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OH-13 Vietnam War Losses }->

1965-1968

29 OCT 71

CPT Joseph M. Tworcek [P]
WOC Azor T. Osburn Jr

Alabama

TH-13T
#67-17067
Mid-air with a UH-1 #69-15187 3 miles N of Hanchey AHP during either a practice instrument approach or transitioning through heliport area at Ft. Rucker.

01 APR 71

CWO Donald R. Vomacka [P]

California

997 MED (AZ ARNG)
OH-13
A/C crashed on the highway median approx 3 miles W of Desert Center, CA on a routine training flight from Van Nuys to Phoenix. Vomacka died on 26APR71 of injuries sustained in the accident.

26 MAR 70

CPT Gills Turner [P]

Texas

507 MED

A/C crashed on the outskirts of San Antonio, east of IH35 and Judson Rd. enroute to Ft. Hood from Ft. Sam Houston in flight of 4.

18 FEB 69

WOC Robert T. Anton [P]

Texas

OH-13G

Mid-air crash with TH-55A near the Holiday Inn in Mineral Wells during training at Ft. Wolters.

23 JAN 69

CPT Neal M.G. Turner [P]

Germany

3 BDE HQ

A/C crashed in a wooded area just north of the Baumholder training range after departing Coleman Barracks in heavy fog.

20 NOV 68

CWO Thomas W. Eaton II [IP]
WOC James M. Kidney

Georgia

TH-13T
A/C accident at Ft. Stewart.

19 NOV 68

CPT Charles B. Appler [IP]
2LT Stephen E. Roush

Alabama

TH-13T

Mid-air crash 12 miles NE of Ozark during an instrument training flight from Ft. Rucker.

CW2 Jessie M. Patton [IP]
1LT Robert C. Blackshear [P]

26 SEP 67

CPT Elbert R. Kethley [P]
COL Thomas F. Flynn

Germany

35 ARTY GRP
A/C crashed in a wooded area 15 miles NE of Erlangen while on a flight from Bamberg during Exercise Large Play.

25 AUG 67

CWO Cornelius J. Doris [P]

Pennsylvania

28 ID (PN ARNG)

A/C crashed on a farm in Shrewsbury at approx 1615 hours while enroute to New Cumberland Army Depot from Camp A.P. Hill.

18 JUL 67

Eugene S. Bailey [IP]
WOC Charles R. Ammons Jr

Alabama

TH-13T

Mid-air collision at Ft. Rucker while on a training mission. IP's were employed with Ross Aviation.

Wayne Tolan [IP]
WOC Martin D. Dietrich

19 JUN 67

2LT Peter J. Arnolt [P]

Alabama

TH-13T
A/C crashed during training mission at Ft. Rucker.

18 MAY 67

CWO Robert E. Dixon [IP]
WOC Lawrence G. Westbury

Alabama

TH-13T

Mid-air collision over a beacon during advanced instrument training at Ft. Rucker.

CWO Thomas K. Gibbs [IP]
WOC James R. Yates

18 APR 65

CPT Marcellus H. Jagoe III [IP]
CPT student pilot killed

Georgia

A/C clipped a power line and crashed into a river during a routine training flight from Ft. Benning with a student pilot. Pilot was flying below minimums authorized.

01 JUN 64

CWO James E. Sivils [P]

Oklahoma

356 TC (USAR)

A/C struck a power line and crashed in flames into a car on US 270 while on a routine training flight from Seminole Airport to Shawnee.

15 APR 64

CPT William G. London [P]

Germany

12 SIG

A/C crashed and burned while on a routine flight between Karlsruhe and Stuttgart, 8 mi W of Leonberg.

01 APR 64

CPT James J. Kelley [P]

California

A/C crashed in a dry lake bed 10 miles S of Baker near Soda Lake during a desert training exercise. A/C was flying from Ft. Irwin to to Needles.

09 MAR 63

CPT James D. Allen III [OB]
P injured

Germany

3 AVN
A/C crashed and burned at field CP near Schweinfurt on snow. Right skid sank into the snow and A/C rolled on right side causing M/R blades to strike the ground and caught on fire.

