In Loving Memory ... LT. Leonard John Schoeppner.
*** Lieutenant Schoeppner was a member of Fighter Squadron 21, Carrier Air Wing 2 aboard the Aircraft Carrier USS RANGER (CVA-61). On March 9, 1970, he was the pilot of a McDonnell Douglas Phanton II Fighter(F-4J)on a photo reconnaissance escort mission.Because of bad weather the mission was cancelled and he was directed to join a combat air patrol when he was directly over the USS RANGER. Soon contact was lost. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.
You may be gone, no longer living on this earth; but you will live on - in the memories of your family and friends. There will always be a part of you living in your family and those who knew you and loved you. You will live on because we remember you!
LEONARD JOHN SCHOEPPNER - Navy - LT - O3
Age: 26
Race: Caucasian
Date of Birth Oct 2, 1943
From: CANTON, OH
Religion: ROMAN CATHOLIC
Marital Status: Single - Parents: Father, Leonard Roman Schoeppner, Born March 31, 1911 and Died Oct. 5, 1989 and Mother, Esther Elizabeth Schoeppner, Born Sept. 4, 1914 and Died Aug. 25, 1988, both from OH.
***** A stone was placed at the Rittman Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery MIA section for Lieut. Leonard John Schoeppner the coordinates are lad.40.998673 - long. 81.808453
Contributor: JoCon
***** Chops was a pilot and also a qualified LSO. Lt. Dean Capper, also in VF-21 and my pilot, was one of Chop's best friends. Chops was not married. He was one of the funniest guys in the squadron. Chops was lost at sea after returning from a combat mission over Loas. Their bodies were never recovered nor was any wreckage found. Chops was a good man. He is missed by his comrades and friends.
God Bless you Chops.
Tom Herskowitz San Diego 2/10/99
Shipmate
LT - O3 - Navy - Regular
Length of service 3 years
His tour began on Mar 9, 1970
Casualty was on Mar 9, 1970
In , NORTH VIETNAM
Loss Coordinates: 174258N 1074658E (YE951608)
Non-Hostile, died missing, FIXED WING - PILOT
AIR LOSS, CRASH AT SEA
Body was not recovered
Panel 13W - Line 101
Other Personnel in Incident: Rex L. Parcels Jr. (missing)
LT Leonard J. Schoeppner and LTJG Rex L. Parcels Jr. were F4 pilots assigned to Fighter Squadron 21 onboard the USS RANGER. On March 9, 1970, the two were assigned a photo reconnaissance escort mission in their F4J Phantom. Schoeppner was the pilot and Parcels served as the Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) on the flight.
Schoeppner and Parcels launched at 1200 hours on that day. Their climbout and aerial refueling were normal.
Because of low ceilings and poor visibility in the reconnaissance aircraft's target area, the escort mission was cancelled. Schoeppner's aircraft was diverted to their secondary mission assignment as combat air patrol for the Task Force. The reassignment occurred about one hour after their takeoff.
Schoeppner reported his position as overhead the RANGER in the Gulf of Tonkin at 17,000 feet. He was instructed to rendezvous with another squadron F4, but he failed to contact the newly assigned control agency for the required vector. Contact between Schoeppner's and Parcels' aircraft and the ship's search radar was also lost at about this time (1330).
A preliminary search was conducted, using aircraft already airborne in the vicinity of the carrier. With no success on this preliminary search, the assistance of other assets was utilized. A thorough and detailed coverage of this large area was attested to by a variety of non-pertinent floating debris recovered by the SAR force, including objects as small as an old life jacket.
A pilot from the HANCOCK reported that he had seen an F4-type aircraft in a dive at approximately 4,000 feet.
All other F4 pilots airborne at this time stated that they had not engaged in such a maneuver. The diving aircraft was thought to possibly be that of Schoeppner and Parcels.
With weather conditions as they were, they may have inadvertently entered a maneuver, such as a dive, which carried them to an altitude too low to effect a recovery after their condition was realized.
Schoeppner and Parcels are listed with honor among the Americans still prisoner, missing or unaccounted for in Southeast Asia because their bodies were never recovered.
