Introduction
Whether to medivac the wounded or transport troops from Point A
to Point B, U.S. helicopters played a significant role during the
official Korean
War "period of war" (6/27/1950-1/31/1955) and post-war
Korea. To add information to this page of the KWE, contact
Lynnita@thekwe.org.
Page Contents
- Types of Helicopters Used in Korea
- Army
- Bell H-13 Sioux
- Hiller H-23 Raven
- H-19 Chickasaw
- Marine Corps
- Air Force
- Korean War Firsts
- Army Narrative written by Dr. Kaylene Hughes
- Helicopter Crew Fatalities during the Korean War
- Post-Korean War Helicopter Crew Fatalities in Korea
- Post-Korean War Helicopter Crew Fatalities (out of theater)
Types of Helicopters Used in Korea - Army
- Bell H-13 Sioux
- Hiller H-23 Raven
- H-19C Chickasaw
- H-19D Chickasaw
Types of Helicopters Used in Korea - Marine Corps
Types of Helicopters Used in Korea - Air Force
- H-5 - These vintage World War II helicopters were used by
the 3rd Air Rescue Squadron in the early days, weeks and months
of the Korean War.
"In the early months of the Korean conflict, following the
invasion of South Korea in June 1950, a helicopter detachment of
the 3rd Air Rescue Squadron, USAF, had the mission of rescuing
United Nations pilots downed over water or behind enemy lines
using their WW II vintage H-5 helicopters. 3rd Air Rescue
received occasional requests from ground elements to air
evacuate casualties from difficult terrain, and when they had
time, they responded. By August 1950, they were answering
so many calls they found themselves formally in the medical
evacuation business." [Source: website Olive Drab]
Korean War Firsts
[The information for this section came from the Rotorheads
website.]
- July 25, 1950 - H-5H #49-2006 was the first helicopter lost
in Korea. 1st Lt.'s Kenneth G. Blurton and John R. Halpin flew
an H-5 to pick up a Navy pilot in Penseng area, which, unknown
to them, was enemy occupied. Pilots landed with insufficient
fuel to return. All 3 pilots escaped and evaded and were rescued
on 29 July 1950, leaving the H-5 behind, which was later
destroyed by Navy fighters.
- August 05, 1950 - An H-5 from Det. F, 3rd ARS operating from
Pusan, Korea, made the first recorded use of an H-5 for medical
evacuation transported U. S. Army soldier Pfc. Claude C. Crest,
Jr., from the Sendang-ni area to an Army hospital. "That
Others May Live, USAF Air Rescue in Korea" by Forrest L.
Marion
- September 04, 1950 - In the first H-5 helicopter rescue of a
downed US pilot from behind enemy lines in Korea, at Hanggan-dong,
Lt. Paul W. Van Boven (P) and Cpl. John Fuentes (M) saved F-51D
pilot Capt. Robert E. Wayne. Air Force Magazine & "That
Others May Live" by Forrest L. Marion
- October 10, 1950 - An H-5 from the 3rd ARS crewed by 1st Lt.
David C. McDanial (P) and Capt. John C. Shumate (Para-Doctor)
picked up a downed British pilot, Lt. Stan W. Leonard and
administered blood plasma, for the first time while a helicopter
was in flight. The crew members received Silver Stars for this
action. Air Force Magazine & "That Others May Live,
USAF Air Rescue in Korea" by Forrest L. Marion.
- October 21-22, 1950 - H-5's of the 3rd ARS and two L-5"s,
evacuated some 35 wounded paratroopers of the 187th Regimental
Combat Team from a drop zone near Sukchon North Korea in the
first use of a helicopter in support of an airborne operation.
H-5's also evacuated seven American POW's from the area. Air
Force Magazine & "That Others May Live, USAF Air Rescue
in Korea" by Forrest L. Marion.
- November 05, 1950 - An H-5 of the 3rd ARS, piloted by Lt.
Edward J. Kelly (TDY from the 2nd ARS), was attacked by two
MiG-15's, but was not hit. This is the first air to air attack
on a helicopter under combat conditions.
- November 28, 1950 - H-5H #49-2009 crashed into a mountain
about 25 miles north west of Pyongyang, Korea, in low
visibility, darkness and low on fuel, returning to base after
rescuing a F4U pilot from North Korea. Killed in the crash were
1st Lt. Robert B. Parker (P), Pfc. William G. Wilkerson (M) and
Ens. William G. Wagner USN F4U-5P pilot. This was the first loss
of USAF helicopter crew members in the Korean War. "That
Others May Live, USAF Air Rescue in Korea" by Forrest L.
Marion.
- March 24, 1951 - For the first time, Far East AF used a
YH-19, a experimental service test under combat conditions
helicopter, in Korea for the air evacuation of wounded troops.
The H-19 was considerably larger and more powerful, with greater
range, than the H-5's. The initial YH-19 personnel consisted of
pilots Maj. Samuel B. Brown and Capt. Joseph D. Cooper and Crew
Chief TSgt. Earl J. Paulsen and several mechanics. Air Force
Magazine & "That Others May Live, USAF Air Rescue in
Korea" by Forrest L. Marion.
- March 24-28, 1951 - For the first time, Far East Air Forces
(FEAF) used an YH-19, a service test helicopter, in Korea for
the air evacuation of wounded troops. Following Operation
Tomahawk, the second airborne assult of the war, 3rd ARS
Detachment YH-19 and H-5 helicopters evacuated 270 injured and
wounded paratroopers of the 187th RCT from the Munsan-ni area
twenty miles north of Seoul. Pilots and medics flew constantly
during daylight, and maintenance crews worked around the clock
in support of evacuations that often were conducted under heavy
mortar artillery and small arms fire. "That Others May Live,
USAF Air Rescue in Korea" by Forrest L. Marion.
- March 30-31, 1951 - A YH-19 was used on a "classified'
mission to bring some 18 UN personnel, most likely involved the
recovery of Korean guerrillas, from North Korea. This was the
first use of this type helicopter in a special operations
mission. "That Others May Live, USAF Air Rescue in Korea" by
Forrest L. Marion & "The USAF in Korea A Chronology 1950-1953"
by A. Timothy Warnock.
- September 13, 1951 - H-5G #48-555 crewed by 1st Lt. Eugene
C. Kohfield (P) and Pfc. Lawrence A. Reid (M) was hit by enemy
ground fire while attempting a rescue of a AT-6D Mosquito crew
and crashed from about 200 feet as it was attempting to land
back at its base, instantly killing Kohfield and Reid. This was
the first loss of USAF helicopter crew members as a direct
result of enemy fire. "That Others May Live, USAF Air Rescue
in Korea" by Forrest L. Marion.
