PETER JOSEPH FREDERICK
Name: Peter Joseph Frederick
Rank/Branch: O5/US Air Force
Unit: 355th Tactical Fighter Wing, Takhli
Date of Birth: 30 August 1924
Home City of Record: Long Island City NY
Date of Loss: 15 March 1967
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 192700N 1040500E
Status (in 1973): Missing In Action
Category: 4
Acft/Vehicle/Ground: F105
Other Personnel In Incident: (none missing)
Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 15 March 1991 from one or more of the
following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with
POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews. Updated by the P.O.W.
NETWORK.
REMARKS:
EGRESS reported: NVN Propaganda film showed a cross, flight helmet and ID
card, all with Frederick's name on them.
SYNOPSIS: The F105 Thunderchief (or "Thud") performed yoeman service on many
diversified missions in Southeast Asia. F105s flew more combat missions over
North Vietnam than any other USAF aircraft and consequently suffered the
heaviest losses in action. They dropped bombs by day and occasionally by night
from high or low altitude and some later versions (F105D in Wild Weasel guise)
attacked SAM sites with their radar tracking air-to-ground missiles. This
versatile aircraft was also credited with downing 25 Russian MiGs.
Lt.Col. Peter J. Frederick was an Air Force pilot who went to Vietnam near the
time for his retirement from the military. He had a promising job waiting, and
anticipated spending time with his wife and baby daughter. He went because of
his deep concern for the people of Southeast Asia, and because, "They need me."
On March 15, 1967, Frederick was assigned a combat mission over North Vietnam.
Frederick's aircraft was number two in a flight of F105s. The lead aircraft
began his roll-in on the target and instructed Frederick to follow at close
range. Frederick responded to the transmission, but upon climbing out of the
maneuver the lead pilot could not establish any communication with Frederick. No
parachute was seen and no beeper was heard. It is not known if he survived the
crash of the aircraft. Frederick went down just on the Vietnam side of the
Bartholemy Pass.
"In the World," meanwhile, Ellsworth Bunker was named to replace Henry Cabot
Lodge as Ambassador to South Vietnam.
"In the World," life goes on, except for the families of those 1500 Americans.
For them, time is frozen in uncertainty. There are nearly 2500 Americans missing
in Southeast Asia. Evidence continues to mount that some of them are alive, held
captive as prisoners of war.Frederick went to Vietnam because "they need me".
Now, he needs us..to be his voice, and the voice of all other Americans who were
left behind. It's time we brought our men home.
Peter J. Frederick was promoted to the rank of Colonel during the period he was
maintained Missing in Action.
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