June 1, 2023

Be Sure To See Our Featured Docu Series: Baron 52 MIA Mystery - Sgt Joseph Matejov's Story

Sgt Joseph A. Matejov - joined the U.S. Air Force from New York and was a member of the 6994th Security Squadron. On 5 February 1973, he was a crew member aboard an EC-47Q (serial number 43-48636) call sign "Baron 52" on a night reconnaissance mission over Saravane Province, Laos. Baron 52 was the EC-47 was carrying eight crew members that was shot down over Laos during the predawn hours of 5 February 1973, a week after the Paris Peace Accords officially ended the United States involvement in the Vietnam War. The remains of four crewmen were recovered from the crash site, but those of the remaining four have never been found. Although the U.S. government considers them to have been killed in action and as late as 1996 listed them as "accounted for", family members and POW/MIA advocates know the four "Backenders" survived the crash, were captured and left behind after the 1973 Operation Homecoming.