03 Feb 1999 REMEMBERED gracejst@earthlink.net

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall On 13 May 1969 1LT Bessor flew an O-1G (tail number 51-16959) on a radio relay mission in support of a Special Forces reconnaissance team operating in the SVN/Laos border area. He was accompanied by SFC Mike J. Scott from Command and Control Central, MACV-SOG, the headquarters which was running the recon operation. At about 0800 the recon team held radio contact with 1LT Bessor's aircraft and could hear aircraft engine noise southwest of their position. They then heard 15 rounds of 37mm antiaircraft fire and engine sputtering. While they did not hear sounds of a crash, they did lose radio contact with the aircraft. Shortly thereafter they heard heavy rifle fire from the same direction. Airborne search and rescue efforts were hampered by cloud cover and enemy fire. On 18 May a ground unit was able to search the area but found nothing. On conclusion of the SAR effort the two men were classed as Missing in Action. The men remained in MIA status until the Secretary of the Army approved Presumptive Findings of Death (and posthumous promotions) for them - Captain Bessor on 10 Nov 1976 and MSgt Scott on 24 Aug 1978. Their remains have not been repatriated.

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