Other Personnel in Incident: Edwin A. Hawley Jr. (Released POW)

Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 01 April 1990 with the assistance of one or more of the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews. Updated by the P.O.W. NETWORK 1998.

REMARKS: DEAD/CREWMAN SAID IN HANOI

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. The F4 was selected for a number of state-of-the-art electronics conversions, which improved radar intercept and computer bombing capabilities enormously. Most pilots considered it one of the "hottest"
planes around.

Major Robert H. Irwin, pilot, and Capt. Edwin A. Hawley Jr., weapons/systems operator, were dispatched on a combat mission in their F4D aircraft over North Vietnam on February 17, 1972. At a point about 15 miles west of the
city of Vinh in Quang Binh Province, their aircraft was shot down.

Captaon Hawley, being the rear-seater, ejected from the aircraft first. It was standard procedure for the pilot to eject second. Therefore, it was not uncommon for the crewmembers to be separated on the ground. Captain Hawley was
captured by the North Vietnamese and spent the next year in prison camps in and around Hanoi. On February 14, 1973, he was released, still showing signs of the injuries he suffered when he ejected from his aircraft.

Captain Hawley, in his debriefing stated that he believed his pilot was dead. No details of this briefing is publicly available, as much of it is still classified. Major Robert H. Irwin remained Missing in Action.

The Defense Intelligence Agency further expanded Irwin's classification to include an enemy knowledge ranking of 2. Category 2 indicates "suspect knowledge" and includes personnel who may have been involved in loss incidents with individuals reported in Category 1 (confirmed knowledge), or who were lost in areas or under conditions that they may reasonably be expected to be known by the enemy; who were connected with an incident which was discussed but not identified by names in enemy news media; or identified (by elimination, but not 100% positively) through analysis of all-source intelligence.

 Photo Courtesy of Roxsanne Wells-Layton, May 2006