.