- October 26, 1951 - Two H-5's of the 3rd ARS, one piloted by
Col. John Dean, (Call sign "Pedro 02), who rescued Lt. Charles
DuPont ("Pedro 09") by hoist and the other piloted by Capt. Bob
Barnhill, (Call sign "Pedro 01"), who rescued 1st Lt. Vernon
Wright ("Hammer") and Cpl. Gerald Fryer ("Pedro 09") by hoist,
safety from the mountainside where they had hidden from
Communist troops during the night. This was the first successful
rescue of a downed rescue chopper crew in the Korean War. After
the successful rescue the downed H-5 #48-556 was destroyed by
the flight of South African Air Force F-51 fighters, call sign
"Grenadier Love 01, 02, 03 & 04", that had been providing close
air support coverage during this mission. Air Force Magazine
& "Tails of a Helicopter Pilot" by Richard Kirkland.
- December 27-31, 1952 - In its first recorded operations the
581st Air Resupply and Communication Wing (ARCW) flew off Cho-do
and put these folks in well above Chinnampo on the mud flats.
The flight of four H-19A helicopters, at Seoul, flew several
experimental agent-insertion sorties into enemy territory for
covert and clandestine intelligence activities including the
insertion of South Korean agents behind enemy lines. Air
Force Magazine & "The U.S. Air Force's First War: Korea
1950-1953 Significant Events" by A. Timothy Warnock
Army Narrative
Army Helicopters in Korea, 1950 to '53
written by Dr. Kaylene Hughes
WASHINGTON -- Despite acquisition difficulties caused by an
inter-service rivalry with the U.S. Air Force and the technological
immaturity of the U.S. helicopter industrial sector, Army Aviation's
helicopters made significant life-saving contributions during the
Korean War.
The Army helicopters initially deployed to Korea were the Bell H-13
Sioux and the Hiller H-23 Raven, the first in a long line of Army
helicopters named for Native American tribes. The service had
acquired the Sioux in 1946, but had just 56 in its inventory when
North Korea invaded the south in June 1950.
The 2nd Helicopter Detachment arrived in theater in November 1950
with four Sioux aircraft. Among the early missions assigned to the
unit were utility, wire laying, liaison, and reconnaissance
missions.
In January 1951, four helicopter detachments were assigned to the
8th U.S. Army surgeon, and on the third day of that month, 1st Lt.
Willis G. Shawn and 1st Lt. Joseph L. Bowler flew the first Army
aerial medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) missions.
Dubbed the "Angel of Mercy" by Soldiers on the battlefront, the
aviators used the H-13 to transport 18,000 of the war's total 23,000
casualties to forward deployed mobile Army surgical hospitals.
As the iconic symbol of the MEDEVAC mission during the Korean War,
the H-13 Sioux helicopter became familiar to American television
audiences years later when it was shown in the background title shot
of the "M.A.S.H" series, which aired from 1972 to 1983.
Also supporting the MEDEVAC mission were a small number of Hiller
H-23 Raven helicopters that arrived in theater in February 1951. In
November 1952, the Army organized its first purely medical aviation
unit: the 49th Medical Detachment (Air Ambulance).
Because of the hazards to which the primitive aircraft were
subjected, particularly their vulnerability to enemy fire while on
the ground, the 8th U.S. Army surgeon set limits on the use of
helicopters, including restricting aerial MEDEVAC to only the most
serious cases.
But pilots often ignored constraints like pickups only at MASH units
or evacuations only during daylight hours in order to reach wounded
Soldiers at night in isolated locations.
In addition, although the aviators had no formal training in
casualty care, they became adept at improvising ways to move the
wounded more safely and in greater comfort within the two exterior
pods with which the Sioux and Raven helicopters were equipped.
The success of the MEDEVAC techniques pioneered by Army helicopter
pilots was most dramatically revealed in the reduction in the death
rate of evacuated patients before they reached medical facilities
from 4.5 percent during World War II to 2.5 percent during the
Korean War.
In addition to shortening the time it took for seriously wounded
troops to reach treatment, the use of aerial MEDEVAC in Korea eased
the extra stress placed on the remaining ground troops who had to
carry and care for the sick and wounded not airlifted off the
battlefield.
The accomplishments of the original Army helicopter pilots were
first recognized in 1952 by the inception of the Solopilot Society,
which honored the aviators who performed all the duties--pilot,
medic and crew chief--of their individual aerial ambulances.
The second momentous development in the Army's use of helicopters in
Korea occurred in July 1952, when the 6th Transportation Company
(Helicopter) received the H-19 Chickasaw, the service's first true
cargo and troop transport helicopter.
Capable of traveling faster and farther than the H-13 Sioux, the
aircraft also held more cargo, could MEDEVAC four to six litters
with one onboard nurse, or transport eight fully-equipped Soldiers.
The unit began training on the aircraft at Fort Bragg, North
Carolina.
Although the Army deployed its Chickasaws late in the Korean
conflict compared to the U.S. Marine Corps' (USMC's) aircraft, the
6th Transportation Company began operations in theater in January
1953 and received its first mission in March of that year.
As part of Operation Terry Blue, the unit resupplied elements of the
3rd Infantry Division, which had been cut off from their supply
chain by flood waters, airlifting almost 34,000 pounds of critically
needed fuel, ammunition and food.
During Operation Sky Hook in May 1953, the 6th Transportation
Company (Helicopter) joined the 13th Transportation Company to form
the 1st Transportation Army Aviation Battalion (Provisional) to
support the 25th Infantry Division by delivering essential food,
water and other needed supplies.
Army rotary-wing cargo units teamed with USMC H-19 Chickasaws in
June 1953 as part of the largest helicopter operation of the war
with 45 aircraft transporting 800 Republic of Korea troops.
Previously, in April 1953, the two services teamed up for Operation
Little Switch, evacuating nearly 700 sick and wounded Allied
prisoners of war.
In August 1953, the 6th Transportation Company (Helicopter)
partnered again with the 13th Transportation detachment for
Operation Big Switch, making more than 1,100 flights in a 33-day
period to transfer 5,600 released American and Allied POWs from the
exchange point at Panmunjom to freedom and safety in the south.
Not long after the ceasefire on July 27, 1953, Army helicopter
pilots participated in Operation Broadway, helping to carry more
than 5,000 Indian troops from aircraft carriers at Inchon to their
new post in the re-established demilitarized zone, where they would
monitor the ceasefire agreement.
Despite the aircraft's late arrival in theater, the Army's H-19
helicopters and pilots accomplished much by performing the service's
first air assault missions in combat as well as assisting with
MEDEVAC and critical resupply efforts.
Army aviation rotary-wing units overcame the serious obstacles
caused by Korea's harsh terrain and weather, as well as enemy
firepower, inadequate spare parts and lack of trained personnel.
Between January and July 1953, the 6th Transportation Company
(Helicopter) flew over 4,000 hours, lifted 5 million pounds of
supplies, transported 500 troops, and evacuated 1,400 sick and
wounded Soldiers, with only one aircraft lost due to engine failure.
