MEHL, JAMES PATRICK

Name: James Patrick Mehl
Rank/Branch: O5/US Navy
Unit: Attack Squadron 93, USS HANCOCK (CVA 19)
Date of Birth: 26 February 1929 (Brooklyn NY)
Home City of Record: Belle Harbor NY
Date of Loss: 30 May 1967
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 203700N 1060600E (XH146799)
Status (in 1973): Released POW
Category:
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: A4E

Other Personnel in Incident: (none missing)

Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 15 May 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: 730304 RELSD BY DRV

SYNOPSIS: The USS HANCOCK first saw action in Vietnam when aircraft from her
decks flew strikes against enemy vessels in Saigon Harbor in late 1944. The
Essex class carrier, extensively modernized, returned to Vietnam during the
early years of the Vietnam war. The attack carriers USS CORAL SEA, USS HANCOCK
and USS RANGER formed Task Force 77, the carrier striking force of the U.S.
Seventh Fleet in the Western Pacific. The HANCOCK was the smallest type of
flattop to operate in the Vietnam theater, but pilots from her fighter and
attack squadrons distinguished themselves throughout the duration of the war. On
June 12, 1966, Commander Hal Marr, the CO of VF-211 gained the first F8 Russian
MiG kill.

Among the aircraft launched from the decks of the HANCOCK was the Douglas
Aircraft A4 Skyhawk. The Skyhawk was an inexpensive, lightweight attack and
ground support aircraft. The design emphasized low-speed control and stability
during take-off and landing as well as strength enough for catapult launch and
carrier landings. The plane was so compact that it did not need folding wings
for aboardship storage and handling. In spite of its diminutive size, the A4
packed a devastating punch and performed well where speed and maneuverability
were essential.

Commander James P. Mehl was an A4E pilot assigned to Attack Squadron 93 onboard
the USS HANCOCK. On May 30, 1967 Commander Mehl was the section leader of a
two-aircraft strike group assigned targets in Thai Binh Province, North Vietnam.

Upon entering the target area, Commander Mehl and his wingman began receiving
indication that a surface-to-air missile (SAM) site to the north was preparing
to launch a missile. Mehl eluded one missile and maneuvered his aircraft to fire
his shrike missiles at the site. When in a 10 degree nose-high attitude, a
second missile impacted the underside of his aircraft. Cdr. Mehl immediately
turned toward the water, but was forced to ejected near the city of Hung Yen. His
parachute was observed after he left the aircraft.

Cdr. Mehl landed in a field situated in a heavily populated area near the
juncture of Ha Tay, Hai Hung, Nam Ha and Thai Binh Provinces. People were
observed to converge the area immediately, precluding any rescue attempt. A
report from the Hanoi broadcast system mentioned Mehl by name and stated that he
had been captured.

In the spring of 1973, 591 Americans were released from prisoner of war camps in
Vietnam, and James P. Mehl was among them. He had been promoted to the rank of
Captain during his captivity. Military authorities were shocked that hundreds
more known or suspected to be prisoner were not released. Further, the
Vietnamese denied knowledge of these men.

Since the war ended, nearly 10,000 reports relating to Americans missing,
prisoner or unaccounted for in Southeast Asia have been received by the U.S.
Government. Many authorities who have examined this largely classified
information are convinced that hundreds of Americans are still held captive
today. These reports are the source of serious distress to many returned
American prisoners. They had a code that no one could honorably return unless
all of the prisoners returned. Not only that code of honor, but the honor of our
country is at stake as long as even one man remains unjustly held. It's time we
brought our men home.
