Colonel William Brooks

AIR FORCE

Vietnam War MIA
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COL William L “Bill” Brooks, 37, US Air Force

Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Purple Heart

Bill Brooks, Tolar, TX, was a member of the 17th Special OPS SQDN, 8th TAC FTR Wing 7th AF.  As commander of a crew of 11 on an AC-130, they left Thailand on 4-22-1970 on a recon mission over the Ho Chi Min Trail in Laos.  During their 4th pass over the area, the aircraft received heavy fire, it caught fire, lost a wing, crashed and exploded.  Only one crew member survived the crash.  The rest of the crew were initially listed as “MIA.” A military panel in San Antonio, 1979, declared Bill Brooks officially  “Killed in Action.”  
Sept 1995, the US Government announced that remains recovered in 1993 in Laos were the remains of the AC-130 crew.   Col. Brooks along with his crew were given a group burial in Arlington National Cemetery on Nov 8, 1995.

B. 4 -23-1933D 4-22-1970