Gigolo Main

Call Sign: “GIGOLO”

January 17, 1967, RTAFB, Udorn, Thailand, an RF-4C Phantom, call sign "Gigolo", roared into the sky, target, 18 miles SW of Hanoi, mission, Photo Reconnaissance. This aircraft carried two souls with it, my father Gary Wright, and Fred Wozniak. Little could these dedicated Air Force pilots know that within a few hours they would become known as two of more than 2,000 MIAs of Vietnam.

Today, Udorn shows little evidence of the activity there during the Vietnam War. The only monument there to the many thousands of Americans stationed there are a few old buildings and the runways used by American aircraft overgrown with weeds.

What happened that day in 1967 over North Vietnam may never be known. What is known is that these men never returned, and to this day the families of both men still wait for answers, 42+ years later!

NARRATIVE: CASE 0570-0-01,02

On the afternoon of 17 January, 1967 , a RF-4C jet aircraft, serial # 65-0888, disappeared while on a photo reconnaissance mission over North Vietnam. The intended target for this photo mission was in the vicinity of coordinates WJ 589 073, HOA Binh Province. No radio contact was ever established with the crew members, Col. Gary G. Wright or Maj. Frederick J. Wozniak, both US Air Force. Arial searches failed to find any trace of the missing aircraft or the crew.

At the time of departure from Udorn RTAFB, the aircraft was loaded with a three hour fuel supply, flying under normal conditions. Aircraft was also unarmed, unescorted, with no fighter cover and no ECM equipment on board. At the time fuel would have been exhausted, no radio contact had been made and they had not recovered at another installation or returned to Udorn RTAFB. Electronic search was conducted. No visual sightings and no other contact was made by beeper or radio. Aircraft and pilots were equipped with normal life saving equipment..

Additional Information Pertaining To This Case:

* Conflict regarding radio contact. Files shown to next of kin state "no radio contact after departure"...but unofficial information received by next of kin indicates radio transmissions were received.
* Conflict regarding time of departure and time listed as Missing. Official sources state listed as Missing after fuel would have been exhausted. However, missing persons supplementary report shows time listed as Missing only 55 minutes following takeoff.
* Conflict regarding search for crew. It was stated on different official documents that due to the complete lack of knowledge as to where the aircraft might have gone down, no true search was able to be conducted. Other pilots from the squadron advised next of kin that the aircraft could have gone down in Laos.
* FBIS Reports: Foreign Broadcast Information Service monitored a broadcast in english, on Peking Radio stating that three US aircraft had been downed that day over Hanoi, however, no names were given.
* Reported Captured by OSDPA. A 15 February 1967 edition of the Chicago Tribune (Vietnam War Casualties Section). Then on 21 February 1967, letters written to next of kin of both men that included an apology of the now stated "Erroneous DOD Press Release" and the correction that followed, stated that it was an administration error and neither man was captured. Several years later, in 1974, OSDPA copies report being investigated
* Wife of Gary Wright, in 1969, identified a photo of a captured pilot as being her husband. Officials now claim said photo is a USAF pilot who returned in 1973, yet they refuse to identify him claiming privacy reasons!

Is This The Final Resting Place Of Call Sign: "GIGOLO"?

This is a copy of a picture in the Central Army Museum, Hanoi and is dated 17-1-1967, clearly showing the wreckage to be of an RF-4C. This is the type aircraft my father was flying and the date he was listed as MIA. Can this photo and one other answer any questions ?

We may never know! I have asked several questions about them, and to date, not one single question has been responded to. I have been told after several attempts for answers, that my questions I have asked have been answered!!! In a recent excavation believed to be my dads crash site, eyewitnesses made several statements, but not one witness was shown these photos and asked if this was what they saw!!!

A Matter Of The Highest National Priority? BULLS**T!!!

Art Print Provided By My Friend Peter Van Stigt

Thanksgiving With Dad by Gary G. Wright Jr 11/87

Another Thanksgiving And I Come To Face Your Name Again

So Much Today Will Rush My Mind

To Try To Understand, I Really Do Try

And When I Leave You Today, Again I Will Cry

You Were My Guide Of Right And Wrong

When You Went Missing I Was Told To Be Strong

I Looked Up To You, So Proud Of My Dad

Until We Lose Do We Know What We Had

I Remember Our Time As Father And Son

I Feel That Our Time Was Just Not Enough

The Cropdusters We Watched From The Side Of A Hill

Remember Going Fishing, I Could Never Be Still

That Night At The Airport A Soft Rain Fell

So Many Things I Could To No One Tell

You Left Us Then, Though You Did Not Have To Go

The Answers To My Questions I May Never Know

Every Night Brush Your Teeth And Say Your Prayers

Get Tucked In, A Kiss, And The Stubble Of Your Beard

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep

I Pray My Fathers Memory To Keep

Thanks For Your Time Dad, I Miss You So Very Much

Again Your Chiseled Name I Was Able To Touch

Abandoned By The Principles You Swore To Defend

Why Is The Price Always Good Men?

Until I Come Back I'll Hold Your Memory Again

For Your Homecoming I Can Only Wonder When

Together With You I Will Be In My Dreams

Where I Deal With The Nightmares And Awakening Screams.

What Would You Do If Someone Took Your Family Name, Used Your Father & You To Make Money Off Of Unsuspecting People By Presenting Themselves As Experts, Who Even After Knowing They Made A Mistake Refused To Make It Right, Correct The Record And Apologize?

If You Have Been Shown Time And Again That You Were Wrong, Yet You Do Nothing To Correct It…..

Does That Not Make You A LIAR??

Do You Think Something Like That Could Happen? Well, It Has Happened To My Family & To Make The Matter Even More Bitter, The People Responsible, We Believe, Have Been Responsible For Email Virus Bombs Being Sent To Us As Well As Quite Nasty Comments Left On A Guest Book For Our Father Directed Towards Vulgar Suggestions About Our Mother & Our Father.

These People Are Nasty & Vile & Will Resort To Any Means To Maintain That They Are Telling The Truth When In Fact They LIED!

This In Itself Would Have To Lead One To Question Anything They Say And Their “Expert Credentials”!!