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This year we will be spotlighting the Idaho Vietnam Unaccounted For Service Members in the month in which they went missing in action. This month the spotlight is on Ensign Hal Hollingworth who served in the US Navy and went unaccounted for January 16, 1966.

On January 16, 1966, an RA-5C Vigilante (bureau number 149312) with two crew members attempted a night landing on the aircraft carrier USS Ranger (CVA 61) in the South China Sea. As the Vigilante touched down, a shower of sparks from its aft portion was observed. The aircraft then continued off the deck, failed to climb, and impacted the water. No ejections or attempts by the crew to exit the aircraft were observed before it sank. Search and rescue units responded immediately but were unable to recover either crew member.

Ensign Hal T. Hollingsworth, who entered the U.S. Navy from Idaho, served with Reconnaissance Attack (Heavy) Squadron 9. He was a crew member on this Vigilante at the time of its loss. He remains unaccounted-for. Today, Ensign Hollingsworth is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. His name is also inscribed along with all his fallen comrades on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, DC.

Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual’s case to be in the analytical category of Active Pursuit.

Source: Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.

Our next General Membership meeting will be held on the 60th anniversary of this date of loss Friday, January 16th at 7pm at Liberty Hall, 325 W. Benton, Pocatello. We would love to see some new faces, and some of those we haven’t seen in a while. Talk to your friends. Share your passion for our mission and participating in our upcoming events.

Please read the December General Membership Meeting Minutes, so we will be able to take a vote to accept or amend them. Keep an eye on the calendar and Facebook for all of our events.

Thank you,
POW*MIA Awareness Rally Association – Pocatello