Dennis M. Ehrlich was born January 3, 1942, in Jamaica, NY. His home of record is Pompton Plains, NJ. He attended Rutgers University and graduated in 1963.
He enlisted in the US Navy Reserves, where he attained the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG). He was assigned to Fighter Squadron 114 on board the USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63).
Ehrlich was declared missing in action as of January 19, 1967.
There is a memorial at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ dedicated to the graduates who were killed or missing in action from the Vietnam War. Ehrlich’s name is listed among those killed in action.
Synopsis (from the POW Network) as to the circumstances behind being listed as MIA:
On January 19, 1967, he was assigned a mission as Radar Intercept Officer of an F-4B “Phantom” aircraft. Immediately following the afterburner catapult launch, the aircraft was observed to lose the engine and approximately 30 seconds later, one-mile forward of the ship, the aircraft stalled and collided with the water. No ejections were observed. The aircraft was destroyed on impact. No survivors were observed by rescue helicopters.
Sources: POW Network and NJVVMF.
12/17/2024