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Airmen from the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard and the U.S. Air Force Band’s Ceremonial Brass, and Soldiers from the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) Caisson Detachment conduct full military funeral honors with escort for U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Donald Downing in Section 75, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, Monday, June 30, 2025. Downing was killed during the Vietnam War when he was 33 years old.
From a Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) press release:
In September 1967, Downing was assigned to 557th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 12th Tactical Fighter Wing, 7th Air Force. On Sept. 5, he was piloting an F-4C Phantom II aircraft as the second in a flight of two aircraft conducting a nighttime armed reconnaissance mission over the then-Democratic Republic of Vietnam. While on a run to their target, the first aircraft witnessed a large, bright fireball in the air, and Downing’s aircraft did not respond to any radio calls. Search and rescue efforts began at daylight, but electronic and visual searches didn’t find anything. On April 28, 1978, the Air Force reported Capt. Downing as Killed in Action (KIA). He was later posthumously promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel.
After decades of investigation into the incident yielded no results, a recovery team with Joint Field Activity 24-3VN recovered life support equipment, possible material evidence, aircraft wreckage, unexploded ordinance and possible osseous material at a site in Quang Binh Province in May and June 2024. Evidence from the mission was accessioned into the DPAA laboratory in June 2024.
To identify Downing’s remains, scientists from DPAA used anthropological analysis, as well as material and circumstantial evidence. Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA and autosomal DNA analysis.
Downing was officially accounted for on Dec. 20, 2024 – over 55 years since he went missing. His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, and Air Medal with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters. Downing’s spouse, Marion Downing, received the U.S. flag from her husband’s funeral service.
(U.S. Army photo by Elizabeth Fraser / Arlington National Cemetery / released)
| Date Taken: | 06.30.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 07.01.2025 09:54 |
| Photo ID: | 9142188 |
| VIRIN: | 250630-A-IW468-2958 |
| Resolution: | 7833x5222 |
| Size: | 24.56 MB |
| Location: | ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 0 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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