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Name: Virgil
Kersh Meroney III |
Other Personnel In Incident: Wendell R.
Keller (missing)
Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 15 March 1991 from one
or more of the
following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources,
correspondence with
POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews. Copyright 1991
Homecoming II
Project.
REMARKS:
SYNOPSIS: The Phantom, used by Air Force, Marine
and Navy air wings, served a multitude of functions including
fighter-bomber and interceptor, photo and electronic
surveillance. The two man aircraft was extremely fast (Mach 2),
and had a long range (900 - 2300 miles, depending on stores and
mission type). The F4 was also extremely maneuverable and handled
well at low and high altitudes. Most pilots considered it one of
the "hottest" planes around.
Maj. Wendell R. Keller was the pilot and 1Lt. Virgil K. Meroney
was the bombardier/navigator of an F4D Phantom assigned to the
433rd Tactical Fighter Squadron. On March 1, 1969, the two were
sent on a combat mission which took them over Laos.
Near the Ban Karai Pass, one of several passageways in the
mountains comprising the border of Laos and Vietnam, Keller and
Meroney's aircraft was hit by hostile fire and crashed. No
parachutes were seen and no emergency beeper signals were heard.
However, it was believed that both might have safely ejected the
aircraft, as they were not declared killed in action, but missing
in action.
Keller and Meroney are two of nearly 600 Americans lost in Laos.
Despite numerous statements by the Pathet Lao and scores of
intelligence reports indicating that Americans were held in Laos
during the war, no prisoners were released that were held in
Laos. The United States has not negotiated for the release of
those Americans held in Laos.
Although there is no substantive information that Keller and
Meroney are still alive, evidence continues to mount that some
Americans are alive and held captive. As long as even one
American remains alive, held unjustly, we owe him our best effort
to bring him home.
Virgil Meroney was promoted to the rank of Captain and Wendell
Keller to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel during the period they
were maintained missing.
As long as
even one American remains alive, held against his will, we must
do everything possible to bring him home alive.
POW/MIA Data & Bios supplied by the P.O.W. NETWORK Skidmore, MO. USA