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 Indo-China 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, North Carolina, 

Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington, DC. All of them had devoted a portion of their lives 
MP 33610

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