26 JUN 62

CPT John F. Hamel [P]

Massachusetts

HHC 2-5 ID (Mech)

A/C crashed at Ft. Devens during a demonstration before 1000 ROTC cadets. The A/C was demonstrating its manueverability and turned over at about 300' in the air, plummeted to the ground and caught fire. Cause was loss of non-saftied bolt attaching cyclic fore/aft push-pull tube to fore/aft cyclic control level.

04 JUN 62

1LT George C. Haas [P]
SP4 Richard G. Elkins [CE]

Texas

502 AVN

A/C struck a power line at approx 1000 hours, crashed and burned on Hwy 190 near Copperas Cove while on a routine training flight flying approx 20' AGL.

12 JAN 62

CPT Charles G. Gibson [P]

Ohio

37 AVN (OH ARNG)

A/C appeared to tip over on its side while flying at about 600-1000', exploded and fell upside down crashing a few yards from a barn just west of Dublin.

30 OCT 61

SP5 Gerald Stephenson [CE]
P injured

Georgia

A/C crashed in a wooded area about 3 mi SW of Sylvester while taking part in a flight of 18 helicopters from Ft. Rucker to Ft. Stewart.

20 NOV 60

CWO Edward E. Schnell [P]

Germany

A/C crashed flying from Munich to Stuttgart.

01 JUL 60

CWO William C. Lanier Jr [IP]
2LT Herbert A. Cohen [P]

Maryland

93 TC

A/C crashed while hovering over a Ft. Devens runway in preparation for a training flight.

09 OCT 59

1LT George D. Cobb [P]

Germany

503 AVN

A/C crashed after clipping the top of a grove of trees during a training flight at Grafenwoehr. Loss of control is believed to be a result of flying with feet off the pedals after achieving trans lift.

13 AUG 59

WO Lester G. Bunderick [P]

New York

52 AA BDE (Air Defense)

A/C crashed into the roof of a set of goverment quarters on approach to the airfield on Governor Island from loss of a bolt in the fore and aft swashplate controls causing loss of control.

11 JUL 59

LT John P. Pierce [P]
1 injured

Massachusetts

MA ARNG

A/C crashed after experiencing engine problems moments after takeoff from Martin's Pond on a night training mission.

09 DEC 58

MG Bogardus S. Cairns [P]

Alabama

A/C crashed minutes after take off in dense woods NW of Ft. Rucker HQ, while enroute to Matteson Range to observe a firepower rehearsal in preparation for a full-scale armed helicopter display. A/C was taking off from field site when it hit a wire extended between two tents causing pilot to lose control and fly into trees.

16 SEP 58

1LT David M. Duchesneau [P]
LT Hans-Helmut Keller (WGAF)

Germany

503 AVN
#51-13946
A/C fell from approx 500' and crashed into a field near Biedenkopf while taking part in army maneuvers. German LT was an F-84 pilot from FBW 31 at Noervenich serving as FAC during manuevers.

31 JAN 58

1LT Neely E. Kayser [P]
COL Anthony F. Kleitz

Germany

4 AD

A/C crashed after hitting overhead railway cables while flying in heavy fog near Ulm. COL Kleitz was the chief of staff of the U.S. 4th Armored Division.

25 SEP 57

LT Olaf C. Anderson Jr [P]

Alabama

A/C crashed and burned in a wooded area near Newton. Anderson was a student pilot.

30 AUG 57

COL Terrance C. Fitzgerald
P injured

Korea

I CORPS

A/C crashed near the 121 Evac Hospital helipad near ASCOM City while enroute to Suwon during a heavy rain.

29 APR 57

CPT James S. Foster [P]

Germany

11 ABN

Mid-air with an 8 TC H-34 about 75' AGL over a ball field at Flak Casern near Augsburg.

09 MAR 57

CPT Meddie C. Sullivan [P]
SP3 Charles W. Wilson [ME]

North Carolina

18 ABN

A/C from Ft. Bragg crashed near Pittman baseball stadium on the outskirts of Fayetteville when it lost part of the rotor blade.

18 FEB 57

1LT Donald J. Osborn [IP]
MAJ John B. Dickson [P]

Alabama

A/C crashed near Newton during a routine training mission.

