John Turner Glanville, Jr. was born on March 18, 1934. John graduated from Morristown High School in 1951. In high school, he was the captain of the football team. He was also on the track team. He loved the outdoors. He attended Maryville College in Tennessee for two years as a biology major. A friend from school, Bill Davis, remembers hitchhiking back and forth to and from college with John. While in college, he met his future wife. They were married and had three children, Jill, Jack and Jody.

John entered the US Navy from his hometown of Mendham, NJ. He attained the rank of Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) and served on the USS Hancock (CVA-19).

Glanville was reported missing in action on June 13, 1966 in the Ha Tinh Province of North Vietnam while on a reconnaissance mission.

Synopsis (from the POW Network) as to the circumstances behind being listed as MIA:
On June 13, 1966, LTCDR John Glanville, pilot; LTJG George Gierak, co-pilot; and Chief Petty Officer Bennie R. Lambton, photographic intelligenceman, launched from the aircraft carrier USS Hancock (CVA-19) in their RA3B Skywarrior aircraft on a night low-level photo reconnaissance mission in the Ha Tinh province of North Vietnam.

The flight was directed by Heavy Photographic Squadron 61, to which the crew was attached. During their mission, the aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire, and it was assumed they went down under heavy fire. No communication or distress signals were received. The escort aircraft observed a bright orange flash near the mouth of the Gia Hoi River and thereafter radio contact with the aircraft had been lost.

An extensive search was conducted in the immediate area, as well as over the adjacent waters by various aircraft, but results were negative.

On June 15, 1966, Radio Peking stated that a photoreconnaissance jet was shot down and the crew killed in the crash.

The crew escape system of this type aircraft does not provide ejection seats, and makes high speed bailout extremely difficult. Low-altitude bailout is virtually impossible. All information taken into consideration, the Commanding Officer of the squadron changed the crew’s initial classification from Missing in Action to Killed in Action/Body Not Recovered on June 17, 1966.

Sources: Jill Hanrahan (daughter), Jack Evans (friend), Bill Davis (friend), POW Network and NJVVMF.
12/17/2024