CHAPMAN, RODNEY MAX

Name: Rodney Max Chapman
Rank/Branch: O4/US Navy
Unit: Helicopter Squadron 10, USS CORAL SEA (CVA 43)
Date of Birth: 26 February 1935
Home City of Record: Alpena MI
Date of Loss: 18 February 1969
Country of Loss: North Vietnam/Over Water
Loss Coordinates: 175647N 1071754E (YE434856)
Status (in 1973): Killed/Body Not Recovered
Category: 5
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: KA3B

Other Personnel In Incident: Stanley M. Jerome; Eddie R. Schimmels (missing)

Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 01 April 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: LTCDR Rodney M. Chapman was a pilot assigned to Helicopter Squadron 10
onboard the aircraft carrier USS CORAL SEA. On February 18, 1969, Chapman's
aircraft was acting as the recovery tanker aircraft, prepared to render valuable
assistance to other aircraft returning to the ship with very little fuel. This
was an extremely important job, as some types of fighter aircraft launched with
a minimum amount of fuel in order to accomodate a heavier bomb load, and
sometimes arrived back at ship low on fuel. This was Chapman's 90th flight
mission in Vietnam. Chapman's crew included Petty Officers Stanley M. Jerome and
Eddie R. Schimmels.

As the aircraft immediately ahead of Chapman's was landing, he advised that his
approach would be from overhead the ship, proceeding away from the ship a short
distance while descending, then turning toward the ship for a precision radar
control landing. Chapman's approach was being monitored on radar. There was a
two-way conversation between Chapman and the radar operator. Chapman descended
from overhead the ship and flew outbound as instructed. He was then told to turn
toward the ship. He failed to acknowledge this radio transmission. A second
attempt was made to contact him which failed. About this time, Chapman's
aircraft disappeared from the radar and further attempts to regain contact were
of no avail.

Within minutes of his disappearance the CORAL SEA airborne helicopter was sent
to the area approximately ten miles behind the ship and ordered to commence a
search. Shortly thereafter, one of the CORAL SEA's escorting destroyers was also
dispatched to assist in the search. The destroyer and the helicopter were unable
to locate either the aircraft or its crewmen. An organized search continued
throughout the night by three more ships and additional aircraft, both
helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.

The following day at first light, an even more intensive search by ships and
aircraft was conducted. These combined units searched extensively over an area
of over 1,000 miles with no results. It was concluded that the airplane crashed
and the crew of the KA3 were lost at sea.

The three-man crew were listed as killed, body not recovered. They are among
over 2300 Americans who remain unaccounted for from the Vietnam war. The cases
of some, like Chapman, Jerome and Schimmels seem clear - that they perished and
cannot be recovered. Unfortunately, mounting evidence indicates that hundreds of
Americans are still captive, waiting for the country they proudly served to
secure their freedom.

In our haste to leave an unpopular war, it now appears we abandoned some of our
best men. In our haste to heal the wounds of this same war, will we sign their
death warrants? Or will we do what we can to bring them home?
