Missing Air Force pilot from Vietnam War identified Published Oct. 19, 2007 WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- Officials from the Department of Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office announced Oct. 18 that the remains of a U.S. servicemember missing from the Vietnam War have been identified and returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Maj. Robert G. Lapham of Marshall, Mich., will be buried Oct. 19 in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C. On Feb. 8, 1968, Major Lapham was flying the lead A-1G Skyraider in a flight of two in Quang Tri Province, Vietnam. The aircraft were alerted to join an airborne forward air controller to destroy enemy tanks that had overrun the Lang Vei Special Forces Camp. After completing one pass on the tanks, Major Lapham was nearing his target on the second pass when he crashed. The crew of the other aircraft involved in the mission reported seeing no parachute. Between 1993 and 1998, joint U.S./Socialist Republic of Vietnam teams led by Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command members, traveled to Quang Tri Province two times to investigate the incident and interview witnesses. One team also surveyed the crash site and found aircraft wreckage. In 2003, another joint team investigated the incident and resurveyed the crash site. The team found more wreckage and pilot-related evidence, including Major Lapham's identification tag. Between 2004 and 2006, JPAC teams traveled to Quang Tri Province four times to excavate the crash site. The teams recovered human remains, aircraft wreckage and pilot-related items. Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC also used dental comparisons in the identification of the remains. For additional information of the Defense Department's mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO Web site at www.dtic.mil/dpmo. Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link) View the comments/letters page