HITESHEW, JAMES EDWARD
Name: James Edward Hiteshew
Rank/Branch: O4/US Air Force
Unit: 355th Combat Support Group, Takhli AB TH, 354th TFS
Date of Birth:
Home City of Record: Weston WV
Date of Loss: 11 March 1967
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 213000N 1055000E (WJ863775)
Status (in 1973): Released POW
Category:
Acft/Vehicle/Ground: F105D
Missions: 75
Other Personnel in Incident: Charles E. Greene (released POW); Joseph J.
Karins Jr. (missing) (both at close proximity on same day)
Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 01 April 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: 730304 RELSD BY DRV
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. The D version was a single-place
aircraft.
Capt. Charles E. Greene, Jr., Capt. Joseph J. Karins, Jr., and Major James
E. Hiteshew were all pilots of F105D Thunderchiefs. On March 11, 1967, they
were all dispatched on strike mission over North Vietnam. At a target area
near the city of Thai Nguyen in Vinh Phu Province, all three were shot down
and declared Missing in Action. Greene and Hiteshew ultimately landed in
Vinh Phu Province. Greene was about 5 miles southwest of the city of Thai
Nguyen; Hiteshew was about 8 miles southeast. Karins landed on the border of
Vinh Phu and Ha Bac Provinces, about 8 miles east-southeast of Thai Nguyen.
It was later learned that Greene and Hiteshew had been captured by the North
Vietnamese. Hiteshew's emergency beepers had been heard, and parachute was
observed, but rescue in this hostile territory proved impossible. Other
information indicates that Karins was in radio contact with rescuers, but
was seen to be captured.
On March 4, 1973, 591 Americans were released from communist prisons in
North Vietnam. Greene and Hiteshew were among them. Karins was not. He
remained Missing in Action. According to intelligence received by the
Defense Department, Karins died, but public information does not indicate
how or when. Whether this information was confirmed seems unlikely, as
Karin's status was not changed to Killed in Action, Body Not Recovered. In
fact, it was several years before he was found presumptively dead.
Since American involvement in Vietnam ended in 1975, nearly 10,000 reports
relating to Americans missing, prisoner, or otherwise unaccounted for in
Indochina have been received by the U.S. Government. Many officials, having
examined this largely classified information, have reluctantly concluded
that many Americans are still alive today, held captive by our long-ago
enemy.
Karins is one of over 2,300 Americans who remain missing in Southeast Asia.
Whether he survived the crash of his aircraft to be captured seems unlikely,
in light of the DIA intelligence report. What is certain, however, is that
we owe these men our every effort to bring them to freedom. Hiteshew and
Greene were imprisoned nearly six years. For Karins, dead or alive, it will
soon be 23 years. It's time we brought our men home.
Karins, who was promoted to the rank of Major during the period he was
missing is now accounted for. His remains were returned to the U.S. on April
6, 1988.
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
JAMES EDWARD HITESHEW
Colonel - United States Air Force
Shot Down: March 11, 1967
Released: March 4, 1973
I was born the eighth of October,1930 in Weston, West Virginia, where my
father was employed as a glass blower. I attended a two-room country school
for the first six grades and then went to Weston Junior and Senior High
School for the next six years. While in school, I participated in various
activities - was president of the senior class and captain of the football
team. I was All-Conference and Second Team All-State football guard in my
senior year. After graduating from high school, I attended Glenville College
for one semester and West Virginia Wesleyan for another semester, prior to
entering the United States Coast Guard Academy. I remained at the Coast
Guard Academy for three years and then entered the Air Force as an aviation
cadet in 1952. I received my Wings and Commission in September 1953. After
completing gunnery school at Luke AFB, Arizona, I was assigned to the 405th
Fighter Bomber Group at Langley AFB, Virginia.
I departed Langley AFB in the spring of 1956 for a wonderful three years
with the 20th TAC Fighter Wing at Wethersfield, England. I was reassigned to
the Strategic Air Command upon my return from England. After B47 combat crew
training at McConnell AFB, Kansas, I was assigned to the 384th Bomb Wing at
Little Rock AFB, Arkansas. I remained at Little Rock for two and a half
years and then was reassigned to the 380th Bomb Wing at Plattsburgh, New
York. I flew the B47 for another four years prior to going to the University
of Omaha to complete my degree. I was reassigned to F-105's in March 1966
and went through upgrading at Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina. I
departed for SEA on the eighteenth of September, 1966 and was stationed at
Takhli AB, Thailand, flying F-105's. I was shot down on the eleventh of
March, 1967 on the Thai Nygen steel plant.
I have two children, Mike, 18, and Susan,16.
I intend to spend a few more years on active duty and then possibly retire
and teach school. I would prefer to teach either Math or Physics.
November 1996
James Hiteshew retired from the United States Air Force as a Colonel. He and
Phyllis now reside in North Carolina.
During a Nam-Pows reunion in 1996, he recalled the injuries that preceeded
his capture: "My arm and both legs were broken. My right leg was badly
fractured, my left was broken, but I did not know that until my release. My
left elbow was broken, to this day it is immobile. My first 4 1/2 months in
captivity were spent in a body cast."
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