****************************************
.
*** Lieutenant Schoeppner was a member of Fighter Squadron 21, Carrier Air Wing 2 aboard the Aircraft Carrier USS RANGER (CVA-61). On March 9, 1970, he was the pilot of a McDonnell Douglas Phanton II Fighter(F-4J)on a photo reconnaissance escort mission.Because of bad weather the mission was cancelled and he was directed to join a combat air patrol when he was directly over the USS RANGER. Soon contact was lost. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.
You may be gone, no longer living on this earth; but you will live on - in the memories of your family and friends. There will always be a part of you living in your family and those who knew you and loved you. You will live on because we remember you!
LEONARD JOHN SCHOEPPNER - Navy - LT - O3
Age: 26
Race: Caucasian
Date of Birth Oct 2, 1943
From: CANTON, OH
Religion: ROMAN CATHOLIC
Marital Status: Single - Parents: Father, Leonard Roman Schoeppner, Born March 31, 1911 and Died Oct. 5, 1989 and Mother, Esther Elizabeth Schoeppner, Born Sept. 4, 1914 and Died Aug. 25, 1988, both from OH.
***** A stone was placed at the Rittman Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery MIA section for Lieut. Leonard John Schoeppner the coordinates are lad.40.998673 - long. 81.808453
Contributor: JoCon
***** Chops was a pilot and also a qualified LSO. Lt. Dean Capper, also in VF-21 and my pilot, was one of Chop's best friends. Chops was not married. He was one of the funniest guys in the squadron. Chops was lost at sea after returning from a combat mission over Loas. Their bodies were never recovered nor was any wreckage found. Chops was a good man. He is missed by his comrades and friends.
God Bless you Chops.
Tom Herskowitz San Diego 2/10/99
Shipmate
LT - O3 - Navy - Regular
Length of service 3 years
His tour began on Mar 9, 1970
Casualty was on Mar 9, 1970
In , NORTH VIETNAM
Loss Coordinates: 174258N 1074658E (YE951608)
Non-Hostile, died missing, FIXED WING - PILOT
AIR LOSS, CRASH AT SEA
Body was not recovered
Panel 13W - Line 101
Other Personnel in Incident: Rex L. Parcels Jr. (missing)
LT Leonard J. Schoeppner and LTJG Rex L. Parcels Jr. were F4 pilots assigned to Fighter Squadron 21 onboard the USS RANGER. On March 9, 1970, the two were assigned a photo reconnaissance escort mission in their F4J Phantom. Schoeppner was the pilot and Parcels served as the Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) on the flight.
Schoeppner and Parcels launched at 1200 hours on that day. Their climbout and aerial refueling were normal.
Because of low ceilings and poor visibility in the reconnaissance aircraft's target area, the escort mission was cancelled. Schoeppner's aircraft was diverted to their secondary mission assignment as combat air patrol for the Task Force. The reassignment occurred about one hour after their takeoff.
Schoeppner reported his position as overhead the RANGER in the Gulf of Tonkin at 17,000 feet. He was instructed to rendezvous with another squadron F4, but he failed to contact the newly assigned control agency for the required vector. Contact between Schoeppner's and Parcels' aircraft and the ship's search radar was also lost at about this time (1330).
A preliminary search was conducted, using aircraft already airborne in the vicinity of the carrier. With no success on this preliminary search, the assistance of other assets was utilized. A thorough and detailed coverage of this large area was attested to by a variety of non-pertinent floating debris recovered by the SAR force, including objects as small as an old life jacket.
A pilot from the HANCOCK reported that he had seen an F4-type aircraft in a dive at approximately 4,000 feet.
All other F4 pilots airborne at this time stated that they had not engaged in such a maneuver. The diving aircraft was thought to possibly be that of Schoeppner and Parcels.
With weather conditions as they were, they may have inadvertently entered a maneuver, such as a dive, which carried them to an altitude too low to effect a recovery after their condition was realized.
Schoeppner and Parcels are listed with honor among the Americans still prisoner, missing or unaccounted for in Southeast Asia because their bodies were never recovered.
****************************************
.
