Rank/Branch: O2/US Air Force, co-pilot
Unit: 307th Strat Wing, Utapao
Date of Birth: 07 August 1947
Home City of Record: Satellite Beach FL
Date of Loss: 20 December 1972
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 210500N 1054000E (WJ692313)
Status (in 1973): Released POW
Acft/Vehicle/Ground: B52G
Other Personnel In Incident: Terry M. Geloneck;
Roy Madden Jr.; Michael R.
Martini (all released POWs); Craig A. Paul;
Warren R. Spencer (both remains returned)
Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 15
October 1990 from one or more of the following:
raw data from U.S. Government agency sources,
correspondence with POW/MIA families, published
sources, including "Linebacker" by Karl J.
Eschmann. Updated by the P.O.W. NETWORK.
REMARKS: 730212 RELSD BY DRV - INJ
SYNOPSIS: Frustrated by problems in negotiating
a peace settlement, and pressured by a Congress
and public wanting an immediate end to American
involvement in Vietnam, President Nixon ordered
the most concentrated air offensive of the war,
known as Linebacker II, in December 1972. During
the offensive, sometimes called the "Christmas
bombings," 40,000 tons of bombs were dropped,
primarily over military targets in the area
between Hanoi and Haiphong. White House Press
Secretary Ronald Ziegler said that the bombing
would end only when all U.S. POWs were released
and an internationally recognized cease-fire was
in force. The Christmas Bombings were of the most
precise the world had seen. Pilots involved in
the immense series of strikes generally agree
that the strikes against anti-aircraft and
strategic targets was so successful that the
U.S. "could have taken the entire country of
Vietnam by inserting an average Boy Scout troop
in Hanoi and marching it southward." The operation
had its costs, however, in loss of aircraft and
personnel. During the month of December 1972, 62
crewmembers of B52 aircraft were shot down and
captured or went missing. Of these 62, 33 men
were released in 1973. The remains of roughly a
dozen more have been returned over the years, and
the rest are still missing. At least 10 those
missing survived to eject safely. Yet they did
not return at the end of the war. On December 20,
1972, three B52 aircraft -- Quilt Cell --
departed Utapao Airbase, Thailand for a bombing
mission over Hanoi. One of the aircraft was flown
by Capt. Terry M. Geloneck. The crew consisted of
1Lt. William Y. Arcuri, co-pilot; Capt. Craig A.
Paul, Electronic Warfare Officer; Capt. Warren R.
Spencer, the radar navigator; 1LT Michael R.
Martini, navigator; and SSgt. Roy Madden, the
gunner. Approaching the initial point where the
bombing run was to begin, the EWO (Paul) reported
SAM signals. The aircraft instituted evasive
maneuvers while calmly running through their
checklist in preparation of releasing the twenty
-seven 750-pound bomb load. About 30 seconds to
target, three or four SAMs were sighted. The crew
could do nothing but watch their progress until
the "bombs away" was called and evasive action
could be taken. After releasing the bomb load,
the aircraft had been in a hard turn about 10
seconds when the loud metallic bank of an
exploding SAM hit them, accompanied by a bright
The aircraft was still airborne and in its post-
target turn. Martini reported that he, Arcuri and
Spencer were okay, but that they had sustained a
fuel leak in the left main fuel tank, and that
cabin pressurization was lost. Paul had been hit
and was bleeding heavily.
There were four six-inch holes in the fuselage
next to Madden, and his leg was shattered. As the
aircraft began losing altitude, the crew prepared
Geloneck, Arcuri, Martini and Madden successfully
ejected from the aircraft and were captured
immediately. It is not known whether Spencer and
Paul ejected.
When they were released in mid-February, 1973,
Madden, Martini, Arcuri and Geloneck were all
injured; Madden's leg was still in dangerous
condition, and he was brought home on a litter.
The leg was later amputated.
The Vietnamese returned the remains of Paul and
Spencer on September 30, 1977, despite earlier
protestations that they knew nothing about the two.
One thing that amazed analysts about the B52
bombers that were shot down over Hanoi during this
period was the high survival rate of the
crewmembers. Many more were returned as POWs than
was expected. The B52s that were shot down were
downed in extremely hostile territory with little
or no chance of rescue. However, they were
fortunate to be captured during a period in which
little or no harassment and torture was being
experienced by American POWs. In fact, the
Vietnamese were "fattening them up" for their
imminent release. Unfortunately, it does not
appear that all the prisoners were returned in
1973 at the end of the war. Since the end of the
war, thousands of reports have been received by
the U.S. Government relating to Americans still
U.S. experts have stated they believe Americans
are still being held prisoner in Southeast Asia.
The question is no longer whether and are alive,
but who are they, and how can we bring them home?
SOURCE: WE CAME HOME copyright 1977
Captain and Mrs. Frederic A Wyatt (USNR Ret),
Barbara Powers Wyatt, Editor P.O.W. Publications,
10250 Moorpark St., Toluca Lake, CA 91602 Text is
reproduced as found in the original publication
(including date and spelling errors).
UPDATE - 09/95 by the P.O.W. NETWORK, Skidmore, MO
WILLIAM Y. ARCURI Captain - United States Air
Force Shot Down: December 20, 1972
Released: February 12, 1973
I was born in Tallahassee, Florida on August 7,
1947. I have been in the military all my life,
as my father was an officer in the Air Force. I
spent a year in the Air Force as an enlisted man
attending the USAF Academy Preparatory School. I
received an appointment to the US Military
Academy and entered in July 1966 in the class of
1970. I met my wife, Andrea, while I was attending
West Point and we were married after graduation
on June 26, 1970. I received a commission into
the Air Force and started Flight School in August
1970. Upon graduation from Flight School in July
1971, I went to Castle AFB, California for B-52
training and then to Beale AFB, California for my
first PCS in January 1972.
In May 1972 I received my orders sending me TDY
to Andersen AFB, Guam for B-52 operations in
Southeast Asia. I spent five months on Guam and
then home for a 28 day leave. I was starting my
second five months TDY when the December raids
were ordered. I was shot down on the third night
of raids over Hanoi and captured on December 20,
1972. I was injured during the shoot down and
captured on the ground by the local villagers. I
was then turned over to the military and taken to
the "Hilton" complex. I spent less than two months
as a POW and was released with the first group of
POWs because of my injuries. I hope to return to
the B-52 at Beale AFB, and I am looking forward
to flying the new B-1 bomber. My wife, Andrea,
and I hope to start a family soon. The following
expresses our sentiments exactly: Thanksgiving is
the all encompassing word which expresses what
is in our hearts and in our minds. Our
Thanksgiving is a time for caring, for loving,
and for the sheer joy of being together. We would
not have a Thanksgiving if it were not for the
many prayers and for the never-ending moral
support which we received from you. We thank you
for your love which gave us the inspiration to
deal with our lives from day to day. We were
blessed as our time of pain was short. We ask
that you continue to pray and to show concern for
those who were less fortunate. Your faith will
surely help those who are in need. We thank you
for the most precious gift on earth-the giving of
William Acuri left the Air Force after his return
home. He and Andrea reside in Texas.
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