In Memory of ..... Col. Joseph Clair Austin.
*** Colonel Austin was a member of the 34th Tactical Fighter Squadron. On March 19, 1967, he was the pilot of a Thunderchief Fighter (F-105D) over Ban Karai Pass, North Vietnam when it was hit by hostile fire and crashed. 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 those who knew you. You will live on because we remember you!
JOSEPH CLAIR AUSTIN - Air Force - COL - O6
Joseph C. Austin graduated from West Point in 1952. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel during the period he was maintained missing.
Age: 39
Race: Caucasian
Date of Birth Jun 30, 1929
From: MOUNDSVILLE, WV
Marital Status: Married - Beverly (Bunny)Joan Marino Austin. They have two sons: Joseph John and Thomas David Austin. Parents: Father, Joseph R. (J.R.) Austin and Estella A. Austin, both of Moundsville, WV.
***** F-a-G Memorial # 61655610 (Col J. Austin)
Thank you for creating the F-a-G Memorial for Col Joseph Austin (# 61655610) at the Courts of the Missing, Nat'l Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu Memorial. You asked for the whereabouts of an "IMo" stone for him or his final resting place. I've done research on this, to include asking his West Point classmates. He is still MIA in SEA from the Vietnam War and there is no known "In Memory of" stone at Arlington Nat'l Cemetery or the West Point Cemetery.
Added by Friends of Rocky Versace
Feb 17, 2017 12:35 PM
***** Col Joseph Clair Austin, USAF, was remembered yesterday at a Pentagon Ceremony for MIAs on POW/MIA Recognition Day (16 September 2016). Col Austin, USMA Class of 1952, is one of 10 USMA alumni who remain MIA from the Vietnam War.
Friends of Rocky Versace
Sep. 17, 2016
His tour began on Mar 19, 1967
Casualty was on May 25, 1979
In NORTH VIETNAM
Hostile, died while missing, FIXED WING - PILOT
AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND
Body was not recovered
Panel 16E - Line 109
Other Personnel in Incident: (none missing)
Colonel Austin was a member of the 34th Tactical Fighter Squadron.
On March 19, 1967, he was the pilot of a Thunder chief Fighter (F-105D) over Ban Karai Pass, North Vietnam when it was hit by hostile fire and crashed.
His remains were not recovered.
**************************************
Compiled by: W. H. Plunkett, Albuquerque NM Date
Printed: 25 Apr 2011 Page 6 of 8 Pages
Joseph Clair Austin
F-105 History
"100 Missions North", pg 204 & U.S. Navy CNA Loss/Damage Data Base & interview with Col Ken Hite, Slaton
TX, 20 May 00 & F-105 Pilot Flying Hour report dated 18 Nov 85 provided by the USAF Safety Center to Bauke Jan Douma.
championship lacrosse team." He shared trailer quarters with the commander of the 421 TFS, Lt Col Kenneth Hite.
Lt Col Alan G. Nelson took over the 34 TFS and moved into Col Austin's quarters.
Lt Col Joseph C. Austin flew as Warhawk Lead, a flight of four on a strike mission on a River Ford in North
Vietnam.
Other members in the flight were Maj Carl W. McKenzie, Capt David C. Carter, and Capt Jack A.Phillips. The flight took off from Korat at 07:40 and Lt Col Austin was lost at 09:00.
An F-105D from Korat crashed during the morning practice run and the pilot, Lt Col Joseph Clair Austin, the
commander of the 34 TFS, was killed.
Other members of "Warhawk" flight were #2 Capt Jack A. Phillips, #3 Maj Carl W. McKenzie, and #4 Capt David C. Carter. This was Capt Phillips' 21st combat mission into NVN.
Phillips recalled the circumstances of the mission.
"The 34th had been tabbed to do a risky low level run on a power plant in bad weather; Carl McKenzie picked Dave Carter and me since it would be a 3 ship, in-the-trees run.
The new squadron commander, Joe Austin, told Carl that he would lead the mission. Carl did not want this to occur and
Austin told him it was an order.
So we planned everything, but due to Austin's lack of experience, Carl insisted that we do a practice mission. Carl briefed the whole thing and went into great detail regarding the snake-eyes we would be using since Austin had never even seen one before.
We headed off to a lower package and flew around 100 feet to
get Austin some practice. He got the word that the primary weather was socked in and chose an alternate, which was
only a bit better.
We found the target okay, but for some reason Austin pulled up to about 3,000 feet and started a shallow dive run instead of a level delivery. I was number 2 and saw him pull hard enough to envelop the aircraft in vapor, then hit the side of a hill.
No ejection and no beeper. I never even saw him release the bombs.
