Name: Albin Earl Lucki
Rank/Branch: O3/US Air Force
Unit:
Date of Birth: 27 February 1944
Home City of Record: Salt Lake City UT
Date of Loss: 23 April 1970
Country of Loss: Laos
Loss Coordinates: 170900N 1060500E (XD122982)
Status (in 1973): Missing In Action
Category: 2
Acft/Vehicle/Ground: F4D
Other Personnel In Incident:
Robert A. Gomez (missing)
Source:
Compiled by Homecoming II Project (919/527-8079) 15 March 1991 from one
or more of the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources,
correspondence with POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews. Copyright
1991 Homecoming II Project.
REMARKS:
SYNOPSIS:
By the spring of 1970, the North Vietnamese had established
substantial missile and AAA sites as well as logistic facilities near Barthelemy
pass, Ban Karai pass and in a sector north of the DMZ. The passes were of
special concern, as U.S. fighters headed into Vietnam from Thailand were
frequently routed through them. Efforts were continually being made to clear
these areas, as well as the infamous Ho Chi Minh Trail, used extensively as a
supply route by the North Vietnamese.
On April 23, 1Lt. Robert A. Gomez was the pilot and and Capt. Albin E. Lucki the bombardier/navigator of an F4D Phantom fighter/bomber sent on a mission which took them near the Ban Karai pass. During the mission, the aircraft was shot down and both men were declared missing in action. They joined what eventually became nearly 600 Americans lost in Laos.
In 1973, when American prisoners were released, the families of those men lost in Laos were shocked to find that not one man had been released from Laos, although they had been told negotiations had included them. Many knew their man had survived, some had evidence of captivity.
There has been no negotiated release of prisoners from Laos since the war ended. The nearly 600 Americans are still there, and tragically, reports continue to be received that some are still alive as captives. Gomez and Lucki could be among them. It's long past time we brought our men home.
During the period he was maintained missing, Robert A. Gomez was promoted to the rank of Captain. Albin E. Lucki graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1965.
