Hubert Bradford Loheed |
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Remains Identified - 1994
SUMMARY
SYNOPSIS: Commander Hubert B. Loheed was the Commanding Officer of Attack
Squadron 146. On February 1, 1966, he launched in his A4C Skyhawt attack aircraft
leading a flight of four aircraft from the aircraft carrier USS Ranger (CVA 61).
Once the flight reached their target over North Vietnam, Cdr. Loheed and his wingman
made a section run on the target, releasing their ordnance. Both aircraft then entered a
steep climb. Cdr. Loheed's aircraft then rolled port and entered a steep dive with his
wingman 200-300 feet behind him. Cdr. Loheed's plane was last seen as it dove into cloud
overcast at an altitude of 1000 feet. The last known location of the aircraft was in Nghe
An Province, North Vietnam, about 5 miles from the coast, and about 5 miles northwest
Search efforts were conducted, but were unsuccessful in making radio or visual contact
with Cdr. Lohhed. It was the opinion of his wingman and others that he could not have
survived the possible crash or ejection of his aircraft. He was placed in Missing In When the war ended, and 591 Americans were released in Operation Homecoming in 1973, military experts expressed their dismay that "some hundreds" of POWs did not come home with them. Since that time, thousands of reports have been received, indicating that many Americans are still being held against their will in Southeast Asia. Whether Loheed is among them is not known. What is certain, however, is that if only one American remains alive in enemy hands, we owe him our best effort to bring him home. During the period he was maintained missing, Hubert B. Loheed was promoted to the rank of Captain. |