SPROTT, ARTHUR ROY JR.

Name: Arthur Roy Sprott, Jr.
Rank/Branch: O4/US Air Force
Unit: 6th Special Operations Squadron
Date of Birth: 06 January 1937
Home City of Record: Del Ray Beach FL
Date of Loss: 10 January 1969
Country of Loss: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 155829N 1975900E (ZC182690)
Status (in 1973): Killed/Body Not Recovered
Category: 3
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: A1H
Refno: 1358
Other Personnel in Incident: (none missing)

Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 01 September 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 1998.

REMARKS:

SYNOPSIS: The Douglas A1 Skyraider ("Spad") is a highly maneuverable,
propeller driven aircraft designed as a multipurpose attack bomber or
utility aircraft. The Spad was first used by the Air Force in
counterinsurgency operations in South Vietnam, and later used in a variety
of roles, including rescue missions. The fighter aircraft was retired in the
spring of 1968 and had flown in more than twenty model variations, probably
more than any other U.S. combat aircraft.

The general procedure for a rescue escort entailed two A1 aircraft flying
directly to the search area to look for sign of the downed crewmen while two
other A1s escorted the rescue helicopter to the area. If it was necessary,
the A1s would attack enemy in the area with bombs, rockets and cannon fire
so that the helicopter could land.

MAJ Arthur R. Sprott, Jr. was a Spad pilot assigned to the 6th Special
Operations Squadron at Pleiku Airbase in Vietnam. He was assigned to assist
a rescue effort on January 10, 1969. En route to the target area, his
aircraft was struck by hostile ground fire and crashed. His remains were
never recovered. Sprott's loss occurred approximately 20 miles southwest of
Da Nang in Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam.

Nearly 2500 Americans were lost in Southeast Asia during our miltary
involvement there. Since the war ended, thousands of reports relating to
Americans missing in Southeast Asia have been received by the U.S.
Government. The official policy is that no conclusive proof has been
obtained that is current enough to act upon. Detractors of this policy say
conclusive proof is in hand, but that the willingness or ability to rescue
these prisoners does not exist.

Those hundreds said to be still alive and in captivity must be wondering if
and when their country will return for them. In America, we say that life is
precious, but isn't the life of even one American worth the effort of
recovery? When the next war comes, and it is our sons lost, will we then
care enough to do everything we can to bring our prisoners home?

---

Use your Browser's BACK function to return to the PREVIOUS page

---