By bypassing the often severe limitations of land transportation,
Army helicopter pilots demonstrated the enormous benefits of cargo
lift and troop-carrying aviation, thereby influencing the
formulation of the Army's emerging air mobility doctrine.
By 1955, according to an article published in the Redstone Rocket,
organic aviation had become the fourth element of the Army's
then-modern combat arms:
"Just as fixed-winged aircraft earned its place in the Army unit
during World War II, helicopters earned their "wings" in Korea ...
"Why the emphasis on aircraft? On the battlefield of the future,
operations will be dispersed, the combat zone will be deeper and
operations will be much more fluid than past commanders could have
visualized. In the battle zone, air transportation -- in quick
response to the will of the commander -- will have the capacity to
transport reserves and supplies to critical points ...
"However the aircraft are deployed -- wire-laying, bridge
emplacement, supply or resupply, medical evacuation, smoke laying,
reconnaissance, troop movement, courier, armor column control --
they take with them two American military traditions: To get there 'fustest
with the mostest' and to 'hit 'em where they ain't.'
"They are the essence of the mobility upon which the Army of the
future must rely for victory."
Helicopter Crew Fatalities during the Korean War (in & out of
theater)
1950
-
Parker, Robert B. - On November 28, 1950, H-5H
#49-2009, crashed in Korea.
1951
July 03, 1951
Koelsch, Lt. John Kelvin (Navy) (POW) - His helicopter rescue unit was on a rescue mission to retrieve
downed USMC pilot James V. Wilkins when the helicopter he was
piloting was hit by enemy fire and crashed into the side of a
mountain in Korea. Petty Officer 3C George Neal was also a
volunteer for this mission, which took place on July 03, 1951.
The three men survived the crash but were taken captive and held
as prisoners of war. Neal and Wilkins were eventually
repatriated, but Lieutenant Koelsch died in captivity in October
1951 of dysentery and malnutrition. As the result of his
actions in the rescue mission and immediately thereafter,
Lieutenant Koelsch was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
September 13, 1951
- Kohfield, Eugene C. - His H-5G, #48-555 crashed in
Korea on this date.
1952
June 25, 1952
- Lear, Leslie W. - His H-5H, #4;9-200 crashed in Korea
on this date.
August 19, 1952
H-19A #51-3876 crashed and burned after its rear propeller tore
loose in flight. The instructor and a student were killed.
The accident took place near San Marco, Texas.
- Armstrong, 1Lt. Verne - He was a student on temporary
duty at San Marcos Air Force Base.
- King, Capt. Ralph H. - Instructor pilot on this
flight, he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. William E. King of
Baltimore, Maryland. He left a wife and five children.
November 13, 1952
- McCue, CDR Joseph F. (Coast Guard) -
McCue was commander of Bell HTL-1, 2460, a Coast Guard
helicopter, on November 13, 1952. En route to a practice
landing site in Beverly, Massachusetts, the helicopter developed
engine and control problems and crashed out of control in a
residential area. Commander McCue and his crewman, AD1
Henry J. White, were killed.
- White, AD1 Henry J. (Coast Guard) -
AD1 White was a crewman on Bell HTL-1, 2460, a Coast Guard
helicopter, on November 13, 1952. En route to a practice
landing site in Beverly, Massachusetts, the helicopter developed
engine and control problems and crashed out of control in a
residential area. White and the aircraft commander were
killed.
1953
July 30, 1953
- Eddy, A2C Donald - On this date a blade of the
central rotor came off in flight and struck the rear balancing
rotor, causing H-19A #51-3896 to crash near O'Neill, Nebraska.
There were six persons onboard the 6,200 pound copter that was
being used in connection with an Air Force study of upper air
turbulence. All were killed.
- Gasque, Lt. Francis L. (co-pilot) - He was from
Conway, South Carolina.
- Ide, Robert - He was the crew chief.
- Johnson, Capt. Charles A. (pilot) - He was from San
Gabriel, California.
- Loeser, Dr. Guenter - Age 40, he was a leading German
meteorological scientist.
- Mapes, A2C Francis "Jerry"
November 17, 1953
- Burkes, Capt. Edward E. - On this date YH-21 #50-1240
(a late-type Arctic rescue helicopter) crashed onto Thule
airfield in Greenland after it had trouble with one rotor.
The crew of four was killed.
- Danner, TSgt. Clay H. - He was 36 years old and was
from Valle Crucis, North Carolina.
- Gottfried, Capt. Raymond C. - He was from Brooklyn,
New York
- Moore, SSgt. Philip E.
Post-Korean War Helicopter Crew Fatalities in Korea
1968
November 27, 1968
A helicopter of the 6th Aviation Platoon was lost in the Sea of
Japan while it was en route back to its base in Kangnung, Korea,
under heavy cloud cover. Search and Rescue did not find the
missing helicopter and the search was called off on December 4.
Five crew members were lost at sea.
- Griggs, 1Lt. Richard J. (pilot)
- Holz, Pvt. Gary A.
- Ingram, CW2 Julius H. (pilot)
- Miller, SP4 Terence D.
- Smith, LTC William L.
1969
March 16, 1969
On this date a firefight broke out on the DMZ that resulted in
wounds and death. One US soldier was killed, two American
soldiers were seriously wounded, one South Korean soldier was
seriously wounded, and a fourth American soldier was slightly
wounded. A helicopter from the 121st Evacuation Hospital was
called in to rescue the wounded. Killed in the firefight was
Pfc. Calvin Lee Lindsey of Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 23rd
Infantry, 2nd Infantry Division. He was the son of Mr. and
Mrs. Albert J. Lindsey of Bronx, New York. Killed in the
medivac helicopter were the following:
- Kern, SP4 Peter M. - A medivac helicopter carrying
soldiers wounded in a clash with North Korean troops crashed
shortly after takeoff along the western sector of the DMZ at
2145 hours approximately three miles southwest of Panmunjom.
LCpl. Kern, from Company B, was one of the fatalities who died March 16,
1969. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. George W. Kern
of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Kim, Cpl. J.B. (ROK) - A medivac helicopter carrying
soldiers wounded in a clash with North Korean troops crashed
shortly after takeoff along the western sector of the DMZ at
2145 hours approximately three miles southwest of Panmunjom.
Corporal Kim was one of the fatalities who died March 16, 1969.
A member of Company B, he was with the South Korean army.
- McKinney, SSgt. George T. - A medivac helicopter
carrying soldiers wounded in a clash with North Korean troops
crashed shortly after takeoff along the western sector of the
DMZ at 2145 hours approximately three miles southwest of
Panmunjom. SSgt. McKinney was one of the fatalities
who died March 16, 1969. His parents were from Chesapeake,
Virginia.
