OLAA Operating Date 17-Dec-1969

Roster

Lt. Col. James W. Wold (Jim)
Maj. Timothy L. Buttermore (Tim)
Maj. Dean E. DeTar (Dean)
Capt. Glenn R. Manning… MIA
Capt. Robert Karre (Bob)… Bob Karre is off for R&R until 21Dec
Capt. Paul D. D. Houppert (DD)
1st Lt. Maurice A Coleman, Jr. (Mac)
1st Lt. John W. Weinig (JW)
1st Lt. James Seith (Jim)
1st Lt. A. Jackson Roberts (Jax)
1st Lt. Donald L Engebretsen (Don)
1st Lt. Warren C. Blanchard (Doc)

On This Date in OLAA History

OLAA-ID: 38-1      
Flight Date: 17 Dec 69
Pilot: Donald L. Engebretsen–02
Mission ID: 1533
Tail # 803-H
Location: In Country
Team Name:
Hours Flown: 2+50 (2.8)
  
Remarks: Enemy Location; 100/UNK; NVR; 4-CBU 24; 3 BLU-32; 1 WP Rocket
Tags:
OLAA-ID: 38-2      
Flight Date: 17 Dec 69
Pilot: Glenn R. Manning–03
Mission ID:
Tail # 273-H
Location:
Team Name:
Hours Flown:
  
Remarks: KIA Crashed on approach to Da Nang
Tags:
OLAA-ID: 38-2      
Flight Date: 17 Dec 69
Pilot: A. Jackson Roberts–04
Mission ID:
Tail #
Location:
Team Name:
Hours Flown:
  
Remarks: Jax on wing…Glenn flew approach first
Tags:
OLAA-ID: 38-3      
Flight Date: 17 Dec 69
Pilot: Dean E. DeTar
Mission ID:
Tail # 665-H
Location:
Team Name:
Hours Flown: (1.50)
  
Remarks: Looking for Manning???
Tags:
OLAA-ID: 38-4      
Flight Date: 17 Dec 69
Pilot: Dean E. DeTar
Mission ID:
Tail # 665-H
Location:
Team Name:
Hours Flown: (1.50)
  
Remarks: Looking for Manning???
Tags:
OLAA-ID: 38-5      SAR
Flight Date: 17 Dec 69
Pilot: James W. Wold–12
Mission ID: SAR
Tail # 258-H
Location: 010/16/77
Team Name:
Hours Flown: 2+25 (2.4) N 0.3
  
Remarks: 8 CBU-25; 4 CBU-22; 2 SUU-11; 2 LAU-3; 2 LAU-59; MIA-4; SAR for Captain Manning
Tags:
OLAA-ID: 38-5      SAR
Flight Date: 17 Dec 69
Pilot: Paul D. D. Houppert–11
Mission ID: SAR
Tail #
Location: 010/16/77
Team Name:
Hours Flown: 2+25E
  
Remarks: #8 CBU-25; 4 CBU-22; 2 SUU-11; 2 LAU-3; 2 LAU-59; MIA-4; SAR for Captain Manning
Tags:
OLAA-ID: 38-6      
Flight Date: 17 Dec 69
Pilot: Dean E. DeTar
Mission ID:
Tail # 028-J
Location:
Team Name:
Hours Flown: (2.7) N 2.7
  
Remarks:
Tags:
OLAA-ID: 38-7      
Flight Date: 17 Dec 69
Pilot: Timothy L. Buttermore
Mission ID:
Tail # 077-J
Location:
Team Name:
Hours Flown: (2.0) N 0.5
  
Remarks:
Tags:
Tragically, Capt. Glenn Manning goes missing in action after disappearing from the Da Nang Air Base radar while executing a GCA to runway 17.  On this date in OLAA history his status was unknown. Glenn’s call sign was Spad 03 on this fateful day and Jax Roberts (Spad 04) was on his wing.  Jax remembered this mission ending as a “divert” to DNG, but it was likely an RTB since we were all based at Da Nang on this date.  In any case, the weather was marginal and they were east of the base on downwind in 2 ship formation with Jax on the right wing.  At some point prior to base leg the controller asked if they wanted to split up or fly the approach together.  Jax remembers Glenn turning toward him and motioning about what to do.  After a moment Glenn threw his hands up and took the left turn to base ahead of Jax.  That was the last anyone saw Glenn alive and what actually occurred is buried in history along with one of us. Jim Wold’s records indicate that he flew an IP for a lead checkout with Paul Houppert (Spad 12 & 11) in what Jim records as a SAR for Captain Manning.  They worked with King 6 at 010/16/Ch77.  The weather was still not good that day and Jax remembers wx and low clouds for the first couple of days after Glenn was MIA. Bob Karre and Mac Coleman were later sent by Jim Wold to work with the Da Nang approach control to determine what may have happened. Searches were begun by our Spad’s and others to look for Capt. Manning.  I believe these went on for at least 7 days before they ended as I show that I flew a 1+30 local flight as Spad 12 on 21Dec69.  Jax recalls flying a couple of search missions in marginal weather and thinking about the dangers when he went IFR trying to search visually.  I also believe that Jolly’s and other aircraft were used in searching.  Weather was an issue during the searches and I believe some searches were conducted after returns from normal missions.  I do vividly remember being surprised at the number of other a/c crash sites that were in the search area.  I believe we had charts showing these to the degree possible and had many discussions about the whereabouts of Spad 03.  We were all obviously preoccupied with finding/recovering Glenn until he was found many days later.  But, we still had to do our normal skeds and workload because the war never stopped in these cases.  Tim Buttermore now believes that Larry is correct and he view the remains after he returned from R&R.  Larry Cavender recalled that we were still searching for Glenn when he arrived on 26Dec69. 26Dec69 notes…  Larry Cavender arrived at Da Nang on this date.  Note- Larry remembers that Glen Manning had not been found before his arrival!!!????  I know it took some time, but Glenn went down on 17Dec69.  Bob Karre remembers being on R&R when Glenn crashed and thought they had recovered remains with a Recon team prior to his return (Bob did not fly between 11 and 21 December???).  Later Bob and Mac were directed to review the tapes with Da Nang radar and work on understanding what happened. 21Dec69…  Don Engebretsen notes about searching for Glenn Manning