In Loving Memory ... LT. Leonard John Schoeppner.
*** Lieutenant Schoeppner was a member of Fighter Squadron 21, Carrier Air Wing 2 aboard the Aircraft Carrier USS RANGER (CVA-61). On March 9, 1970, he was the pilot of a McDonnell Douglas Phanton II Fighter(F-4J)on a photo reconnaissance escort mission.Because of bad weather the mission was cancelled and he was directed to join a combat air patrol when he was directly over the USS RANGER. Soon contact was lost. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.
You may be gone, no longer living on this earth; but you will live on - in the memories of your family and friends. There will always be a part of you living in your family and those who knew you and loved you. You will live on because we remember you!
LEONARD JOHN SCHOEPPNER - Navy - LT - O3
Age: 26
Race: Caucasian
Date of Birth Oct 2, 1943
From: CANTON, OH
Religion: ROMAN CATHOLIC
Marital Status: Single - Parents: Father, Leonard Roman Schoeppner, Born March 31, 1911 and Died Oct. 5, 1989 and Mother, Esther Elizabeth Schoeppner, Born Sept. 4, 1914 and Died Aug. 25, 1988, both from OH.
***** A stone was placed at the Rittman Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery MIA section for Lieut. Leonard John Schoeppner the coordinates are lad.40.998673 - long. 81.808453
Contributor: JoCon
***** Chops was a pilot and also a qualified LSO. Lt. Dean Capper, also in VF-21 and my pilot, was one of Chop's best friends. Chops was not married. He was one of the funniest guys in the squadron. Chops was lost at sea after returning from a combat mission over Loas. Their bodies were never recovered nor was any wreckage found. Chops was a good man. He is missed by his comrades and friends.
God Bless you Chops.
Tom Herskowitz San Diego 2/10/99
Shipmate
LT - O3 - Navy - Regular
Length of service 3 years
His tour began on Mar 9, 1970
Casualty was on Mar 9, 1970
In , NORTH VIETNAM
Loss Coordinates: 174258N 1074658E (YE951608)
Non-Hostile, died missing, FIXED WING - PILOT
AIR LOSS, CRASH AT SEA
Body was not recovered
Panel 13W - Line 101
Other Personnel in Incident: Rex L. Parcels Jr. (missing)
LT Leonard J. Schoeppner and LTJG Rex L. Parcels Jr. were F4 pilots assigned to Fighter Squadron 21 onboard the USS RANGER. On March 9, 1970, the two were assigned a photo reconnaissance escort mission in their F4J Phantom. Schoeppner was the pilot and Parcels served as the Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) on the flight.
Schoeppner and Parcels launched at 1200 hours on that day. Their climbout and aerial refueling were normal.
Because of low ceilings and poor visibility in the reconnaissance aircraft's target area, the escort mission was cancelled. Schoeppner's aircraft was diverted to their secondary mission assignment as combat air patrol for the Task Force. The reassignment occurred about one hour after their takeoff.
Schoeppner reported his position as overhead the RANGER in the Gulf of Tonkin at 17,000 feet. He was instructed to rendezvous with another squadron F4, but he failed to contact the newly assigned control agency for the required vector. Contact between Schoeppner's and Parcels' aircraft and the ship's search radar was also lost at about this time (1330).
A preliminary search was conducted, using aircraft already airborne in the vicinity of the carrier. With no success on this preliminary search, the assistance of other assets was utilized. A thorough and detailed coverage of this large area was attested to by a variety of non-pertinent floating debris recovered by the SAR force, including objects as small as an old life jacket.
A pilot from the HANCOCK reported that he had seen an F4-type aircraft in a dive at approximately 4,000 feet.
All other F4 pilots airborne at this time stated that they had not engaged in such a maneuver. The diving aircraft was thought to possibly be that of Schoeppner and Parcels.
With weather conditions as they were, they may have inadvertently entered a maneuver, such as a dive, which carried them to an altitude too low to effect a recovery after their condition was realized.
Schoeppner and Parcels are listed with honor among the Americans still prisoner, missing or unaccounted for in Southeast Asia because their bodies were never recovered.
