Dan Heller 
Name: Charles Lancaster Putnam
Memorials: Find a Grave 1 2 Vietnam Wall Wall of Faces
Rank/Branch: Commander/USN
Unit: Heavy Reconnaissance Squadron 13 (RVAH-13) USS Kitty Hawk CVA-63
Date of Birth: 14 January 1928
Home of Record: Key West FL
Date of Loss: 9 March 1967
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 198601N 1059421E
Status in 1973: Missing In Action
Category: 1
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: RA-5C “Vigilante” BuNo. 151627
Other Personnel In Incident: Francis Sarsfield “Frank” Prendergast (Survived)
REMARKS: None
(Webmaster note: The loss of Captain Putnam and amazing escape and rescue of LTJG Prendergast is covered in the second chapter of my book Across the Wing)
SYNOPSIS: CAPT Charles Lancaster Putnam was a pilot assigned to Reconnaissance/Attack Squadron ONE THREE on board the aircraftcarrier USS KITTY HAWK (CVA-63). On 9 March 1967, he launched in his RA-5C “VIGILANTE” reconnaissance aircraft along with his Reconnaissance Attack Navigator (RAN), Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Pendergast. Their mission was to make an intelligence photo run along a section of North Vietnam coastline. An F-4 “PHANTOM” fighter was launched as their escort on this mission. Approaching the coastline to begin their photo run, Putnam turned to parallel the coast one-quarter mile from the beach. The F-4 escort crew noticed numerous muzzle flashes from the tree line on the beach and immediately noticed that the RA-5C aircraft was on fire. Putnam immediately raised the nose of the aircraft to gain some altitude and initiated the sequenced ejection of his RAN and himself. Two fully deployed parachutes were seen as both crewmen landed about 200 yards from the beach.
Search and rescue aircraft were immediately called in. The F-4 and another assist aircraft fired at enemy positions on the beach in an attempt to give the rescue helicopter a chance to pick up the survivors. The rescue helicopter was able to recover RAN Prendergast but was unable to locate Putnam. The crew of the F-4 escort aircraft stated that they noticed someone running and waving thier arms along a sandbar near the site where the men landed. Their reference was to a person who was larger in height than the Vietnamese soldiers in the area, but due to increased gun fire from the beach and no radio contact with Putnam, the search and rescue forces were pulled back.
It was the opinion of the squadron Commanding officer that CAPT Putnam ejected successfully from his aircraft and was subsequently captured. On 7 Novemebr 1977 Putnam’s casualty status was changed from captured to presumed Killed in Action/Body not Recovered by a Navy status review board. His remains were returned to US jurisdiction on 3 November 1988.
