Press Release | Jan. 7, 2025

Pilot Accounted for Vietnam (Downing, D.)

WASHINGTON –  

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced today that U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Donald W. Downing, 33, killed during the Vietnam War, was accounted for Dec. 20, 2024.

In Sept. 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. He was later posthumously promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

This is an initial release. The complete accounting of Downing's case will be published once the family receives their full briefing.