02 June 2005 It is forty years ago today that Gerry was killed in North Vietnam. I think of him often and every June 2 say a special prayer for him. From a classmate in Pensacola and friend, Capt. John J. Brier Continental Airlines, Ret. 02 Jun 2007 42 years today ... I have often wondered how fate intervenes and some of us live full lives, and others are gone so young. God bless Gerry. From John J. Brier johnbriersr@yahoo.com

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall On 02 June 1965 an EA-1F electronics surveillance aircraft launched from the USS MIDWAY in support of a search and rescue mission over North Vietnam. The crew of the Spad was LTJG M. D. McMican, pilot; LTJG Gerald M. Romano, navigation officer; ATR3 William H. Amspacher, Electronic Countermeasures Operator, and ATN3 Thomas L. Plants. While circling the scene of an A-4E pilot's ejection just offshore, the EA-1F was hit by enemy fire and was observed to crash and burn on the nearby coast. One crewmember bailed out while the EA-1F was still offshore but his parachute did not open and he fell into the sea. According to an intelligence report a week later the body drifted ashore. The crew was listed as Killed In Action/Body Not Recovered. It was assumed three crewman died in the crash and the fourth in an unsuccessful bail-out attempt. On 13 July 1988, nine sets of human remains were repatriated; among them were the remains of LTJG McMican, LTJG Romano, and ATR3 Amspacher. Almost three years later, on 29 April 1991, Petty Officer Plants' remains were identified as one of two sets of remains repatriated on 6 March 1991. Twentyfive years after the EA-1F was shot down, its crew had come home.

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