- Park, Capt. Benjamin S. Jr. - A medivac helicopter
carrying soldiers wounded in a clash with North Korean troops
crashed shortly after takeoff along the western sector of the
DMZ at 2145 hours approximately three miles southwest of
Panmunjom. Captain Park was one of the fatalities who died March
16, 1969. He was a doctor from the 121st Evacuation
Hospital. His wife was Sue Ellen Park of Pottstown,
Pennsylvania.
- Rothwell, Maj. James C. - A medivac helicopter
carrying soldiers wounded in a clash with North Korean troops
crashed shortly after takeoff along the western sector of the
DMZ at 2145 hours approximately three miles southwest of
Panmunjom. Major Rothwell was one of the fatalities who died
March 16, 1969. He was the pilot. He was survived by
his wife, Capt. Frances L. Rothwell, a nurse with the Army Nurse
Corps at the 121st Evacuation Hospital in Korea, and two
daughters, Cecelia R. and Marian T. Rothwell of Texarkana,
Texas.
- Stoller, SP4 Edwin L. - A medivac helicopter carrying
soldiers wounded in a clash with North Korean troops crashed
shortly after takeoff along the western sector of the DMZ at
2145 hours approximately three miles southwest of Panmunjom.
SP4
Stoller was one of the fatalities who died March 16, 1969.
- Zanchi, SP5 Carroll C. - A medivac helicopter
carrying soldiers wounded in a clash with North Korean troops
crashed shortly after takeoff along the western sector of the
DMZ at 2145 hours approximately three miles southwest of
Panmunjom. SP5 Zanchi was one of the fatalities who died
March 16, 1969. Crew chief of 377 Medical Company, his
widow was Patricia Ann Zanchi of Fairdale, Kentucky.
1970
January 06/1970
Members of the 7th Aviation Battalion, 7th Infantry Division,
were involved in the crash of UH-1D #66-16623 on this date.
The helicopter went out of control on approach to Rodriguez Range
during a night-time extraction of troops. Rodriguez Range was
located near Tongdu-chon, South Korea, north of Camp Casey.
One soldier was killed and three others were injured.
- King, SP4 Stanley Todd - Stanley was born December 6,
1948 in Indiana, a son of Deloice Todd King (1913-1992) and
Joyce C. Caldwell King (1914-1990). He was the husband of
Phyllis King and was the brother of an infant boy who preceded
him in death in 1951. Stanley is buried in the IOOF
Cemetery, Bourbon, Indiana, near his parents.
1971
January 13, 1971
This UH-1D helicopter was in a ten-ship formation on the Kimpo
Peninsula supporting a search for a suspected North Korean agent,
when the Number One hanger bearing seized and the short T/R drive
shaft came apart in flight. The helicopter started a right
descending turn when the T/B separated, followed by mast bumping
with the rotor separating, crashed and burned upon impact. The
partial separation of the exhaust pipe from the rear of the engine
case allowed the hot exhaust gasses to impinge upon the #1 T/R
driveshaft hanger bearing. The bearing failed due to lack of
lubrication. Killed were:
- Alvarez, Pfc. David L. (C)
- Schroeder, SP$ Kurt J. (CE)
- Sutera, 1Lt Nicki L. (pilot)
- Uyenoyama, Capt. Dennis H. (pilot)
1973
April 07, 1973
UH-1D #66-0787 crashed into the Han River near Camp Page at
approximately 1430 hours during a routine mission. Two were
killed and three were injured. Among the injured were the
pilot, his wife, and one soldier. The injured were taken to
the 121st Hospital. The pilot, who was from the 55th Aviation
Company, was ultimately evacuated to Cutler Army Hospital, Fort
Devens, Massachusetts. The author of Red Bird Down, Carlson
was later medically retired and became an ordained minister.
- Carlson, Sven Eric - He was the 18-month-old so Bruce
E. Carlson, the pilot. Sven was born September 26, 1971
and is buried in Edgewood Cemetery, Crystal City, Texas.
- Whittle, Pfc. Michael E. - Michael was born September
22, 1950 in Los Angeles County, California and is buried in
Goleta Cemetery, Goleta, California.
October 22, 1973
- Koecher, SSgt. Robert P. - On this date an Air Force
HH-3E crashed into a mountain near Osan, Korea, during a routine
night training sortie. The entire crew of four, all decorated
Vietnam War veterans, were killed.
- Mudd, Lt. Col. Joseph F. (pilot) - Lt. Colonel Mudd
was born January 30, 1932 in Detroit, Michigan, a son of Dr. and
Richard Mudd of Saginaw, Michigan. He attended St. Mary
High School in Saginaw, Michigan, Central Military Academy in
San Antonio, Texas, Northwestern Preparatory, Minneapolis,
Minnesota, and the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland.
Prior to his assignment as a member of Detachment 13, 41st ARRW,
he had been stationed in North Carolina, Mississippi, Texas,
Ohio, Michigan, Arkansas, California, and Vietnam. He was
the recipient of two Distinguished Flying Crosses and seven Air
Medals. He was survived by his wife Rosemary Mudd;
daughters Lisa and Laurie; sons Joseph, Timothy, Thomas,
Stephen, Samuel and Michael; his parents; sisters Mary Hale,
Johanna Vargas, Rose Nichodemas, and Stella Crow; and brothers
Richard and Thomas Mudd.
- Sorentino, SSgt. Jerry (FE)
- Thorson, 2Lt. Larry (co-pilot)
1975
March 05, 1975
On March 05, 1975, UH-1H #70-16337 (55th Aviation) was
participating in a training exercise performing a simulated air
attack. The copter struck wires, pitched up, and crashed
inverted into a tributary of the Han River near Chuncheon.
Five members of the crew were killed and the co-pilot (WO1 Michael
K. Van Doren, 24, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry K. Van Doren of Sanford,
Maine, was injured. The fatalities included:
- Johansson, SP4 Bengt E. - Bengt, age 20, was the son
of Mr. and Mrs. Dace I. Johansson of Cuyoga Falls, Ohio.
- Johnson, SP6 Joseph H. - Age 29, he was survived by
his wife Mary of Brantley, Alabama.
- McGrew, SP4 Daniel V. - He was the son of Barbara D.
Day of Wichita, Kansas, and Garth D. McGrew of San Antonio,
Texas.
- Sain, CW2 Marry N. (pilot) - Age 24, he was survived
by his wife Olivia Sain of Charlotte, North Carolina.
- Wancura, SP5 Everett W. - Age 25, his father was
Frank Wancura of Mesa, Arizona.
1976
July 19, 1976
This A/2 AVN UH-H1 (#70-15709) was lead in a formation flight of
5 UH-1's which had completed three troop insertions and were
returning to base when it struck three 3/4" seven-strand power lines
at approximately 175' AGL, severing control tubes and crashed near
Pocheon at approximately 1301 hours. Other aircraft were able to
avoid wires. The crew of three was killed.
