HALL, THOMAS RENWICK
Name: Thomas Renwick Hall
Rank/Branch: O2/US Navy
Unit: VF 211
Date of Birth: 28 February 1941
Home City of Record: Carrollton VA
Date of Loss: 10 June 1967
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 205800N 1054000E (WJ692184)
Status (in 1973): Released POW
Category:
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: F8E
Missions: 100+ (Second Cruise)
Other Personnel in Incident: none
Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 15 April 1990 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: 730304 RELSD BY DRV
SYNOPSIS: The Vought F8 "Crusader" saw action early in U.S. involvement in
Southeast Asia. Its fighter models participated both in the first Gulf of
Tonkin reprisal in August 1964 and in the myriad attacks against North
Vietnam during Operation Rolling Thunder. The Crusader was used exclusively
by the Navy and Marine air wings (although there is one U.S. Air Force pilot
reported shot down on an F8) and represented half or more of the carrier
fighters in the Gulf of Tonkin during the first four years of the war. The
aircraft was credited with nearly 53% of MiG kills in Vietnam.
The most frequently used fighter versions of the Crusader in Vietnam were
the C, D, and E models although the H and J were also used. The Charlie
carried only Sidewinders on fuselage racks, and were assigned such missions
as CAP (Combat Air Patrol), flying at higher altitudes. The Echo model had a
heavier reinforced wing able to carry extra Sidewinders or bombs, and were
used to attack ground targets, giving it increased vulnerability. The Echo
version launched with less fuel, to accommodate the larger bomb store, and
frequently arrived back at ship low on fuel. The RF models were equipped for
photo reconnaissance.
The combat attrition rate of the Crusader was comparable to similar
fighters. Between 1964 to 1972, eighty-three Crusaders were either lost or
destroyed by enemy fire. Another 109 required major rebuilding. 145 Crusader
pilots were recovered; 57 were not. Twenty of these pilots were captured and
released. The other 43 remained missing at the end of the war.
Lt. Thomas R. Hall was the pilot of an F8C sent on a combat mission over
North Vietnam on June 10, 1967. His flight route took him to Ha Tay
Province, North Vietnam, where his aircraft was shot down about 5 miles
southwest of Hanoi. Hall successfully ejected from his crippled aircraft and
was captured by the North Vietnamese.
For the next 6 years, Hall was held in various prisoner of war camps,
including the infamous "Hanoi Hilton" complex in Hanoi. He was released in
the general prisoner release in 1973.
Since the war ended, nearly 10,000 reports relating to Americans missing,
prisoner or unaccounted for in Southeast Asia have been received by the U.S.
Government. Many authorities who have examined this largely classified
information are convinced that hundreds of Americans are still held captive
today. These reports are the source of serious distress to many returned
American prisoners. They had a code that no one could honorably return
unless all of the prisoners returned. Not only that code of honor, but the
honor of our country is at stake as long as even one man remains unjustly
held. It's time we brought our men 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
THOMAS R. HALL, JR.
Lieutenant Commander- United States Navy
Shot Down: June 10, 1967
Released: March 4, 1973
I was born in Richmond, Virginia on 28 February 1941, the first son of Mr.
and Mrs. Thomas R. Hall. I grew up in Virginia, graduating from Warwick High
School in 1959. After attending Virginia Tech for four years, I graduated
with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and joined the Navy in September
1963. I entered the Navy school of pre-flight in January 1964 and proceeded
through the jet pipe-line, receiving my wings at Kingsville, Texas in
August 1965. While pre-flight, I met the former Miss Barbara Jo Pelt and we
were married a year later in March 1965.
After receiving my wings, I was sent to NAS Miramar, California to VF-124,
the F-8 Crusader RAG. Upon completing the RAG, I joined VF-211 aboard the
USS Hancock in March 1966 right after our daughter, Donna, was born. I
completed the cruise with VF-211 and we deployed again in January 1967
aboard the Bonnie Dick. On 6 June 1967, I was shot down by enemy flak and
rescued by a helicopter from the USS England. On 10 June 1967, I was shot
down again just south of Hanoi and captured.
The first few years of detainment were the hardest since I was isolated from
all but one or two prisoners and I was constantly harassed by our captors.
We did have covert communication with other prisoners and this was a primary
factor in helping us endure the ordeal. We were able to bolster each other's
morale and give each other strength during times of depression.
In 1970 I received my first letter and moved into a cell with five men. From
then on, our spirits were higher and our outlook brighter. For the most
part, we were always optimistic of our future and maintained a faith that
our country would secure our release. Upon our release in 1973, I was
extremely proud and happy to find that the support and concern for POWs was
far beyond what I had ever expected.
It was a wonderful feeling - one that I could never describe. I am very
proud to be an American and to have served with such a group of outstanding
men. I will always treasure the friendships that I made while I was in
prison.
December 1996
Thomas Hall Jr. retired from the United States Navy as a L/Commander. He and
his wife Barbara reside in North Carolina.
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