Name:Jack Elmer Keller
Rank/Branch: O4/US Navy
Unit: Attack Squadron 85, USS KITTY HAWK
Date of Birth: 01 May 1928
Home City of Record: Chicago IL
Date of Loss: 21 April 1966
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 184900N 1054200E (WF754824)
Status (in 1973): Missing In Action
Category: 2
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: A6A
Refno: 0309
Other Personnel In Incident: Ellis E. Austin (missing)

Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 01 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 1998.

REMARKS: POSS DEAD/ IR 1516031772

SYNOPSIS: On April 22, 1966, a two-plane flight of A6A
aircraft left the aircraft carrier USS Kittyhawk to 
strike a coastal target near the mouth of an inland
waterway in North Vietnam. The target, an enemy 
supply area, was heavily defended by anti-aircraft
artillary,automatic weapons and small arms.



During the flight, the wingman broke away to investigate
a barge, and notified Keller, the pilot of the other A6A,
that he was having an ordinance malfunction and was
proceeding to Hon Mat Island, less than 15 miles away,so 
that he could dump the remainder of his bombload safely.
While the wingman was discharging his bombload, he heard
a missile warning, but had no knowledge that a missile
had been fired.



Keller conducted a radio check with both his wingman and
the E2 Command and Control aircraft to confirm that the
E2 held them on radar.The wingman advised Keller that he
would hold clear of the target and wait for Keller to
finish his bombing run. Keller acknowledged. Keller and
his backseater, Ellis Austin, continued on their run.



That was the last anyone heard from Keller and Austin.The
wingman later stated that he saw a bright flash as he was
heading away from the beach,which he assumed to be a bomb
explosion. Both he and the E2 tried to contact Keller and
his backseater, but were unsuccessful. The E2 had lost
Keller from radar.



An aerial search was conducted immediately with no visual
or radio signals received by any of the search aircraft.
Both men were carried in MIA status until June 1974,when
their status was changed to killed under a presumptive 
finding of death.



Nearly 10,000 reports of Americans relating to Americans
missing in Southeast Asia have been received since the
end of the war.Many officials who have reviewed this
largely classified material have reluctantly concluded
that hundreds of Americans are still alive in captivity.
Whether Austin and Keller could be among them is unknown.



But what is certain is that many are still alive, waiting
for their country to bring them home.



Austin and Keller, if dead, rests in enemy soil. If alive,
what must they be thinking of us?