- Benoit, CW2 Clarence L. (co-pilot)
- Craven, Capt. Patrick F. (pilot)
- Jones, SP4 John V. (CE)
1977
March 2, 1977 - 4 killed
July 14, 1977 -
Three U.S. servicemen were killed and one survived in a
helicopter shoot-down over communist territory on this date.
The unarmed CH-47 Chinock helicopter accidentally crossed the DMZ
and was heading north when it was shot down. The pilot had
never flown in the DMZ area before. This mission was to pick
up a supply of concrete and a South Korean navigator who knew the
terrain. Two men were killed in the crash and a third was
killed by gun fire. CWO Glen M. Schwanke, 23, of Spring Green,
Wisconsin, the co-pilot, survived and was taken prisoner for several
hours before being released to US authorities. The men were
part of the 213th Aviation Company based at Camp Humphreys.
The fatalities were:
- Haynes, Sgt. Robert C.
- Miles, CWO Joseph A. - He was the son of Mr. and Mrs.
John A. Miles of Washington, Indiana.
- Wells, Sgt. Ron - Age 22, he was the son of Marvin
Wells of El Paso, Texas. He was on his second tour of duty
when he was killed in the shoot-down. He was married and
had two children, Laurie Ann, age 3, and Ronnie, age 2.
July 14, 1977 - 3 soldiers killed
On this date three soldiers were killed and one was injured when
Army UH-1 helicopter (#74-22348)crashed near Taegu at 10:25 p.m..
The helicopter from the 377 Med was taking part in the rescue of men
who were injured in a Marine helicopter crash that took place at
8:15 p.m. that same night. Seven Marines and one seaman on a
routine training mission ere injured in the Marine crash.
There were heavy rains, low ceilings and limited visibility that
night.
- Lashley, Capt. William A. (pilot)
- Miles, CW2 James H. (pilot)
- Robinson, SSgt. Horace P. (c)
1984
March 24, 1984
A CH-53D Sea Stallion crashed near Pohang, Korea, on this date.
"The bodies of all 29 U.S. and South Korean marines killed in a
helicopter crash have been recovered from the mountain where they
died during a joint military exercise, officials said yesterday. In
Washington, the Pentagon identified the 18 U.S. Marines who
perished. Fourteen of the Americans were from Company L of the 3rd
Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment at the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps
base near Oceanside and had been on a six-month assignment to South
Korea, according to a base spokesman. Marine spokesmen at Camp
Pendleton and in Washington yesterday said they could not say which
of the victims on the Pentagon's list were from Camp Pendleton.
Eleven South Koreans were killed. A U.S. military official in Seoul
confirmed there were no survivors of the crash. The remains were
transported to Seoul to an army mortuary at Yongsan, the large U.S.
base in the South Korean capital pending return to the United
States. The search for the bodies in a mountainous coastal area
about 200 miles southeast of Seoul had gone on since the U.S. Marine
Corps CH-53D chopper smashed into a mountainside early Saturday
morning. The helicopter was one of six taking part in a night
training exercise. The military said the weather was above minimum
standards when the helicopters took off but that rain and high winds
developed and the mission was scrubbed. The helicopter was heading
back to the base at the southeast coastal port town of Pohang when
it plowed into the mountainside. The training was part of a combined
program called Team Spirit '84 involving about 60,000 U.S. and
147,500 South Korean military personnel, which began Feb. 1 and will
be completed in April. Team Spirit maneuvers have been held annually
for the past nine years." [Source: usnamemorialhall.org]
The Pentagon identified the victims by name and home town:
- Acquiston, Cpl. Jeffrey, San Dimas
- Andrews, Pfc. John M. III, Watchung, New Jersey
- Burley, Capt. Steven Burley, Magnolia, New Jersey -
"At the time of the accident he was pilot-in-command of a CH-53D
Sea Stallion, which was participating in a night training
exercise in support of Team Spirit '84. Memorial services were
conducted at MCAS Futenma, Okinawa, and MCAS (H) Tustin,
California. Funeral services were held at St. Gregory's Catholic
Church in Magnolia, New Jersey, with interment nearby at Beverly
National Cemetery. After attending the Marine Military Academy
in Harlingen, Texas, he was appointed to the Naval Academy Class
of 1977 from the State of New Jersey. Upon graduation he was
commissioned a 2nd Lt. in the Marine Corps and reported to The
Basic School at Quantico, Virginia. Following his designation as
a Naval Aviator on 2 November 1979, he was ordered to MAG-16,
3rd MAW, onboard MCAS (H) Tustin. At the time of his death, he
was deployed to Okinawa with HMH-361. He was a life member of
the Naval Academy Alumni Association. He is survived by his
widow Jude; his son, Stephen Joseph, Jr.; his parents; and two
brothers." [Source: usnamemorialhall.org]
- Crosby, Sgt. Kenneth B., Houston
- Djelko, Gunnery Sgt. Richard L., Danbury, Connecticut
- Dugas, Pvt. Anthony F., Opelousas, Louisiana
- Ferrell, Pfc. Edwin C., Clover, Virginia
- Higgins, Sgt. David C., Somerset, Pennsylvania
- Huston, Capt. John H., Gahanna, Ohio
- Kelly, Cpl. Tim V., Fresno
- Liddle, Staff Sgt. John, Independence, Missouri
- McComas, Cpl. Bradley, Camden, Ohio
- Mugoodwin, Sgt. Kevin J., Gary, Indiana
- Osceola, Lance Cpl. Herman L., Culewiston, Florida
- Rooney, Pfc. James T., West Point, Iowa
- Rosales, Lance Cpl. Fernando Jr., Brentwood, New York
- Soles, Pfc. William A., Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Zinck, Lance Cpl. Daniel B., Framingham,
Massachusetts
1986
December 20, 1986
On this date two UH-60 helicopters collided during a
training missions four miles south of Camp Humphreys. The
trail helicopter drifted into the lead helicopter, causing both
aircraft to collide. Injured in the collision were Lyle C.
Monroe Jr., age 31, platoon leader; Capt. Clement E. Greek, 30; and
crew chief Sgt. Mark W. West, age 27.
-
Carlson, CW4 Leslie Ronald (pilot) - Age
37, he was from Dumfries, Virginia. He was a son of Leslie
R. "Les" Carlson and Lois Bohannon Carlson (1927-2004) and
brother of Allan C. Carlson and Susan Carlson Willet.
-
Fitzgerald, WO1 Victor L. (pilot) - Age
25, he was from Colorado Springs, Colorado.
