RIP to all aboard - "...you good dog, you."
03 Jul 66;
CPT Edwin J McNamara, USASF
RT Nevada, Tm Leader (One-Zero) and
SSG Donald J Fawcett, USASF Team Radio Operator (One-Two) were KIA-RR,
MSG Ralph Joseph Reno, USASF Team Assistant Team Leader (One-One), Fayetteville, NC, MIA; and
Nine Vietnamese Soldiers (names and ranks unknown) were KIA. These 12 men were assigned to FOB #2, OPS 35, Kontum, MACVSOG) and a
CH-34 Vietnamese Helicopter crew consisting of the VN Pilot, (
Cpt Dau Uy Nguyen Van Hoagn aka "Mustachio") Co-pilot and Door Gunner (names and ranks unknown) were also KIA.
The aircraft was returning from Kham Duc [after a mission] to Kontum, FOB 2, (flying at 5,000 feet) when it hit a severe air turbulence resulting in the aircraft "falling apart" loss of the rear tail rotor (the tail , designed to pivot for storage on aircraft carriers, had come loose, swung around and chewed the helicopter to pieces in mid-air) causing the aircraft to rotate rapidly, falling in a tight spiral, impacting the ground nose first and throwing individuals and debris over a large area.
Remains of 2 Americans and 5 Vietnamese were recovered.
MSG Reno and 4 Vietnamese soldier's remains were not found after a 5 day aerial and ground search.
{Following filed by William "Billy" Waugh: On or about 02 Jul 66 SSG Donald Fawcett was en route to Kam Duc, SVN, with other Americans, aboard an H-34 rescue helicopter. Due to poor visibility and suspected ground fire, one of the H-34 helicopters clipped the blades of the chopper in which Fawcett, et.al., were pax. All aboard were killed by the crash, and I am not certain if their bodies were ever rescued or not.} Pp. 105-106,
SOG: A Photo History of the Secret Wars by John Plaster.
http://www.macvsog.cc/1966.htm
And so it goes...
Richard 