Decades Later: Unraveling the Mystery of a Vietnam War MIA Pilot

Episode 58 of Military Tales takes listeners on a compelling journey, starting with a harrowing Search and Rescue (SAR) mission in Vietnam and leading into a decades-long quest to uncover the fate of a missing pilot. We hear from George Merritt, a veteran A-1 Skyraider pilot who was the Sandy lead on the rescue, and Susan Crosby, a former law enforcement detective who dedicated half a century to researching the pilot’s disappearance.

George Merritt’s distinguished career began with the Air Force RC program and included flying F-101s before being selected for test pilot school at Edwards Air Force Base, where he flew a variety of aircraft like the F-111, F-5, F-4, and F-104. He then went to combat, flying the A-1 Skyraider with the 602nd Fighter Squadron, first at Udorn and then the renowned NKP (Nakhon Phanom, Thailand). He flew 188 combat missions and later spent 20 years as a test pilot for Hughes Aircraft, flying more advanced jets. Merritt is also an author of six books, including “Cheating Death,” which contains the story featured in this episode.

On March 10, 1969, George Merritt was the Sandy lead on alert at NKP. A USAF F-4D Phantom (call sign PAPAYA 02A/B) from the 435th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Ubon was hit during its fifth pass over a target area near Chapone, Laos. Both pilots ejected, and a Forward Air Controller (FAC) saw their parachutes and established radio contact. Merritt and his SAR package, consisting of four A-1s (Sandies) and two helicopters (Jolly Greens), were scrambled.

Upon arriving near the crash site, which was in a dangerous, hot area not far from Chapone, visibility was poor due to the end of the dry season’s haze and smoke. Concern grew when radio contact with the front seater (Papaya 02 Alpha) was lost, and his parachute was no longer visible. The backseater (Papaya 02 Bravo), Al Routina, a Pilot System Operator from Texas A&M, remained in radio contact.

Merritt’s team brought in fast movers to put down ordnance. Merritt then made a low pass and confirmed no enemy fire was directed at the backseater. He decided to use disabling gas (CBU-19), code-named “juicy fruit,” as a smoke screen slightly downwind. A Jolly Green helicopter was brought in and successfully rescued Al Routina. George Merritt believes nobody was hit during this extraction. With one pilot rescued, one helicopter returned to base.

However, Papaya 02 Alpha remained missing, with no radio or visual contact. The SAR team circled and listened, but nothing was heard on the Guard radio. There was little else they could do, so the team returned to base. At the time, this was the extent of George Merritt’s knowledge – a partly successful rescue with one pilot missing, presumed captured or lost.

Years later, the story of the missing front seater, Colonel Carter Luna, took a new turn thanks to Susan Crosby. Since she was 14 years old, Susan had worn an MIA bracelet bearing Colonel Luna’s name and loss date (March 10, 1969). For half a century, she wore that bracelet. As a former law enforcement detective, Susan possessed the investigative skills needed to delve into Colonel Luna’s case.

Susan’s research became a deep commitment she feels is her life’s purpose. She utilized online resources, read extensive investigative reports, including those from the DPAA (Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency). A critical piece of information was obtaining the minute-by-minute search and rescue log from March 10, 1969, which she organized into an Excel spreadsheet to make sense of the detailed information and abbreviations. She communicated with numerous people involved, including the rescued backseater, Al Routina, other pilots who flew with Colonel Luna, and eventually, George Merritt himself.

A profoundly impactful part of her research was connecting with Colonel Luna’s family. In 2018, she wrote a heartfelt letter to the Air Force to find his next of kin. This led to a phone call on Memorial Day 2018 from Colonel Luna’s wife, Pat Luna. They have since become very close, and Susan met Pat and one of her sons in 2023. Susan also saw letters sent to Colonel Luna’s parents and wife in 1969 informing them he was missing in action, which made him more than just a name on a bracelet.

Susan took her investigation a step further by traveling to Laos three times, including visiting the remote area where Colonel Luna was lost. She used research documents, maps, and coordinates to guide her. In March 2023, she visited the exact location where Colonel Luna was last known to be alive – a cassava field near part of the original Ho Chi Minh Trail. It was a very moving experience. At this location, she and her team found a Fiddlewood flower and berries, the only blooming things in the area, which they took as a significant sign that they were in the right place. Susan gathered dirt from this site to bring back to Pat Luna.

Through her research, including DPAA reports and interviews with former North Vietnamese Army (NVA) soldiers, the most consistent information suggests Colonel Luna was killed shortly after ejecting. Statements from NVA soldiers indicate he was confronted, pulled his pistol, and was shot and killed with an AK-47 that afternoon, then supposedly buried nearby. Investigations have explored potential burial sites, with conflicting accounts from NVA soldiers over the years regarding the exact location. Susan believes an earlier recommended excavation site from 2006 makes the most logical sense, although it has not been excavated as far as she knows.

Susan’s trips also provided insight into the challenging conditions in Laos. She saw evidence of the massive unexploded ordnance (UXO) problem, with NGOs actively searching for bombs near roads. UXO is a constant danger and complicates recovery efforts. She visited local villages, met the people, and saw how they lived, noting they are industrious and still find and repurpose aircraft parts. She also visited excavated crash sites of other pilots lost in the area, highlighting how long the process of recovery and identification can take – decades in some cases. Susan even managed to find a photo of the exact F-4D Colonel Luna flew, identifiable by its serial number, and noted it had also been flown by the legendary Robin Olds.

The US government, through the DPAA, continues its dedicated efforts to recover missing personnel from past conflicts, including Vietnam. It is a highly intensive and costly process involving specialized teams. Recoveries are still being made years later. Susan’s work complements these efforts, driven by her personal commitment to finding answers for Colonel Luna and his family. She has created websites sharing her research process and a guide for others interested in traveling to Southeast Asia for similar purposes, even teaming up with her driver in Laos to offer tours.

Concluding the episode, George Merritt reads a powerful cover quote written by General Robin Olds for his book, honoring the Sandy and Jolly Green crews with the motto, “That Others May Live“. Olds wrote about the unwavering support and love among these men who risked their lives to save others. George Merritt sees Susan Crosby’s dedication to searching for Colonel Luna as embodying that same spirit, calling her “another Sandy” for her willingness to go to extraordinary lengths for someone she never knew.

This episode powerfully illustrates the sacrifices made during the Vietnam War, the long shadow cast by those still unaccounted for, and the remarkable dedication of individuals like Susan Crosby who continue to pursue the truth decades later. While the mystery of Colonel Luna’s ultimate fate remains officially unresolved, Susan’s work has brought connection, understanding, and a deep sense of purpose to the story of the name on her bracelet.