This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Tom Bateman, GMM1
to remember
Worcester, John Bowers (Smiley), LCDR.
If you knew or served with this Sailor and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
This Sailor has an (IMO) In Memory Of Headstone in Highland View Cemetery, Big Rapids, MI. :
On 19 Oct 1965 a section of A-4s from VA-195 embarked in USS BON HOMME RICHARD was tasked with an armed recon mission between Vihn and Thanh Hoa to the north. Then-LTJG John Worcester was flying as wingman in A-4C BuNo 148584. Worcester failed to join on his lead following an attack on a bridge some 35 miles southeast of Thanh Hoa and 20 miles inland. Although his lead retraced his route three times and was joined by other aircraft for the search, nothing was found. Worcester and his A-4 had simply disappeared. Although BON HOMME RICHARD had been in the combat zone since May 1965, LTJG Worcester had joined VA-195 only a few weeks earlier and was flying his 14th mission when he disappeared. He was carried as Missing in Action, and was twice promoted while in that status to the rank of Lieutant Commander, until the Secretary of the Navy approved a Presumptive Finding of Death on 08 Dec 1975. As of 27 Apr 2005 his remains have not been repatriated.
Other Comments:
Note: O2 at loss. Promoted while in MIA status LCDR (04) Incident Date: Tuesday, 10/19/1965, Change Status: Monday, 12/08/1975 Missing to Died while Missing
