Vietnam War
| Unit | Reconnaissance Heavy Attack Squadron 13 |
|---|---|
| Rank | Captain U.S. Navy |
| Entered Service From | Key West Florida |
| Date of Death | March 9 1967 |
| Status | Recovered |
| Memorialized |
Courts of the Missing
Court
B
Honolulu Memorial |
Notes
Captain Putnam was a member of Reconnaissance Heavy Attack Squadron 13, Carrier Air Wing 11 aboard the Aircraft Carrier USS KITTY HAWK (CVA-63). On March 9, 1967, he was the pilot of a North American Vigilante Fighter (RA-5C) on an intelligence photo run along a section of the North Vietnamese coastline, when his aircraft burst on fire. He ejected and landed in shallow water, but was not able to be rescued. His remains were recovered on November 3, 1988 and identified on February 17, 1989. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.