-
Wingate, Pfc. Jeffrey A. (CE) - Jeffrey
was born on February 27, 1964 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, the
youngest child of Walter Preston Winget and Cherryl Anna
Northweather Winget. He is survived by his mother Cherryl Winget
Gist; father Walter Preston Winget; brother Walter Tracy Winget;
sister Sherilyn Fay Winget Hoeltzel; a half-brother Jacob Justin
Winget; maternal grandfather William Fay Northweather; maternal
grandmother Bernice Lee Busbee; paternal grandmother Elvalee
Winget; uncles Kelly Northweather, James Winget and Randy Eilers;
aunts, Carolyn Northweather Hefner, Brenda Northweather Gaddy,
Kathy Northweather Depriest, Sandra Northweather and Jayne
Winget Hines; and a special nephew Todd Jeffrey Hoeltzel. He was
preceded in death by his grandfather Preston Winget. Since
Jeff's death, but prior to this writing, his half brother Jacob
Winget, father Walter Preston Winget, maternal grandparents
William Fay Northweather (11/15/1987) and Bernice Lee
Northweather Busbee (6/11/1995) are now deceased. Jeff's
paternal grandmother Elvalee Winget died (2/7/2009). Jeff grew
up in the Oklahoma City area and was a 1983 graduate of Western
Heights High School in Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma. Jeff joined the U.S. Army in January of 1986.
After completing basic training and schooling with the Army he
was stationed at Camp Humphreys, (Assault Helicopter Training
Camp) South Korea. He was the crew chief of a UH60 Blackhawk
Assault Helicopter. During a night goggle maneuver and a
formation change, his chopper collided with another Blackhawk.
The instructor pilot, the student pilot and the crew chief
(Jeff) were killed. Jeff was dearly loved by all and is missed
by all who knew him.
1989
March 17, 1989 - 4 Marines killed
- Beason Capt. Lawrence L. Jr. - One of four Marines
killed in a CH-46 helicopter crash on March 17, 1989. The
helicopter crashed into a rice paddy near Toksok-Ri, South Korea
while taking part in the annual "Team Spirit" exercises.
Captain Beason was born January 3, 1961, in Dallas. In 1979 he
graduated from Jesuit College Preparatory School in Dallas. From
1979 to 1981 he attended Spring Hill College in Mobile, Ala.,
where he helped found the Spring Hill Oceanographic Research
Society. He graduated from Texas A&M University at Galveston in
1983 with a bachelor of science degree in marine biology. He was
commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps in
October 1983 and attended Marine Corps Basic School in Quantico,
Va. He attended the U.S. Naval Flight Training Program in
Pensacola, Fla., received his wings in May 1986 and was promoted
to captain in the fall of 1988. Capt. Beason was attached to
HMM-161 at the Marine Corps Air Station in Tustin, Calif., and
served in the Persian Gulf with a helicopter squadron on the USS
Okinawa. He was serving with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit
when he was killed. Capt. Beason is survived by his parents,
Lawrence and Madeleine A. Beason of Mineola, Wood County; five
sisters, Cheryl Edney of Sachse, Cindy Bertrand of Evanston,
Ill., Cathy Reineking of Dallas, Cissy Williams of San Saba, San
Saba County, and Mary Beason of Mineola; grandparents Lawrence
and Annie Beason of Malvern, Ark.; and eight nephews and nieces.
- Edwards, LCol. Jon D. - Born July 10, 1969, he was
one of four Marines killed in a CH-46 helicopter crash on March
17, 1989. The helicopter crashed into a rice paddy near
Toksok-Ri, South Korea while taking part in the annual "Team
Spirit" exercises.
- O'Connor, 1Lt. Christopher M. - Born September 30,
1932, he was one of four Marines killed in a CH-46 helicopter
crash on March 17, 1989. The helicopter crashed into a
rice paddy near Toksok-Ri, South Korea while taking part in the
annual "Team Spirit" exercises.
- Vinet, Cpl. Michael W. - Born January 14, 1967, he
was one of four Marines killed in a CH-46 helicopter crash on
March 17, 1989. The helicopter crashed into a rice paddy
near Toksok-Ri, South Korea while taking part in the annual
"Team Spirit" exercises.
March 17, 1989 - 18 US Marines, 1 Navy Corpsman & 11 ROK
Marines perished
- Alfonso, Cpl. John A. - 24-year-old rifleman from Aztec, New
Mexico. One of 18 Marines killed in CH-52D
Sea Stallion helicopter crash, Korea, 1989 (Camp
Pendleton)
- Anglin, LCpl. Richard R. - 22-year-old rifleman from Redlands,
California. One of 18 Marines killed in
CH-52D Sea Stallion helicopter crash, Korea, 1989 (Camp
Pendleton)
- Bell, 2Lt. Darren M. - 23-year-old infantry officer from Tampa,
Florida. One of 20 Marines killed in CH-52D
Sea Stallion helicopter crash, Korea, 1989 (Camp
Pendleton)
- Castro, Pfc. Saul D. Jr. - 18-year-old from Lamont, California.
One of 18 Marines killed in CH-52D Sea Stallion
helicopter crash, Korea, 1989 (Camp Pendleton)
- Decker, Pfc. Kurt R. - 21-year-old rifleman from Toledo, Ohio.
One of 18 Marines killed in CH-52D Sea Stallion
helicopter crash, Korea, 1989 (Camp Pendleton)
- Depew, LCpl. Michael "Pepe" A. -
20-year-old rifleman from Red Lion,
Pennsylvania. One of 18 Marines killed in
CH-52D Sea Stallion helicopter crash, Korea, 1989 (Camp
Pendleton)
- Fejeran, HN Jimmie L. - Navy corpsman.
Onboard with the 18 Marines killed in CH-52D Sea Stallion
helicopter crash, Korea, 1989
- Hernandez, LCpl. Andrew A. - 19-year-old machine gunner from
Arnold, Michigan. One of 18 Marines killed
in CH-52D Sea Stallion helicopter crash, Korea, 1989
(Camp Pendleton)
- Johnson, LCpl. Ronald A. - 21-year-old machine gunner from Simi
Valley, California. One of 18 Marines killed
in CH-52D Sea Stallion helicopter crash, Korea, 1989
(Camp Pendleton)
- Longstaff, LCpl. Anthony P. - 25-year-old machine gunner from
Waldo, Wisconsin. One of 18 Marines killed
in CH-52D Sea Stallion helicopter crash, Korea, March 17, 1989
(Camp Pendleton)
- McCluskey, Cpl. Brian K. - 22-year-old rifleman from Brazil,
Indiana. One of 18 Marines killed in CH-52D
Sea Stallion helicopter crash, Korea, March 17, 1989 (Camp
Pendleton)
- McDaniel, LCpl. Wilbur S. - 19-year-old rifleman from Carthage,
Texas. One of 18 Marines killed in CH-52D
Sea Stallion helicopter crash, Korea, March 17, 1989
(Camp Pendleton)
- McGreevy, Capt. Michael - 27-year-old pilot from Monmouth, New
Jersey. One of 18 Marines killed in CH-52D
Sea Stallion helicopter crash, Korea, March 17, 1989
- Pimple, 1Lt. David M. - 25-year-old co-pilot from Cochise, Arizona.
