From an early USAF Postcard
Copyright © - Howard Chaloner
"Paul Yonkie was a flight engineer on C-141s, stationed at Charleston AFB, SC. He
was on a classified mission for the purpose of bringing home two POW Air Force
officers who were being released by the North Vietnamese if the officers were
inclined. The officers selected commercial travel, however. The crew was
preparing the aircraft for departure from Udorn, Thailand, when a communist
sapper attack took place. Paul was hit in the stomach with grenade fragments and
was flown to Clark AB in the Philippines for medical attention. After several
operations and 5 weeks Paul passed away. I was at Paul's side when he died."
Bruce Cook, SMSgt USAF (Ret)
Note: The two Air Force POWs mentioned by SMSgt Cook were Majors Fred N. Thompson
and James F. Low. MAJ Thompson, an F-100 pilot, had been shot down and captured
on 20 March 1968. MAJ Low was a F-86 ace in Korea, with 5 MiGs to his credit. An
F-4D pilot in Vietnam, he and then-1LT Howard J. Hill were shot down by a MiG-21
on 16 December 1967. Both were captured. Thompson and Low were released in Hanoi
on 2 August 1968 as a propaganda move. Hill survived captivity and was released
with the other POWs on 14 March 1973.
Almost thirty years to the day after his death the Airlift Wing at Charleston
AFB, SC, dedicated a C-141 to Paul Yonkie. They call it "The Spirit of TSgt Paul
E. Yonkie". His widow and daughters were in attendance. When the plane was sent
to Mcguire they painted over his name.
Paul E. Yonkie is remembered at Scott Air Force Base. Our 'C' street was renamed
'Yonkie Drive' in honor of him.
TSgt Michael Byrd
375 Airlift Wing Historian
Photo Copyright © - unknown
Source: Virtual Wall
Copyright © - Frank Duarte Jr
Copyright © - USAF Photo
Copyright © - James Kramer
14 November 2000
Crew signed a panel inside the A/C
Copyright © - Phil Kovaric
14 November 2000
Crew signed a panel inside the A/C
Copyright © - Phil Kovaric
14 November 2000
Copyright © - Phil Kovaric
Copyright © - Phil Kovaric
Cockpit Stripped a short while later
Copyright © - Phil Kovaric