The Pentagon has identified remains of Maj. Robert G. Lapham, who was listed as missing in action from the Vietnam War. Lapham of Marshall, Mich., on Feb. 8, 1968, was flying the lead of two A-1 Skyraiders over Quang Tri Province and flew one pass to aid ground forces being overrun by enemy tanks and was on his second pass when his aircraft crashed. The other pilot did not see a parachute. During visits to the province in the 1990s, a team found aircraft wreckage. A subsequent team in 2003 found more wreckage and “pilot-related evidence,” including his ID tag. Teams made four other searches. Forensic scientists also used dental comparisons to make the identification.
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.