One of 18 Marines killed in CH-52D Sea Stallion
helicopter crash, Korea, 1989
- Ratcliff, LCpl. Carl B. - 21-year-old machine gunner from
Bluefield, West Virginia. One of 18 Marines
killed in CH-52D Sea Stallion helicopter crash, Korea, 1989
(Camp Pendleton)
- Silha, Cpl. Keith N. - 22-year-old machine gunner from Onalaska,
Wisconsin. One of 18 Marines killed in
CH-52D Sea Stallion helicopter crash, Korea, 1989 (Camp
Pendleton)
- Verdugo, SSgt. Jorge - 27-year-old platoon sergeant from Nogales,
Arizona. One of 18 Marines killed in CH-52D Sea
Stallion helicopter crash, Korea, 1989 (Camp Pendleton)
- Wooten, 1Lt. Kevin M. - 27-year-old infantry officer from Bowie,
Maryland. One of 18 Marines killed in CH-52D Sea
Stallion helicopter crash, Korea, 1989. (Camp Pendleton)
- Zinser, Sgt. James D. - 30-year-old machine gunner from Portland,
Oregon. One of 18 Marines killed in CH-52D Sea
Stallion helicopter crash, Korea, 1989 (Camp Pendleton)
The injured included helicopter crewmen Cpl. David W. Garlick,
22, of Connellsville, Pa. and Sgt. Timothy D. Sabel, 23, of Ripon,
Wis. Among the Camp Pendleton Marines injured were Lance Cpl. Rand
C. Albert, 22, of Munhall, Pa.; Pvt. Todd A. Bernhardt, 18, of
Evansville, Ind.; Pfc. Franklin E. Bray Jr., 18, of Lompoc, Calif.;
Pfc. Lavinski R. Brown, 19, of Los Angeles; Lance Cpl. Ismael S.
Gomez, 23, of Santa Ana; Lance Cpl. George S. Hagee, 20, of St.
Louis; Pfc. Thomas T. Hannah, 19, of Knobnoster, Mo.; Lance Cpl.
David L. Jenkins, 21, of Vista; Lance Cpl. Daniel E. Moody Jr., 21,
of Grimesland, N.C.; Lance Cpl. Sam A. Pesuti, 22, of Phoenix; Cpl.
Michael E. Scott, 20, of Garfield, Ark.; Lance Cpl. Arthur J.
Stilwell, 22, of Granada Hills, Calif., and Lance Cpl. Thomas W.
Woods, 23, of Southboro, Mass. [Source: LA Times, March 22,
1989, Eric Bailey, staff writer]
July 6, 1989
On this date a UH-60 helicopter (#83023866) struck high power
lines eight miles east of Seoul on a training mission. The
helicopter rolled over and exploded during a landing attempt on
rolling terrain. One person was killed and two others were
injured.
- Haney, Jerry Leonard - This 41-year-old soldier was
an instructor pilot with B Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Aviation
Regiment. He was born January 19, 1948, the son of the
late Leonard Leon Haney and Mrs. Marie Carroll Haney Hardwick.
He was a native of Athens, Tennessee, and a graduate of Embry
Riddle Aeronautical University in Clarksville. He was a
member of Queen City Lodge 761 F&AM and the Hillcrest Baptist
Church. He was the husband of Carolyn Webb Haney and the
father of daughters Caroline and Jacqueline. His sisters
wre Janice Torbett, Judy Albritton, Jane Haney, and JoAnna
Hardwick. His stepmother was Minnie Ree Haney. Jerry
is buried in McMinn Memory Gardens, Athens, Tennessee.
1991
November 13, 1991
- Taylor, CW2 Robert D. - Robert died in a miidair
collision between two AH-1 Cobra helicopters during an NVG
training mission on November 13, 1991.
- Zimmerman, Lt. Roy C. - Roy died in a midair
collision between two AH-1 Cobra helicopters during an NVG
training mission on November 13, 1991.
1995
October 23, 1975
One person received a fatal head wound while a UH-60 from D/2/2
Aviation was being moved out of a hangar in Korea.
- Dorociak, SSgt. Leonard A.
1998
June 30, 1998
On this date a UH-60L #97-26756 Blackhawk crashed near the peak
of a mountain near Kapyong, South Korea. Three crew members
died.
- Flecker, 1Lt. Norman T.S. (pilot) - Norman Thomas
Sigmund Flecker was born March 27, 1974. He was a 1996
graduate of the University of Virginia. He is buried in
Arlington National Cemetery.
- Mason, CW2 Riley W. Jr. (pilot) - Riley was born
January 5, 1971. He served in the Marine Corps as an
infantryman, and then in the US Army as an aviator and Russian
linguist. He is buried in Covert Cemetery, Covert,
Michigan.
- Shears, SPC Ryan J. (CE) -
1999
February 04, 1999
On this date UH-60A #83-23926 crashed in the Twin Bridges
training area 20 miles north of Seoul, Korea. The crew and
passengers were observing a 2nd Division training exercise.
The aircraft was based at K-16 Seongham Army Air Base in South
Korea. Two crew members were killed and the CE and two
passengers were injured.
- Brown, CW2 Robert Lawrence - Brown was born April 16,
1963 at Rapid City, South Dakota. He enlisted in the Army
on May 31, 1985. He is buried in Gayville Cemetery,
Gayville, South Dakota.
- Hopkins, CW2 David L. (pilot) - David was born in
1969. His home of record was Porter County, Indiana.
He was serving with the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Aviation when he was
killed in the crash. He enlisted in the Army May 12, 1988
and served in Desert Storm with 1-1Cav, 1st AD. He was an
Aero Scout Observer.
2002
August 23, 2002
On this date AH-64 (#91-0121) from B/1/6 Cavalry, crashed into a
hillside about 13 miles south of Camp Page at Chuncheon. The
weather played a role in the crash. Fatalities in the crash
were:
- Shannon, 1Lt. Dustin Garner - The son of Gary Shannon
and Sandy Walker, Dustin was born October 06, 1978 in San Diego,
California. He was the brother of Ethan Shannon.
Dustin is buried in Riverside Cemetery, Vassar, Michigan. The
following tribute to Dustin was found on the internet at
nebula.wsimg.com.
"On Saturday, August 24, 2002 the United States lost one of the
finest young leaders of its
next generation. Dustin G. Shannon, 1st Lieutenant of the United
States Army was killed
in the line of duty as his aircraft crashed in the mountainous
terrain of South Korea. His
ultimate sacrifice for the love and honor of his country will be
remembered forever by
everyone fortunate enough to have known him. Dustin was a 1996
graduate of Vassar
High School and a 2000 graduate from the United States Military
Academy at West
Point, New York. He completed flight school at Fort Rucker,
Alabama, certified to fly the
Apache attack helicopter. To say he lived life to the fullest
would be a mockery; he lived
life with a vengeance. Dustin lived by a code of honor that was
second nature to himself,
but often insurmountable to others. He lived by the sacred
fundamentals of The Long
Gray Line in Duty, Honor, Country; to never lie, cheat or steal,
values that have gone
unchanged in 200 years. He served his country with the strongest
sense of Army values
prioritizing his life in My mission, My men, My self. This
selfless persona caused those
around him not only to love him, but to rally to his cause. He
in every way embodied the
type of person we all strive to be, but all too frequently fall
short on in our attempts.
