Captain James Dale Mills, who joined the U.S. Marine Corps from Texas, served with Marine Attack Squadron 211, Marine Air Group 12, 1st Marine Air Wing. On January 29, 1968, he piloted a single-seat A-4E Skyhawk (bureau number 149976) on a combat mission over Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam. As he made a strafing run over the target, his aircraft caught fire. The pilot of another aircraft in the flight saw the smoking aircraft roll over, hit the ground and explode. No parachute was observed. Aerial searches located no sign that Capt Mills survived the incident, and enemy activity in the area precluded a ground search of the crash site. Captain Mills' remains were not recovered. Today, Captain Mills is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual's case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.

If you are a family member of this serviceman, DPAA can provide you with additional information and analysis of your case. Please contact your casualty office representative.