Sgt Dale Brandenburg was killed in action 5 February 1973, when the EC-47 aircraft tail number43-8636, call-sign BARON 52, on which he was serving as an Airborne Electronic Warfare Systems Specialist, was downed by enemy fire over southern Laos.

Sgt Brandenburg was born on 11 November 1948 in Charlotte, North Carolina and graduated from Central High School, Seat Pleasant, Maryland in 1966.

Sgt Brandenburg enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on 3 May 1971. He completed basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas and Electronic Warfare Repairman training at Keesler AFB, Mississippi. He was then assigned to the 509th Avionics Maintenance Squadron, Pease AFB, New Hampshire. On 7 July 1972, Sgt Brandenburg was reassigned to Det 2, 6994th Security Squadron, Danang AB, Vietnam. When Det 2 at Danang was deactivated, Sgt Brandenburg was assigned 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), and Air Medal (Posthumously).

Sgt Brandenburg is interred in a communal grave in section 34, site 4402, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia. His name is engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall on Panel 1W, line 114.