The person at the center of this case
William Herman Rener
Missing Person · Open
59 years waiting · since 1966
Missing Person: William Herman Rener
Justice for William Herman Rener — the trail went cold in 1966, but the truth hasn't.
Start here
Key leads to think about
⏰
timeline
Lead #1What were the specific circumstances under which Rener was granted leave, and did he communicate any plans for those three weeks?
👁️
witness
Lead #2Were there any family members, friends, or fellow servicemen who last saw Rener or received communication from him after December 26, 1966?
📍
location
Lead #3Did Rener have family or known associates in Hampton or elsewhere he might have visited during his leave?
William Herman Rener, a 35-year-old Air Force serviceman, disappeared on December 26, 1966, after being granted three weeks of military leave from Hampton, Virginia—a leave he never returned from. Nearly 60 years later, the circumstances of his disappearance remain unknown, with no confirmed sightings or leads establishing what happened during those critical early days. The Air Force Office of Special Investigations continues to seek information from anyone who may have encountered Rener or have knowledge of his whereabouts.
Try asking
Claim this imported case
A one-time $10 claim transfers this imported case workspace to your account. You get 10 uploads for this case, 25 daily AI questions for this case, and public tips with files route to you.
10 uploads25 AI questions/day
This does not start a subscription. When the included limits are reached, the Personal plan unlocks more workspace capacity.
More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
💡
clue
Lead #4Why did Rener fail to return from leave—was there a personal crisis, accident, or other event that prevented his return to duty?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
NamUs case MP38175. Missing person: William Herman Rener.
Last known contact: 1966-12-26 in Hampton, Hampton, VA. Circumstances: On December 26, 1966, William was granted 3 weeks of leave from the military but never returned from leave.
Demographics: 35 years, Male, White / Caucasian. Physical description: 5 ft 7 in, 147 lbs, hair: Brown, eyes: Gray.
Investigating agency: Air Force Office of Special Investigations | 33298151621616.
Timeline of Events
👁️
1966-12-26
Military Leave Granted
William Herman Rener was granted three weeks of leave from the military on December 26, 1966, in Hampton, Virginia, but never returned from leave.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:December 26, 1966
Last Updated:June 25, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 8772461453
You can remain anonymous
Leave a comment
Comments
Case Information
Incident:December 26, 1966
Last Updated:June 25, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 8772461453
You can remain anonymous