Maj. Luis Guillermin and
Lt. Colonel Robert Pietsch were flying an A26A aircraft over Laos when their plane was downed in Savannakhet Province, Laos. Their last known location was about 10 miles east of the city of Ban Muong Sen.
The A26A was re-designated as the B-26 following World War II and then given its original classification as an attack plane. After some
redesigning for counterinsurgency warfare and changes in armament, the craft was
re-christened
as the A-26A. The aircraft could remain on station for a long time, patiently searching
out and attacking an enemy concealed by jungle in night or bad weather.
The fates of Guillermin and Pietsch are unknown. There are among nearly 600 Americans who disappeared in America’s "secret war" in Laos who never returned. There is ample reason to believe that the Vietnamese and/or the Communist Lao know what happened to Guillermin and Pietsch on April 30, 1968.
There have been over 5000 reports given to the U.S. Government relating to Americans held captive in Southeast Asia. The U.S. has, thus far, been unable to find the formula to bring them home. One of them could be Louis
Guillermin.
Incidental Information
