Lance LaGrange – K.I.A.
Preferred Name: Lance
Nickname/Call Sign:
Date of Birth: 1945 (July 2, 1968)
Highest Military Grade Held: 1st Lieutenant
Hometown: Maspeth, NY
Biography
Lance LaGrange was KIA while flying F-100 #563122 from the 31st TFW at Tuy HOA AB near Binh Dinh province in Vietnam during an LZ Prep mission.
Lance was raised in Maspeth, NY, and graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York with a BSEE Degree. He also graduated at the top of his USAF pilot training class 68A at Craig AFB.
His first operational assignment was flying F- 100s with the 306th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 31st Tactical Fighter Wing at Tuy Hoa AB, Vietnam. His combat tour began on June 6, 1968. He had been in Vietnam for less than a month when he was killed. Lance was the “sole surviving son” of a WWII fighter pilot who was also KIA.
Lance met his bride Charlene (Charley) from Utica, NY during college. In 1983, Charlene suffered a fatal stroke while flying from Charlotte to Albany, NY.
(source: Who Are Those Guys, by Thomas Mangen available on ebook at Amazon.com, and Dewey’s list)
| Casualty Date Jul 02, 1968 |
|
| Cause Hostile, Died |
Reason Air Loss, Crash – Land |
| Location Binh Dinh |
Conflict Vietnam War |
| Location of Interment Not Specified |
Wall/Plot Coordinates 54W 037, Cemetery Unknown |
From the Utica NY Observer, dated 1968:
Husband of Utican Dies In Vietnam Air Crash
“A Queens native and husband of a Utica woman was killed in a plane crash as he was returning from a mission in Vietnam. The Defense Department’s casualty list Includes the name of 1st Lt. Lance LaGrange, 23, husband of Charlene Carson LaGrange. Mrs. LaGrange has been living with her parents… since her husband left for Vietnam a month ago.
He has been in the Air Force for two years. When he was a student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, he participated in the ROTC program. He had been stationed In Clovis, New Mexico, before leaving for Vietnam. The couple has no children.”
Units Assigned
- 1967-1968 Pilot Training Craig AFB, AL
- 1968 F-100 Training, Cannon AFB, NM
- 6/6/1968 306th Tactical Fighter Squadron/31st Tactical Fighter Wing/7th Air Force, Tuy Hoa AB, Vietnam
Awards & Decorations
Purple Heart
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
Vietnam Gallantry Cross (with Palm)
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Vietnam Wall of Honor Location: P-54W / L-37
Flight Info
F-100
Military Education
Civilian Education
1962-1966 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
- Biography
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Biography
Lance LaGrange was KIA while flying F-100 #563122 from the 31st TFW at Tuy HOA AB near Binh Dinh province in Vietnam during an LZ Prep mission.
Lance was raised in Maspeth, NY, and graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York with a BSEE Degree. He also graduated at the top of his USAF pilot training class 68A at Craig AFB.
His first operational assignment was flying F- 100s with the 306th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 31st Tactical Fighter Wing at Tuy Hoa AB, Vietnam. His combat tour began on June 6, 1968. He had been in Vietnam for less than a month when he was killed. Lance was the “sole surviving son” of a WWII fighter pilot who was also KIA.
Lance met his bride Charlene (Charley) from Utica, NY during college. In 1983, Charlene suffered a fatal stroke while flying from Charlotte to Albany, NY.
(source: Who Are Those Guys, by Thomas Mangen available on ebook at Amazon.com, and Dewey’s list)
- K.I.A.
-
Casualty Date
Jul 02, 1968Cause
Hostile, DiedReason
Air Loss, Crash – LandLocation
Binh DinhConflict
Vietnam WarLocation of Interment
Not SpecifiedWall/Plot Coordinates
54W 037, Cemetery UnknownFrom the Utica NY Observer, dated 1968:
Husband of Utican Dies In Vietnam Air Crash
“A Queens native and husband of a Utica woman was killed in a plane crash as he was returning from a mission in Vietnam. The Defense Department’s casualty list Includes the name of 1st Lt. Lance LaGrange, 23, husband of Charlene Carson LaGrange. Mrs. LaGrange has been living with her parents… since her husband left for Vietnam a month ago.
He has been in the Air Force for two years. When he was a student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, he participated in the ROTC program. He had been stationed In Clovis, New Mexico, before leaving for Vietnam. The couple has no children.” - Units - Education - Awards - Flight Info
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Units Assigned
- 1967-1968 Pilot Training Craig AFB, AL
- 1968 F-100 Training, Cannon AFB, NM
- 6/6/1968 306th Tactical Fighter Squadron/31st Tactical Fighter Wing/7th Air Force, Tuy Hoa AB, Vietnam
Awards & Decorations
Purple Heart
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
Vietnam Gallantry Cross (with Palm)
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Vietnam Wall of Honor Location: P-54W / L-37Flight Info
F-100
Military Education
Civilian Education
1962-1966 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
- Photos
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