Dustin was many things to many people, a loving brother, son and
friend. To others he
was a dedicated superior or subordinate. In all of these people
he was able to light a spark
that allowed them to burn brighter than what they could have
before. To list his survivors
would be impossible. He touched people around the world, and to
single out any one
person would be an injustice to the rest. There is not a person
in this group who would
not have most willingly laid out their life for Dustin, as he
did so for them with his. In a
lifetime of moments, he defined each instead of letting such
moments define him. In his
own words, it is far better to burn out than to fade away. For
those of you who wish to
say goodbye to Dustin, you may wish to call on his friends and
family at Martin Funeral
Home-Clark Chapel, top of the hill in Vassar on Friday, August
30, from 6-9 p.m. and
Saturday, August 31, from 1-6 p.m. Visitation will also occur on
Sunday, September 1 at
the Vassar High School auditorium, 220 Athletic Street, from 12
noon until 2 p.m. with
services to follow at that location. Reverend John Becker will
officiate with full military
burial rites to follow at the Riverside Cemetery of Vassar,
under the auspices of the
United States Army. Dustin was born on October 6, 1978 in San
Diego, California and
moved to Michigan with his mother Sandy Walker and his father
Gary and brother Ethan
Shannon. He attended Vassar Public Schools until graduating in
1996 whereon he chose
to pursue a career in the military as an officer by entering the
United States Military
Academy. Graduating from West Point in 2000, he went on to
complete flight school.
Along the way he was the winner of numerous awards and
recognition, but none were
more important to him than the respect of his peers. Countless
friends and family will
continue to cherish his memory, including his fore-mentioned
brother and loving parents.
He will be dearly missed by all, and never forgotten. Friends
and family wishing to
honor Dustin's memory should consider a monetary donation to the
Dustin G. Shannon
Memorial Scholarship Fund in place of other forms of expression
of their grief. It is the
hope of his family it will allow others of his up bringing to be
afforded the same
opportunities for excellence that he so desperately fought for
each day of his life."
- Wallenburg, CW3 James Joseph - Wallenburg was born
December 22, 1961 on a Marine Corps base in Iwakuny, Japan.
The son of James and Hamako Wallenburg, he grew up in Montville
Township, New Jersey. He attended Montville Township High
School where he was district wrestling champion and outstanding
wrestler in District 9. After high school he joined the
Army and became a computer programmer. He then became a
CWO helicopter pilot. He earned a Bachelor of Science
degree at the University of Central Texas. He served in
the Army 20 years. During that time he was on four tours
of duty in Korea, and served in Germany, Kuwait, Egypt, Bosnia,
and various bases in the United States. He was survived by
his wife Kilam Wallenburg, daughter Janice, age 7 (born at West
Point), his parents, and a brother Joseph J. Wallenburg.
James is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
2005
February 26, 2005
A US AH-64D Longbow Apache attack helicopter
crashed into a hill near a military base in Paju, north of Seoul
during a routine training exercise. The crew of two died.
Pilot error was cited as the cause of the accident.
- Cowan, CWO Aaron - 37-year-old native of Silver City,
New Mexico
- Diaz, Capt. Dion - 28-year-old from Placentia,
California. He was the son of Darko Burmaz.
2015
November 23, 2015
- McCormack, CWO4 Jason - An AH-64 Apache
crashed in city of Wonju after hitting a high voltage line on
November 23, 2015. Two soldiers from the 2nd Battalion,
2nd Aviation Regiment, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 2nd Infantry
Division were killed. Jason was one of the two.
- Smith, CWO3 Brandon Smith - An AH-64 Apache crashed
in city of Wonju after hitting a high voltage line on November
23, 2015. Two soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 2nd
Aviation Regiment, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 2nd Infantry
Division were killed. Brandon was one of the two.
Post-Korean War Helicopter Crew Fatalities in the US Military
(out-of-theater)
1954
January 20, 1954
- Chauvin, AD3 Robert A. (Coast Guard) -
Robert was a member of a crew that was practicing auto rotations
from an altitude of 1,500 feet on January 20, 1954. Upon
reaching 500 feet, the Sikorsky HO4S-3G [HH]19G] appeared to go
out of control. Upon partial recovery at 100 feet, the
main rotor departed the aircraft, followed by the tail rotor,
tail boom and drive assembly. The helicopter plunged into
the water near Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles, Washington.
Four men were killed.
- Day, Lt. John W. (Coast Guard) -
John was a member of a crew that was practicing auto rotations
from an altitude of 1,500 feet on January 20, 1954. Upon
reaching 500 feet, the Sikorsky HO4S-3G [HH]19G] appeared to go
out of control. Upon partial recovery at 100 feet, the
main rotor departed the aircraft, followed by the tail rotor,
tail boom and drive assembly. The helicopter plunged into
the water near Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles, Washington.
Four men were killed.
- Goodman, AD3 William G. (Coast Guard) -
William was a member of a crew that was practicing auto
rotations from an altitude of 1,500 feet on January 20, 1954.
Upon reaching 500 feet, the Sikorsky HO4S-3G [HH]19G] appeared
to go out of control. Upon partial recovery at 100 feet,
the main rotor departed the aircraft, followed by the tail
rotor, tail boom and drive assembly. The helicopter
plunged into the water near Coast Guard Air Station Port
Angeles, Washington. Four men were killed.
- Littleford, AD3 Dale R. (Coast Guard) -
Dale was a member of a crew that was practicing auto rotations
from an altitude of 1,500 feet on January 20, 1954. Upon
reaching 500 feet, the Sikorsky HO4S-3G [HH]19G] appeared to go
out of control. Upon partial recovery at 100 feet, the
main rotor departed the aircraft, followed by the tail rotor,
tail boom and drive assembly. The helicopter plunged into
the water near Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles, Washington.
Four men were killed.
- Palombini, AD3 William J. (Coast Guard) -
William was a member of a crew that was practicing auto
rotations from an altitude of 1,500 feet on January 20, 1954.
Upon reaching 500 feet, the Sikorsky HO4S-3G [HH]19G] appeared
to go out of control. Upon partial recovery at 100 feet,
the main rotor departed the aircraft, followed by the tail
rotor, tail boom and drive assembly. The helicopter
plunged into the water near Coast Guard Air Station Port
Angeles. Four men were killed.
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