*******************
.
*** Colonel Austin was a member of the 34th Tactical Fighter Squadron. On March 19, 1967, he was the pilot of a Thunderchief Fighter (F-105D) over Ban Karai Pass, North Vietnam when it was hit by hostile fire and crashed. 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 those who knew you. You will live on because we remember you!
JOSEPH CLAIR AUSTIN - Air Force - COL - O6
Joseph C. Austin graduated from West Point in 1952. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel during the period he was maintained missing.
Age: 39
Race: Caucasian
Date of Birth Jun 30, 1929
From: MOUNDSVILLE, WV
Marital Status: Married - Beverly (Bunny)Joan Marino Austin. They have two sons: Joseph John and Thomas David Austin. Parents: Father, Joseph R. (J.R.) Austin and Estella A. Austin, both of Moundsville, WV.
***** F-a-G Memorial # 61655610 (Col J. Austin)
Thank you for creating the F-a-G Memorial for Col Joseph Austin (# 61655610) at the Courts of the Missing, Nat'l Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu Memorial. You asked for the whereabouts of an "IMo" stone for him or his final resting place. I've done research on this, to include asking his West Point classmates. He is still MIA in SEA from the Vietnam War and there is no known "In Memory of" stone at Arlington Nat'l Cemetery or the West Point Cemetery.
Added by Friends of Rocky Versace
Feb 17, 2017 12:35 PM
***** Col Joseph Clair Austin, USAF, was remembered yesterday at a Pentagon Ceremony for MIAs on POW/MIA Recognition Day (16 September 2016). Col Austin, USMA Class of 1952, is one of 10 USMA alumni who remain MIA from the Vietnam War.
Friends of Rocky Versace
Sep. 17, 2016
His tour began on Mar 19, 1967
Casualty was on May 25, 1979
In NORTH VIETNAM
Hostile, died while missing, FIXED WING - PILOT
AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND
Body was not recovered
Panel 16E - Line 109
Other Personnel in Incident: (none missing)
Colonel Austin was a member of the 34th Tactical Fighter Squadron.
On March 19, 1967, he was the pilot of a Thunder chief Fighter (F-105D) over Ban Karai Pass, North Vietnam when it was hit by hostile fire and crashed.
His remains were not recovered.
**************************************
Compiled by: W. H. Plunkett, Albuquerque NM Date
Printed: 25 Apr 2011 Page 6 of 8 Pages
Joseph Clair Austin
F-105 History
"100 Missions North", pg 204 & U.S. Navy CNA Loss/Damage Data Base & interview with Col Ken Hite, Slaton
TX, 20 May 00 & F-105 Pilot Flying Hour report dated 18 Nov 85 provided by the USAF Safety Center to Bauke Jan Douma.
championship lacrosse team." He shared trailer quarters with the commander of the 421 TFS, Lt Col Kenneth Hite.
Lt Col Alan G. Nelson took over the 34 TFS and moved into Col Austin's quarters.
Lt Col Joseph C. Austin flew as Warhawk Lead, a flight of four on a strike mission on a River Ford in North
Vietnam.
Other members in the flight were Maj Carl W. McKenzie, Capt David C. Carter, and Capt Jack A.Phillips. The flight took off from Korat at 07:40 and Lt Col Austin was lost at 09:00.
An F-105D from Korat crashed during the morning practice run and the pilot, Lt Col Joseph Clair Austin, the
commander of the 34 TFS, was killed.
Other members of "Warhawk" flight were #2 Capt Jack A. Phillips, #3 Maj Carl W. McKenzie, and #4 Capt David C. Carter. This was Capt Phillips' 21st combat mission into NVN.
Phillips recalled the circumstances of the mission.
"The 34th had been tabbed to do a risky low level run on a power plant in bad weather; Carl McKenzie picked Dave Carter and me since it would be a 3 ship, in-the-trees run.
The new squadron commander, Joe Austin, told Carl that he would lead the mission. Carl did not want this to occur and
Austin told him it was an order.
So we planned everything, but due to Austin's lack of experience, Carl insisted that we do a practice mission. Carl briefed the whole thing and went into great detail regarding the snake-eyes we would be using since Austin had never even seen one before.
We headed off to a lower package and flew around 100 feet to
get Austin some practice. He got the word that the primary weather was socked in and chose an alternate, which was
only a bit better.
We found the target okay, but for some reason Austin pulled up to about 3,000 feet and started a shallow dive run instead of a level delivery. I was number 2 and saw him pull hard enough to envelop the aircraft in vapor, then hit the side of a hill.
No ejection and no beeper. I never even saw him release the bombs.
*******************
.
In Memory of ..... Col. Joseph Clair Austin.
