JAMES CUTHBERT HARTNEY
Remains Returned - ID Announced 89/11/20
Rank/Branch: O4/US Air Force
Unit: 357th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Takhli
Date of Birth: 04 October 1925
Home City of Record: Ft. Lauderdale FL
Date of Loss: 05 January 1968
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 213300N 1060327E (XJ061841)
Status (in 1973): Missing in Action
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: F105F
Other Personnel in Incident: Samuel Fantle III
(remains returned)
Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 15 March
1991 from one or more of the following: raw data
from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence
with POW/MIA families, published sources,
interviews. Updated by the P.O.W. NETWORK.
REMARKS: CHUTES BEEPERS - 1 SEEN ON GRND
SYNOPSIS: The F105 Thunderchief ("Thud"), in its
various versions, flew more missions against North
Vietnam than any other U.S. aircraft. It also
suffered more losses, partially due to its
vulnerability, which was constantly under revision.
Between 1965 and 1971, the aircraft was equipped
with armor plate, a secondary flight control system,
an improved pilot ejection seat, a more precise
navigation system, better blind bombing capability
and ECM pods for the wings. While the D version was
a single-place aircraft, the F model carried a
second crewman which made it well suited for the
role of suppressing North Vietnam's missile
defenses.
Eighty-six F-105Ds fitted with radar homing and
warning gear formed the backbone of the Wild Weasel
program, initiated in 1965 to improve the Air
Force's electronic warfare capability. Upon
pinpointing the radar at a missile site, the Wild
Weasel attacked with Shrike missiles that homed on
radar emissions. The versatile aircraft was also
credited with downing 25 Russian MiGs. Thirteen of
these modified F's were sent to Southeast Asia in
1966.
Major James C. Hartney, pilot, and Capt. Samuel
Fantle III, co-pilot, were dispatched in their
F105F on a combat mission over North Vietnam on
January 5, 1968. They were the lead plane in a
flight of four, and their mission took them over
the Hanoi region. At a point about 35 miles
northeast of Hanoi, near the Kep Airfield, (at
about the border of Lang Son, Ha Bac and Vinh Phu
Provinces), Maj. Hartney's aircraft was struck in
the left wing by hostile fire from a MiG17, causing
the plane to go out of control and forcing the crew
to eject. Aircrew in the area picked up the beeper
signals from two emergency radios. (Note: Some
accounts say that only one beeper was heard.) The
wingman saw Fantle landing on the ground, and Hartney
about to land, but no voice contact was made with
them. Intense hostilities prevented rescue.
In July 1969, Sam Fantle's parents requested George
McGovern meet with North Vietnam's Xuan Oanlt in
Paris. Word came back to them from the Vietnamese
that Sam had hit a rock on bailout, but no word was
given on Jim Hartney, who had landed right beside Jim.
The North Vietnamese gave Sam's parents the
aircraft ID number, Jim's serial number, and the
time and date of shootdown.
Samuel Fantle, the first to eject from the aircraft,
was classified Prisoner of War, then later Killed
in Captivity. Hartney, for unknown reasons, was
not declared prisoner of war, but Missing in
Action. It cannot be determined why two individuals
landing side by side were not classified the same.
When the war ended, neither Fantle nor Hartney were
released as prisoners. It was over four years later
when the Vietnamese "discovered" the remains of
Samuel Fantle III and returned them to U.S.
control. It was at this time that U.S. agencies
initiated a "Special Change" notation on Hartney's
records with no further explanation. (NOTE: As most
POW/MIA cases contain classified portions or are
entirely classified, and ALL are unavailable to the
public in any detail, it cannot be determined what
the "Special Change" notation means in this incident.)
Since the war ended, reports continued to mount
related to Americans prisoner, missing, or otherwise
unaccounted for in Southeast Asia. By 1989,
nearly 10,000 reports had accumulated, convincing
many authorities that hundreds of Americans were
still alive in captivity in Southeast Asia.
Eleven years after his backseater's remains were
returned, Hartney's remains also were returned by
the Vietnamese. On November 20, 1989, the U.S.
announced that a positive identification had been
made of these remains. At last Hartney's family
could begin their grieving process, no longer were
tortured by the thought that he could be among those
thought to be still alive.
For thousands of other families, however, the wait
continues. It's long past time we brought all our
men home from Vietnam.
[r0969.97]
PROJECT X
SUMMARY SELECTION RATIONALE
NAME: HARTNEY James C., Major, USAF
OFFICIAL STATUS: MISSING
CASE SUMMARY: SEE ATTACHED
RATIONALE FOR SELECTION: Major Hartney ejected from
his disabled aircraft and was seen to have a good
parachute all the way to the ground, with beeper
signal after touchdown. His EWO officer also
ejected safely but was reported by DRV Officials
to have died of injuries sustained during landing.
No subsequent reports have been received to
indicate Major Hartney's possible capture or death.
REFNO: 0969 19 April 1976
(U) CASES SUMMARY
1. On 5 January 1968 Maj. James C. Hartney, pilot,
III, electronics warfare officer, were the crew of
the lead F105F. (#63-8356), in a flight of four
aircraft on a combat mission over North Vietnam.
After firing a missile on their target, the leader
was hit by cannon fire from a MIG-17. The wingman
observed that the flight leader's left wing, was
smoking and burning. Members of the flight heard
the flight leader call that he was bailing out and
two good parachutes were seen and beeper signals
were heard.
2. Flight members stated that they saw one crewman
on the ground with the other descending in the same
area, (vicinity of grid coordinates (GC) XT
096 832). The aircraft impacted in the vicinity of
(GC) XJ 096 832). No voice contact could be
established with the downed crewmen. No search and
rescue effort was attempted due to the location.
(Ref 1)
3. In July 1969, it was learned from a North
Vietnamese government official in communication
with a U.S. Congressman that Capt. Fantle had his
limbs fractured during landing and was treated by
the local health service, but that he died later
the same day (NFI). (Ref 2)
4. During the existence of JCRC, the hostile
threat in the area precluded any visits to or
ground inspections of the sites involved in this
These individuals' names and identifying data were
turned over to the Four-Party Joint Military Team
with a request for any information available. No
response was forthcoming. Maj. Hartney is currently
carried in the status of Missing. Capt. Fantle is
currently carried in the status of Dead, Body Not
Recovered.
REFERENCES USED
1. RPT (U), 355th TFW, AF Form 484, w/statements,
11 Jan. 68.
2. LTR (U), H.G. Torbert, Acting Asst Sec for
Congressional Relations, w/attachments 15 Jul 69.
ASSOCIATED INDIVIDUALS
1. James C. Hartney 0969-1-01
2.- Samuel Fantle III 0969-1-02
* National Alliance of Families Home Page
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