23 JUN 56

1 killed
P injured

Korea

A/C crashed after striking a wire extended 75' above the Hantan River near the DMZ.

18 OCT 55

1LT Donald C. Reed [P]
SP3 Frank J. Klug

Louisiana

69 SIG

A/C clipped a power line and crashed on Hwy 167 near Ansley 8 miles S of Ruston on a flight from Camp Polk during Exercise Sage Brush.

31 JAN 55

1LT James W. Debo [P]
1LT John C. Alexander

Japan

24 DIV HQ

A/C crashed in the sea near Fukuoka, on the island of Kyushu.

26 AUG 54

CPT Kenneth R. Scurr Jr [IP]

Oklahoma

A/C crashed and burned in a dairy farm pasture 3 miles NW of Lawton near US Hwy 62.

03 JAN 53

2 killed

Korea

8 ARMY
A/C crashed and burned in an open field 2 miles from Seoul city airport while on a routine training flight when it hit a power line suspended between two towers 150' off the ground.

NOTE: 1st fatal helicopter crash the Eighth Army had suffered during the Korean War.

31 DEC 52

1LT Max Edelmeyer [P]
1LT Floyd E. Harris

Germany

547 ENG

A/C crashed and burned in a field near Buettleborn, 10 mi W of Darmstadt shortly after 1400 hours while carrying payroll money to troops. Wreckage was located about 150 yds from Highway N26.

NOTE: First fatal accident involving an Army helicopter in Europe.

Sioux Vietnam War Losses

18 OCT 68

1LT Richard O. Bickford [OB]
CPL Herbert C. Langenhorst
8 injured

Quang Tri Province

C/1/9 CAV
#64-15417
A/C touched down with the toes of the skids against the slope. As pilot began to lower collective to set the A/C down, it began to slide backwards, down the slope. At this point the tail pitched up, the skids raised clear of the ground, and the A/C began to accelerate forward causing M/R to contact the ground and brush. It continued to pitch forward and somersaulted onto its back and began to burn almost instantly. Parts of the A/C and debris from the trees struck numerous persons, causing two fatal injuries.

30 JUN 68

WO1 Frank W. Jones [P]
MAJ William C. Whitehead Jr

Pleiku Province

6/14 ARTY
#64-15411
While flying low level due to weather, engine failure occurred. A/C struck the ground in an extreme nose high-tail low attitude. The low RPM and loss of tail rotor control caused the A/C to roll nearly inverted and impact on its left side. Fire consumed most of the cockpit area.

12 MAY 68

WO1 Gary L. Allen [AC]
SP5 Arthur E. Null Jr [G]

Quang Tri Province

D/229 AHB
#64-15326
A/C shot down, crashed and burned.

09 MAY 68

WO1 Dayton W. Lanier [P]
CPL Chris W. Frankhauser [CE]

Thua Thien Province

HHC 1 BDE
#63-09097
A/C and another scout were doing lazy circles to cover each other as they worked their way up the valley. The other crew witnessed A/C straighten out of its turn, start a climb, and then spin back down into the trees where there was a dull explosion.

07 APR 68

CPT Fred H. McMurray Jr [P]
OB injured

Thua Thien Province

B/1/9 CAV
#63-09084
A/C was on a recon mission in support of an operation in the Au Shau Valley when A/C was hit by enemy fire, began burning in flight, and crashed.

07 APR 68

1LT Robert C. Peda [P]
SFC Otto W. See [OB]

Thua Thien Province

A/1/9 CAV
#63-13681
A/C was wingman of an aero-scout fire team that was engaged in recon of an area near Long Vinh known to contain many enemy positions. A/C located several insurgent emplacements and unhesitantly attacked them while being subjected to intense hostile fire. During the battle, A/C was hit by AW fire, causing it to burst into flames and crash. Pilot survived crash but returned to A/C to rescue observer. Just prior to reaching the acft, it exploded.

04 MAR 68

CW2 Donny R. Kidd [P]
MAJ Adrian L. Del Camp

Kontum Province

173 ABN
#64-15423
A patrol found the acft wreckage near the top of the Mang Yang Pass along QL 19 between Pleiku and An Khe four months after it disappeared. A/C was inverted with bullet holes thru the pilot's seat, suggesting that it was conducting low-level operations through the Pass when it was shot down.

