Joseph Daniel Adrian

Preferred Name: Joe
Date of Birth: August 2, 1942
Highest Military Grade: 0-2 – First Lieutenant
Hometown: River Edge, NJ
Headed West Date: March 12, 1967

1LT Joseph D. Adrian was a U.S. Air Force pilot serving with the 308th Tactical Fighter Squadron/31st Tactical Fighter Wing/7th Air Force.

On March 12, 1967, during a night scramble mission in a flight of three F-100 aircraft, 1LT Adrian was attempting to join the lead in a right turn when he was observed to continue the turn and disappear out of sight. The incident occurred approximately six miles off the end of the runway at Tuy Hoa, offshore from Phu Yen Province, RVN. A helicopter search was initiated immediately in that area with the assistance of surface vessels, but no trace could be found of either the aircraft or Adrian. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]

According to Air Force records, evidence (unnamed) was received on March 26, 1967 which indicated that Lt. Adrian died at the time his aircraft went down, but as no remains were found, he is listed with honor among those missing in Southeast Asia. (1)

Joseph has a military marker in his memory at Arlington National Cemetery. DFC AM-4OLC PH and his name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

Sources: coffeltdatabase.org and POWNetwork.org