****************************************
.
*** Lieutenant Schoeppner was a member of Fighter Squadron 21, Carrier Air Wing 2 aboard the Aircraft Carrier USS RANGER (CVA-61). On March 9, 1970, he was the pilot of a McDonnell Douglas Phanton II Fighter(F-4J)on a photo reconnaissance escort mission.Because of bad weather the mission was cancelled and he was directed to join a combat air patrol when he was directly over the USS RANGER. Soon contact was lost. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.
You may be gone, no longer living on this earth; but you will live on - in the memories of your family and friends. There will always be a part of you living in your family and those who knew you and loved you. You will live on because we remember you!
LEONARD JOHN SCHOEPPNER - Navy - LT - O3
Age: 26
Race: Caucasian
Date of Birth Oct 2, 1943
From: CANTON, OH
Religion: ROMAN CATHOLIC
Marital Status: Single - Parents: Father, Leonard Roman Schoeppner, Born March 31, 1911 and Died Oct. 5, 1989 and Mother, Esther Elizabeth Schoeppner, Born Sept. 4, 1914 and Died Aug. 25, 1988, both from OH.
***** A stone was placed at the Rittman Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery MIA section for Lieut. Leonard John Schoeppner the coordinates are lad.40.998673 - long. 81.808453
Contributor: JoCon
***** Chops was a pilot and also a qualified LSO. Lt. Dean Capper, also in VF-21 and my pilot, was one of Chop's best friends. Chops was not married. He was one of the funniest guys in the squadron. Chops was lost at sea after returning from a combat mission over Loas. Their bodies were never recovered nor was any wreckage found. Chops was a good man. He is missed by his comrades and friends.
God Bless you Chops.
Tom Herskowitz San Diego 2/10/99
Shipmate
LT - O3 - Navy - Regular
Length of service 3 years
His tour began on Mar 9, 1970
Casualty was on Mar 9, 1970
In , NORTH VIETNAM
Loss Coordinates: 174258N 1074658E (YE951608)
Non-Hostile, died missing, FIXED WING - PILOT
AIR LOSS, CRASH AT SEA
Body was not recovered
Panel 13W - Line 101
Other Personnel in Incident: Rex L. Parcels Jr. (missing)
LT Leonard J. Schoeppner and LTJG Rex L. Parcels Jr. were F4 pilots assigned to Fighter Squadron 21 onboard the USS RANGER. On March 9, 1970, the two were assigned a photo reconnaissance escort mission in their F4J Phantom. Schoeppner was the pilot and Parcels served as the Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) on the flight.
Schoeppner and Parcels launched at 1200 hours on that day. Their climbout and aerial refueling were normal.
Because of low ceilings and poor visibility in the reconnaissance aircraft's target area, the escort mission was cancelled. Schoeppner's aircraft was diverted to their secondary mission assignment as combat air patrol for the Task Force. The reassignment occurred about one hour after their takeoff.
Schoeppner reported his position as overhead the RANGER in the Gulf of Tonkin at 17,000 feet. He was instructed to rendezvous with another squadron F4, but he failed to contact the newly assigned control agency for the required vector. Contact between Schoeppner's and Parcels' aircraft and the ship's search radar was also lost at about this time (1330).
A preliminary search was conducted, using aircraft already airborne in the vicinity of the carrier. With no success on this preliminary search, the assistance of other assets was utilized. A thorough and detailed coverage of this large area was attested to by a variety of non-pertinent floating debris recovered by the SAR force, including objects as small as an old life jacket.
A pilot from the HANCOCK reported that he had seen an F4-type aircraft in a dive at approximately 4,000 feet.
All other F4 pilots airborne at this time stated that they had not engaged in such a maneuver. The diving aircraft was thought to possibly be that of Schoeppner and Parcels.
With weather conditions as they were, they may have inadvertently entered a maneuver, such as a dive, which carried them to an altitude too low to effect a recovery after their condition was realized.
Schoeppner and Parcels are listed with honor among the Americans still prisoner, missing or unaccounted for in Southeast Asia because their bodies were never recovered.
****************************************
.
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