MILLER, EDWIN FRANK JR.

Name: Edwin Frank Miller, Jr.
Rank/Branch: O2/US Navy
Unit: VFP 63
Date of Birth: 1940
Home City of Record: Bergen NJ
Date of Loss: 22 May 1968
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 183900N 1054100E (WF720620)
Status (in 1973): Released POW
Category:
Aircraft/Veicle/Ground: RF8G
Missions: 85
Other Personnel in Incident: none

Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 15 April 1990 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: 730314 RELSD BY DRV

SYNOPSIS: The Vought F8 "Crusader" saw action early in U.S. involvement in
Southeast Asia. Its fighter models participated both in the first Gulf of
Tonkin reprisal in August 1964 and in the myriad attacks against North
Vietnam during Operation Rolling Thunder. The Crusader was used exclusively
by the Navy and Marine air wings (although there is one U.S. Air Force pilot
reported shot down on an F8) and represented half or more of the carrier
fighters in the Gulf of Tonkin during the first four years of the war. The
aircraft was credited with nearly 53% of MiG kills in Vietnam.

The most frequently used fighter versions of the Crusader in Vietnam were
the C, D, and E models although the H and J were also used. The Charlie
carried only Sidewinders on fuselage racks, and were assigned such missions
as CAP (Combat Air Patrol), flying at higher altitudes. The Echo model had a
heavier reinforced wing able to carry extra Sidewinders or bombs, and were
used to attack ground targets, giving it increased vulnerability. The Echo
version launched with less fuel, to accommodate the larger bomb store, and
frequently arrived back at ship low on fuel. The RF-A models were equipped
for photo reconnaissance. The RF-G were also photographic versions, but with
additional cameras and navigational equipment.

The combat attrition rate of the Crusader was comparable to similar
fighters. Between 1964 to 1972, eighty-three Crusaders were either lost or
destroyed by enemy fire. Another 109 required major rebuilding. 145 Crusader
pilots were recovered; 57 were not. Twenty of these pilots were captured and
released. The other 43 remained missing at the end of the war. In addition,
there were 16 pilots who went down on photographic versions of the aircraft.
Of these 16, seven were captured (six were released, one died in captivity).

Lt.JG Edwin F. Miller, Jr. was the pilot of an RF8A on a combat mission in
Nghe An Province, North Vietnam on May 22, 1966. As he was near the city of
Vinh, his aircraft was hit by enemy fire and crashed. Miller was captured by
the Vietnamese, and held prisoner until his return in Operation Homecoming
in the spring of 1973.

Since the war ended, nearly 10,000 reports relating to Americans missing,
prisoner or unaccounted for in Southeast Asia have been received by the U.S.
Government. Many authorities who have examined this largely classified
information are convinced that hundreds of Americans are still held captive
today. These reports are the source of serious distress to many returned
American prisoners. They had a code that no one could honorably return
unless all of the prisoners returned. Not only that code of honor, but the
honor of our country is at stake as long as even one man remains unjustly
held. It's time we brought our men home.

SOURCE: WE CAME HOME copyright 1977
Captain and Mrs. Frederic A Wyatt (USNR Ret), Barbara Powers Wyatt, Editor
P.O.W. Publications, 10250 Moorpark St., Toluca Lake, CA 91602
Text is reproduced as found in the original publication (including date and
spelling errors).
UPDATE - 09/95 by the P.O.W. NETWORK, Skidmore, MO

EDWIN F. MILLER JR.
Lieutenant j.g. - United States Naval Reserve
Shot Down: May 22, 1968
Released: March 14, 1973

Who am I? In North Vietnam I was called one of the "new guys" by the other
prisoners. Because I was shot down in the later part of the first stage of the
air war, the men with whom I lived were nearly all shot down prior to myself.
This "new guy" appelation became ironic after three or four years.

I was born in New York in 1940, grew up in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey (which
is a small town in the New York metropolitan area), attended Cornell
University, and entered the Navy in 1964. After completing flight training, I
was assigned to Miramar, California flying the RF-8. I was shot down in May
1968 near Vinh in North Vietnam.

Several comments about my POW experiences: Some people have expressed concern
about "brain washing." It was my experience and I believe I can generalize,
that life in the prisons of North Vietnam made me more patriotic, more aware
and thankful for the liberties of life in the United States.

A great source of strength and comfort during my imprisonment was the
friendship of the other prisoners.

I would like to use this forum to thank the citizens of this country for their
support and particularly for their actions in helping to obtain better
treatment for us and our release. Also to remind the reader that there were
significant casualties in the war, leaving 75,000 children fatherless. These
American children deserve your thoughts and support.

December 1996
Edwin Miller Jr. and his wife Maureen reside in California.

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