THEY SERVED IN SILENCE

The Story of a Cryptologic Service and Sacrifice

CAP Flight 72

The Shootdown of 

CAP Flight 72

5 February 1969

...without the work of the Security Service’s EC-47s...we would be 

completely in the dark about the enemy situation...

 Director of Intelligence for the U.S. Pacific Command

The fifth of February brought overcast skies to the U.S. Air Force’s 

6944th Squadron based at Pleiku Air Base in the central highlands of South Vietnam. Monsoon season had 

come and gone, and weather conditions were dry with a comfortable temperature hovering around 70 

degrees. It was looking to be a routine day on the flight line. 

The 6994th Security Squadron represented the Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) segment of a highly 

successful US Air Force program devoted to Airborne Radio Direction Finding (ARDF) in the IndoChina area of operations. The unit history notes that the air crews and cryptologists did their work, “...

in specially modified versions of the C-47 ‘Gooney Bird’ (EC-47Qs) operated by three Tactical Electronic 

Warfare squadrons. 6994th personnel were instrumental in providing timely and vital intelligence to Free 

World forces throughout Southeast Asia.” During its time in Vietnam, the unit established a distinguished 

record of success. Known as “Back-enders” due to the location of their work stations in the aircraft, the 

cryptologic professionals on board the squadron aircraft not only obtained indispensable intelligence but 

also saved countless lives.

Later that day, Flight CAP 72 took off to conduct a routine radio direction-finding mission over Laos. Their 

focus was activity along the Ho Chi Minh trail, which was used extensively by North Vietnam to move 

supplies south. Onboard were five 6994th Security Squadron personnel and five 362nd Tactical Electronic 

Warfare Squadron crew members. Plane and crew headed north into Laos and circled back. Near the 

Laotian city of Saravane, the flight checked in and reported all conditions normal. The transmission would 

be the last received from the plane. After that, all attempts to make contact with the aircraft failed. Initial 

search efforts found no trace of the plane or those aboard—it was almost as if the aircraft had vanished. 

Months later, the wreckage of the aircraft was discovered near Ban Phan, Laos, and dedicated salvage 

teams began operations to recover the remains of the fallen crew. Based on the initial evidence, it was 

thought that the plane had crashed due to an engine fire, but a more careful study of 

the site led investigators to suspect that the plane had been hit by hostile fire, causing a 

deadly blaze to break out on board and the right wing to detach from the plane. It was 

further concluded that due to the fire and the suddenness of the attack, no one was able 

to safely make it out of the aircraft.

The crew members and cryptologists who perished that day were a true cross-section of 

America. The oldest was 45, the youngest 22. They hailed from Florida, Illinois, New York, 
MP 33610

North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington, DC. All of them had devoted a portion 

of their lives to serving their country and their fellow service members by working to get the critical 

information needed to defeat the enemy and to save lives. 

The remains of the fallen crew were brought back to the states and buried in two separate gravesites 

at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. However, as time passed family members made inquiries, and at their 

request the remains were eventually disinterred, tested for DNA, and in some cases provided to the 

fallen member’s family to allow for individual burials. 

When considering the worth of America’s almost two-decade-long involvement in Indochina, it is 

important to remember that despite the controversy surrounding the conflict, there were countless acts 

of courage, bravery and self-sacrifice made by those involved. It is in this spirit that we remember and 

honor the members of fallen cryptologic heroes of Flight CAP-72, who paid the ultimate sacrifice that day 

in the cause of freedom.

SSgt Louis J. Clever, USAF Tarentum Pennsylvania

Sgt James V. Dorsey, Jr., USAF Washington DC

TSgt Rodney H. Gott, USAF Miami Florida

Sgt Clarence L. McNeill, USAF Goldsboro North Carolina

SSgt Hugh L. Sherburn, USAF Weston Oregon