LAMPANG – The US Ambassador to Thailand traveled into the mountains of Lampang to encourage an archaeological team on Doi Kula, working to find possible remains and aircraft fragments from a US WWII fighter shot down during the “Lampang air battle” about 82 years ago.
On March 9, 2026, Mr. Jean K. O’Neill, the Ambassador of the United States to Thailand, arrived in Lampang with a delegation aboard a US military C-12 aircraft. Lampang Governor Wiwat Inthaiwong, along with local police and park officials, welcomed the group at the airport’s VIP lounge. Representatives from related agencies also joined the reception.
After the welcome, the group discussed the ongoing recovery mission tied to a US airman missing since 1944. The case involves 1st Lt. Henry Francis Minco, who flew a P-51 Mustang as part of an escort formation known as the Strafer group.
During operations over Lampang, a Royal Thai Air Force pilot, then Flight Officer Khamrop Plengkham, intercepted the aircraft in a Ki-27 fighter and shot it down. The crash site sits in the Doi Farang area.
Earlier efforts already produced key clues. In February 2024, search teams located pieces believed to be from the P-51 Mustang. They sent those parts, along with other recovered materials, to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) laboratory in Honolulu, Hawaii, for analysis.
However, DPAA later reported that the findings still did not confirm all facts. Because of that, the United States requested another field operation, which started again in January 2026.
Later that day, the delegation traveled to Ban Sai Tai, Moo 8, Phichai Subdistrict, Mueang Lampang District. From there, officials coordinated the route and led the group on foot into the forest and up Doi Kula. The hike to the search zone covered roughly 2.5 kilometers.
During the visit, the ambassador met the recovery team and offered support as they continued the work. The team cannot set a clear end date yet because the timeline depends on what evidence they find and whether it’s complete.
If the proof remains incomplete, they plan to keep searching and excavating until they can close the case.
The ambassador said the United States treats this mission as a serious commitment to families still waiting for answers. DPAA’s role, he explained, is to provide the most complete account possible for US personnel missing from past conflicts.
Today, more than 80,000 Americans remain unaccounted for worldwide. In addition, officials believe four cases may relate to Thailand.
This excavation marks the third operation at the same Lampang site within the past seven years, and it shows the continued effort to bring missing service members home.
Related News:
New US Ambassador Sean O’Neill and AMCHAM Thailand Fosters New Relations
US Consulate General in Chiang Mai Dispels Onsite Military Operations Rumors
