09 Feb 2000 Paul is my "adopted" POW/MIA. I maintain a personal memorial page in his memory. Cyndy smooches_n_kisses@yahoo.com

 

Notes from The Virtual Wall On 03 October 1969 1Lt Paul L. Graffe, pilot, and PFC Kenneth L. Cunningham, observer departed Phu Hiep, South Vietnam, in an OV1-C Mohawk aircraft (tail number 61-02679) on an early-evening surveillance mission in the northwestern portion of Military Region 2 near the tri-border area of Cambodia, Laos and South Vietnam. The last radio contact with Graffe and Cunningham was at 1800 hours when another OV- aircraft had been informed by Grasse that they were going to continue their mission for about 30 more minutes, and then begin the return trip to Phu Hiep. They did not return, and attempts at contacting the aircraft failed. On the morning of 05 October search and rescue aircraft located the wreckage of Graffe's aircraft atop a 7,000 foot peak in a mountain range north of the city of Kontum. Efforts were made to insert a ground team at the site on October 5 and 6, but inclement weather prevented the team from being inserted. No visual or electronic contact was made with the downed crew on either occasion. On 07 Oct another attempt was made to insert a ground SAR team. However, the SAR pilots noticed a change in position in the aircraft wreckage, and the SAR aircraft was receiving continuous beeper signals from the ground. Since this continuous beeper signal was not compatible with established emergency radio procedures, the SAR flight leader decided that the site was probably a trap and withdrew from the area. Both crewmembers were declared Missing In Action. The remains of the two crewmen have not been repatriated.

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