SGT Dale Brandenburg was killed in action 5 February 1973, when the EC-47 aircraft, callsign BARON 52, on which he was serving as an Airborne Electronic Warfare Systems Specialist, was downed by enemy fire over southern Laos. Baron 52 was the last EC-47 lost to enemy fire.
SGT Brandenburg was born on 11 November 1948 in Charlotte, NC and graduated from Central High School, Seat Pleasant, MD in 1966.
SGT Brandenburg enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on 3 May 1971. He completed basic training at Lackland AFB, TX and Electronic Warfare Repairman training at Keesler AFB, MS. He was then assigned to the 509th Avionics Maintenance Squadron, Pease AFB, NH. On 7 July 1972, SGT Brandenburg was reassigned to Det 3, 6994th Security Squadron, Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand.
SGT Brandenburg’s awards and decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously), Purple Heart (Posthumously), and Air Medal (Posthumously).
SGT Brandenburg is interred in a communal grave in section 34, site 4402, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA. His name is engraved on the Vietnam Veteran Memorial Wall on Panel 1W, line 114.
On 27 Oct 2014, one of the buildings on Goodfellow AFB, TX was renamed Brandenburg Hall in Dale’s honor. Dale was the last 6994th crewmember to have a facility dedicated in his honor.
