Name: Peter J. Stewart
Other Personnel In Incident: Martin R Scott(missing) Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 15 October 1990 from one or more of the following: raw data from U.S Government agency sources,correspondences with MIA/POW families, published sources, interviews REMARKS: POSS DEAD IR 1516032672 SYNOPSIS: On March 15, 1966 Capt. Martin R. Scott was the pilot of an F4C Phantom fighter/bomber assigned a mission over North Vietnam. His bombadier/navigator was veteran pilot LtCol. Peter J. Stewart. The flight departed Ubon Airfield, Thailand, in the late afternoon for the armed reconnaissance flight that would take them over the city of Dien Binh Phu North Vietnam. Scott and Stewart were number 2 in a two-plane flight. About one mile south of Dien Bien Phu airport, the flight leader spotted two trucks on the main highway and directed the number two crew to make a low bombing pass. Moments later, the leader observed what he described as a dense explosion resembling a napalm drop in the target area. Repeated attempts to raise the number 2 plane failed. Scott and Stewart were declared missing. Because the plane went down in a heavily populated area deep in enemy territory, an organized search for Scott and Stewart was not possible. There was no evidence of survival. In 1972, the Defense Department received a report from a refugee who states was shown the crash site and the graves of the two pilots. He stated that Stewart's plane was the only plane shot down in that area, but could not specify the date or year. The DOD added, "POSS DEAD IR1516032672" to Scott's record.This report was disproven in 1986 on the basis that Scott's plane was not the only shot down in that area (in fact there were several), but the data remark remained, and the Air Force cannot verify why the "only plane" statement was made. In 1985, a returned POW recalled that Peter Stewart's name was one of those passed around in POW camps before
Americans were released in 1973. In 1973 the Stewart family identified a photo of a prisoner of war as Peter Stewart.Whether Scott's name was ever mentioned as a possible POW is not known. Whether Scott and Stewart survived the crash of their plane on March 15,will not be known with certainty until either they themselves or their remains are returned. Although over 10,000 reports concerning Americans alive in Southeast Asia have been received by the U.S. Government, we have yet to discover the formula that would secure the freedom of these men. Martin Scott and Peter Stewart could be among them. Isn't it time we brought these men home? Peter J. Stewart and Martin J. Scott were both promoted to the rank of Colonel during the period they were maintained Missing In Action. "All Biographical and loss information on POWs provided by Operation Just Cause have been supplied by Chuck and Mary Schantag of POWNET. Please check with POWNET regularly for updates.
Rank/Branch: 05/US Air Force
Date of Birth: 12 August 1918
Home City of Record: Winter Haven FL
Date of Loss: 15 March 1966
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 212300N 1030000E (TJ928640)
Status in 1973: Missing In Action
Category: 2
Acft/Vehicle/Ground: F4C