05 FEB 68

WO1 Theodore A. Papke [P]
SP4 Christopher E. Lyon [OB]

Binh Duong Province

D/1/4 CAV
#63-09181
A/C shot down, crashed and burned.

03 FEB 68

WO1 Howard D. Bennett [P]

Binh Long Province

1 BDE 1 INF
#64-15381
A/C shot down near Quon Loi and crashed.

03 DEC 67

1LT William S. Cutter [P]
PFC William M. Daley [OB]

Quang Tin Province

B/1/9 CAV
#63-13677
Conducting an armed recon mission. While in the target area and operating at about 50 feet and 70 knots, A/C was hit by automatic weapons fire, crashed, and burned.

31 OCT 67

SP5 Robert V. Muller [OB]
P rescued

Vietnam

D/1/4 CAV
Struck and killed by small arms fire during a VR near Quon Loi.

29 OCT 67

SP4 William H. Jett [OB]
P injured

Binh Long Province

D/1/4 CAV
#63-09183
A/C crashed and burned west of Lai Khe.

25 JUN 67

CPT Alfred W. Murphy [P]
MAJ Robert W. Kurtz [OB]

Binh Duong Province

1 INF DIV
#64-15379
A/C shot down, crashed and burned.

18 MAY 67

WO1 Otto A. Seamans Jr [P]

Quang Ngai Province

B/1/9 CAV
#63-09107
A/C shot down by small arms fire and crashed.

25 APR 67

CPT Charles S. Moore [P]
SGT Dick D. Culver [OB]

Binh Dinh Province

A/1/9 CAV
#63-09127
A/C shot down and crashed.

18 MAR 67

WO1 Myron T. Goddard [P]

Vietnam

1 CAV
#63-09192
A/C was flying at a low altitude due to darkness and haze. Pilot apparently lost reference with the ground and told the lead ship that he was going back, started a left turn and struck a tree. A/C crashed into the side of a hill and burned after impact.

24 NOV 66

SGT Ronnie C. Anderson [G]
P injured

Vietnam

A/1/9 CAV
#63-09220
A/C was on recon and received heavy AW fire, crashed and burned.

12 OCT 66

1LT Douglas L. Jones [P]
SGT David H. Freeman

Vietnam

173 ABN
#64-15416
Skids struck powerlines at Long Binh on highway 15.

13 JUN 66

WO1 Ralph R. Smith [P]
PFC Rudolph C. Selenka Jr [OB]

Vietnam

B/1/9 CAV
#63-09153
A/C was trail ship on recon mission. A/C crashed and exploded and burned on impact. Assumed shot down by ground fire.

30 MAR 66

CPT Burton A. Blanton [P]

Vietnam

B/1/9 CAV
Killed in the Ia Drang Valley.

07 MAR 66

LTC Harlow G. Clark Jr [P]
1 injured

Vietnam

1 BDE 1 CAV
#63-09093
Pilot was taking the new CO on an aerial tour of the base camp at An Khe. A/C landed in a roughly cleared area on the perimeter North of Hong Kong Mountain. When attempting to take off, the right skid of the helicopter caught under a tree root and the acft rolled over. A blade came through the bubble, hitting Harlow, killing him instantly.

19 FEB 66

1LT William J. Stephenson [P]
PFC Kenneth W. Lanter [OB]

Vietnam

A/1/9 CAV
#63-09210
A/C shot down while on a reconnaissance mission. Pilot died 4 days later of injuries.

27 JAN 66

PFC William C. Geis [OB]
P injured

Vietnam

C/1/9 CAV
#63-13668
A/C was shot down, rolled end over end several times and came to rest inverted. OB died later of injuries.

18 NOV 65

CW2 Lindsey H. Crow [P]
SP4 John F. McDermott [C]

Vietnam

54 SIG BN
#63-09082
Crash in water off Nha Trang.

04 OCT 65

MAJ Charles F. DeAmaral Jr [P]
CPT John D. Musgrove (USAF) [OB]

Binh Dinh Province

C/1/9 CAV
#63-09151
A/C was conducting a recon flight in an when A/C was shot down.