*** Colonel Austin was a member of the 34th Tactical Fighter Squadron. On March 19, 1967, he was the pilot of a Thunderchief Fighter (F-105D) over Ban Karai Pass, North Vietnam when it was hit by hostile fire and crashed. 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 those who knew you. You will live on because we remember you!
JOSEPH CLAIR AUSTIN - Air Force - COL - O6
Joseph C. Austin graduated from West Point in 1952. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel during the period he was maintained missing.
Age: 39
Race: Caucasian
Date of Birth Jun 30, 1929
From: MOUNDSVILLE, WV
Marital Status: Married - Beverly (Bunny)Joan Marino Austin. They have two sons: Joseph John and Thomas David Austin. Parents: Father, Joseph R. (J.R.) Austin and Estella A. Austin, both of Moundsville, WV.
***** F-a-G Memorial # 61655610 (Col J. Austin)
Thank you for creating the F-a-G Memorial for Col Joseph Austin (# 61655610) at the Courts of the Missing, Nat'l Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu Memorial. You asked for the whereabouts of an "IMo" stone for him or his final resting place. I've done research on this, to include asking his West Point classmates. He is still MIA in SEA from the Vietnam War and there is no known "In Memory of" stone at Arlington Nat'l Cemetery or the West Point Cemetery.
Added by Friends of Rocky Versace
Feb 17, 2017 12:35 PM
***** Col Joseph Clair Austin, USAF, was remembered yesterday at a Pentagon Ceremony for MIAs on POW/MIA Recognition Day (16 September 2016). Col Austin, USMA Class of 1952, is one of 10 USMA alumni who remain MIA from the Vietnam War.
Friends of Rocky Versace
Sep. 17, 2016
His tour began on Mar 19, 1967
Casualty was on May 25, 1979
In NORTH VIETNAM
Hostile, died while missing, FIXED WING - PILOT
AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND
Body was not recovered
Panel 16E - Line 109
Other Personnel in Incident: (none missing)
Colonel Austin was a member of the 34th Tactical Fighter Squadron.
On March 19, 1967, he was the pilot of a Thunder chief Fighter (F-105D) over Ban Karai Pass, North Vietnam when it was hit by hostile fire and crashed.
His remains were not recovered.
**************************************
Compiled by: W. H. Plunkett, Albuquerque NM Date
Printed: 25 Apr 2011 Page 6 of 8 Pages
Joseph Clair Austin
F-105 History
"100 Missions North", pg 204 & U.S. Navy CNA Loss/Damage Data Base & interview with Col Ken Hite, Slaton
TX, 20 May 00 & F-105 Pilot Flying Hour report dated 18 Nov 85 provided by the USAF Safety Center to Bauke Jan Douma.
championship lacrosse team." He shared trailer quarters with the commander of the 421 TFS, Lt Col Kenneth Hite.
Lt Col Alan G. Nelson took over the 34 TFS and moved into Col Austin's quarters.
Lt Col Joseph C. Austin flew as Warhawk Lead, a flight of four on a strike mission on a River Ford in North
Vietnam.
Other members in the flight were Maj Carl W. McKenzie, Capt David C. Carter, and Capt Jack A.Phillips. The flight took off from Korat at 07:40 and Lt Col Austin was lost at 09:00.
An F-105D from Korat crashed during the morning practice run and the pilot, Lt Col Joseph Clair Austin, the
commander of the 34 TFS, was killed.
Other members of "Warhawk" flight were #2 Capt Jack A. Phillips, #3 Maj Carl W. McKenzie, and #4 Capt David C. Carter. This was Capt Phillips' 21st combat mission into NVN.
Phillips recalled the circumstances of the mission.
"The 34th had been tabbed to do a risky low level run on a power plant in bad weather; Carl McKenzie picked Dave Carter and me since it would be a 3 ship, in-the-trees run.
The new squadron commander, Joe Austin, told Carl that he would lead the mission. Carl did not want this to occur and
Austin told him it was an order.
So we planned everything, but due to Austin's lack of experience, Carl insisted that we do a practice mission. Carl briefed the whole thing and went into great detail regarding the snake-eyes we would be using since Austin had never even seen one before.
We headed off to a lower package and flew around 100 feet to
get Austin some practice. He got the word that the primary weather was socked in and chose an alternate, which was
only a bit better.
We found the target okay, but for some reason Austin pulled up to about 3,000 feet and started a shallow dive run instead of a level delivery. I was number 2 and saw him pull hard enough to envelop the aircraft in vapor, then hit the side of a hill.
No ejection and no beeper. I never even saw him release the bombs.
*******************
.
