MIYAZAKI, RONALD KAZUO

Name: Ronald Kazui Miyazaki
Rank/Branch: E4/US Air Force
Unit: 12th Air Commando Squadron
Date of Birth: 05 July 1942
Home City of Record: Waialua HI
Date of Loss: 31 January 1967
Country of Loss: Laos
Loss Coordinates: 163407N 1061448E (XD331322)
Status (in 1973): Killed/Body Not Recovered
Category: 2
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: UC123B
Refno: 0587

Other Personnel in Incident: Lloyd F. Walker; Roy R. Kubley; Ronald K.
Miyazaki; Harvey Mulhauser (all missing)

Source: Compiled by P.O.W. NETWORK from one or more of the following: raw
data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA
families, published sources, interviews and CACCF = Combined Action
Combat Casualty File.  2020


REMARKS: CRASH - SURV POSS BT NO SIGN - J

SYNOPSIS: The Fairchild C123 "Provider" was aircraft based on an all-metal
glider designed by Chase Aircraft and was the first transport to see Vietnam
service. The Provider, when it was in camouflage paint with mottled topside
and light bottomside, resembled an arched-back whale suspended from the
bottom midpoint of huge dorsal wings. One of the Provider versions was the
UC123B of Project Ranch Hand. Ranch Hand aircraft sprayed pesticides for
malaria prevention and herbicides, including Agent Orange, that destroyed
both the forest that concealed the Viet Cong and the rice and manioc plant
that fed them.

Maj. Lloyd F. Walker was the pilot of a 12th Air Commando Squadron UC123B
which was sent on a defoliation mission on January 31, 1967. His crew that
day included Capt. Howard L. Barden, Capt. Roy R. Kubley, Capt. Harvey
Mulhauser, and Airman 1st Class Ronald K. Miyazaki, the flight mechanic.

The aircraft had leveled off and started spraying when it suddenly inverted
and crashed. Further investigation revealed that hostile fire struck the
propeller causing the crash. The crash occurred about 5 miles
south-southwest of Sepone in Savannakhet Province, Laos. All crewmembers
were eventually determined to have been killed in the crash of the aircraft.

The Ranch Hand crew is among nearly 600 Americans listed missing in Laos.
Although the Pathet Lao stated on several occasions they held "tens of tens"
of American prisoners, Laos was not included in the agreements ending
American involvement in the war, and the U.S. has not negotiated for the
freedom of these men since that day. Consequently, not one American held in
Laos has ever been released.

In our haste to leave an unpopular war, it now appears we abandoned some of
our best men. In our haste to heal the wounds of this same war, will we sign
their death warrants? Or will we do what we can to bring them home?

Ronald K. Miyazaki was promoted to the rank of Sergeant prior to
determination of death.

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02/2020

https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt0000000KZCgEAO

A1C RONALD KAZUO MIYAZAKI

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On January 31, 1967, a UC-123 Provider (tail number 54-0611, call sign "Cowboy 11") carrying five crew members was one of three aircraft on a defoliation mission over Laos and was escorted by two fighters. As the group flew in a trail formation, "Cowboy 11" turned on its sprayer for seconds and then turned it off, and then began to wallow before it flipped over and crashed into the ground below. Other air crews on the flight reported there was little possibility of survivors. The fighter escorts remained in the area to survey the crash site but saw no signs of any of the five "Cowboy 11" crew members among the wreckage.

Airman First Class Ronald Kazuo Miyazaki entered the U.S. Air Force from Hawaii and served in the 12th Air Commando Squadron. He was the crew chief aboard "Cowboy 11" when it crashed and was lost along with the aircraft. Attempts to locate or identify his remains were unsuccessful. Today, Airman First Class Miyazaki 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 Active Pursuit.

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