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Lt. Harry S. Mossman came home January 15, 2004
This page will always be here!
Rank/Branch: O3/US Navy
Unit: Attack Squadron 52, USS KITTY HAWK (CVA 63)
Date of Birth: 30 June 1943 (Augusta ME)
Home City of Record: Manhasset NY (Family in PA)
Date of Loss: 20 August 1972
Country of Loss: North Vietnam/Over Water
Loss Coordinates: 210000N 1054500E
Status (in 1973): Missing In Action
Category: 2
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: A6A
Refno: 1912
Other Personnel In Incident: Roderick B. Lester (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.
The Commander of the 7th Fleet once remarked that the low level
missions over Hanoi and Haiphong that the A6 pilots were sent on
were among
the most demanding ever asked of Navy pilots. He added that it was
fortunate
that these A6 pilots were among the most talented in the military.
LTJG Roderick B. Lester was a seasoned pilot assigned to Attack Squadron
52
onboard the aircraft carrier USS KITTY HAWK. On August 20, Lester
launched
on his 144th mission with his Bombardier/Navigator
(BN) Lt. Harry S.
Mossman, in their A6A Intruder attack
aircraft on a night, low-level, armed
reconnaissance mission in the general vicinity of Cam Pha, North
Vietnam.
During their mission, a brief radio transmision from the aircraft
was
received, "Let's get the hell out of here." The transmission was
felt to
indicate the planned flight path was being aborted because of heavy
enemy
fire. At the same time, another air crew on the mission noted a
flash of
light under the 1,000 foot overcast in the same general vicinity
of their
aircraft location. The aircraft was last tracked over Hanoi, North
Vietnam.
Weather was poor, with numerous thunderstorms which made the source
of the
flash of light difficult to determine. Electronic surveillance was
begun. A
visual search of the area noted accurate gunfire. Further search
was
negative.
Lester and Mossman did not return from
the mission, and were placed in a
Missing in Action status. The area of their last known locaton was
heavily
populated, and there is every reason to believe that the Vietnamese
could
account for the two - alive or dead, yet the Vietnamese have given
no added
information on them.
When the war ended, refugees from the communist-overrun countries
of
Southeast Asia began to flood the world, bringing with them stories
of
missing GI's in their country. Since 1975, nearly 10,000 such stories
have
been received. Many authorities believe that hundreds of Americans
are still
held in the countries in Southeast Asia.
The U.S. Government operates on the "assumption" that one or more
men are
being held, but that it cannot "prove" that this is the case, allowing
action to be taken. Meanwhile, low-level talks between the U.S.
and Vietnam
proceed, yielding a few sets of remains when it seems politically
expedient
to return them, but as yet, no living American has returned.
Harry S. Mossman received the following awards:
Air Medal (7th award)
Combat Action Ribbon
Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon
National Defense Service Ribbon
Vietnam Service Medal (with 3 bronze stars)
Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Meritorious Unit Citation
(Gallantry Cross Medal Color with Palm)
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Email: benware-mmcs@verizon.net
Disclaimer:This is a personal Web Site. This site is not licensed
by, sanctioned by or affiliated with The United States Government,
the DOD, The United States Navy or any other Government Agency
©1998John C. Benware MMCS(SW)
U.S. Navy (Retired)