*** Colonel Austin was a member of the 34th Tactical Fighter Squadron. On March 19, 1967, he was the pilot of a Thunderchief Fighter (F-105D) over Ban Karai Pass, North Vietnam when it was hit by hostile fire and crashed. 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 those who knew you. You will live on because we remember you!
JOSEPH CLAIR AUSTIN - Air Force - COL - O6
Joseph C. Austin graduated from West Point in 1952. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel during the period he was maintained missing.
Age: 39
Race: Caucasian
Date of Birth Jun 30, 1929
From: MOUNDSVILLE, WV
Marital Status: Married - Beverly (Bunny)Joan Marino Austin. They have two sons: Joseph John and Thomas David Austin. Parents: Father, Joseph R. (J.R.) Austin and Estella A. Austin, both of Moundsville, WV.
***** F-a-G Memorial # 61655610 (Col J. Austin)
Thank you for creating the F-a-G Memorial for Col Joseph Austin (# 61655610) at the Courts of the Missing, Nat'l Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu Memorial. You asked for the whereabouts of an "IMo" stone for him or his final resting place. I've done research on this, to include asking his West Point classmates. He is still MIA in SEA from the Vietnam War and there is no known "In Memory of" stone at Arlington Nat'l Cemetery or the West Point Cemetery.
Added by Friends of Rocky Versace
Feb 17, 2017 12:35 PM
***** Col Joseph Clair Austin, USAF, was remembered yesterday at a Pentagon Ceremony for MIAs on POW/MIA Recognition Day (16 September 2016). Col Austin, USMA Class of 1952, is one of 10 USMA alumni who remain MIA from the Vietnam War.
Friends of Rocky Versace
Sep. 17, 2016
His tour began on Mar 19, 1967
Casualty was on May 25, 1979
In NORTH VIETNAM
Hostile, died while missing, FIXED WING - PILOT
AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND
Body was not recovered
Panel 16E - Line 109
Other Personnel in Incident: (none missing)
Colonel Austin was a member of the 34th Tactical Fighter Squadron.
On March 19, 1967, he was the pilot of a Thunder chief Fighter (F-105D) over Ban Karai Pass, North Vietnam when it was hit by hostile fire and crashed.
His remains were not recovered.
**************************************
Compiled by: W. H. Plunkett, Albuquerque NM Date
Printed: 25 Apr 2011 Page 6 of 8 Pages
Joseph Clair Austin
F-105 History
"100 Missions North", pg 204 & U.S. Navy CNA Loss/Damage Data Base & interview with Col Ken Hite, Slaton
TX, 20 May 00 & F-105 Pilot Flying Hour report dated 18 Nov 85 provided by the USAF Safety Center to Bauke Jan Douma.
championship lacrosse team." He shared trailer quarters with the commander of the 421 TFS, Lt Col Kenneth Hite.
Lt Col Alan G. Nelson took over the 34 TFS and moved into Col Austin's quarters.
Lt Col Joseph C. Austin flew as Warhawk Lead, a flight of four on a strike mission on a River Ford in North
Vietnam.
Other members in the flight were Maj Carl W. McKenzie, Capt David C. Carter, and Capt Jack A.Phillips. The flight took off from Korat at 07:40 and Lt Col Austin was lost at 09:00.
An F-105D from Korat crashed during the morning practice run and the pilot, Lt Col Joseph Clair Austin, the
commander of the 34 TFS, was killed.
Other members of "Warhawk" flight were #2 Capt Jack A. Phillips, #3 Maj Carl W. McKenzie, and #4 Capt David C. Carter. This was Capt Phillips' 21st combat mission into NVN.
Phillips recalled the circumstances of the mission.
"The 34th had been tabbed to do a risky low level run on a power plant in bad weather; Carl McKenzie picked Dave Carter and me since it would be a 3 ship, in-the-trees run.
The new squadron commander, Joe Austin, told Carl that he would lead the mission. Carl did not want this to occur and
Austin told him it was an order.
So we planned everything, but due to Austin's lack of experience, Carl insisted that we do a practice mission. Carl briefed the whole thing and went into great detail regarding the snake-eyes we would be using since Austin had never even seen one before.
We headed off to a lower package and flew around 100 feet to
get Austin some practice. He got the word that the primary weather was socked in and chose an alternate, which was
only a bit better.
We found the target okay, but for some reason Austin pulled up to about 3,000 feet and started a shallow dive run instead of a level delivery. I was number 2 and saw him pull hard enough to envelop the aircraft in vapor, then hit the side of a hill.
No ejection and no beeper. I never even saw him release the bombs.
*******************
.
Gravesite Details
Looking for location of his Memorial Headstone.
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