bell oh-58a (68-16884)

BELL OH-58A (68-16884)
THE PILOT DEPARTED QUANG TRI AT APPROXIMATELY 0700 HOURS ON 17 MARCH 1971 AND FLEW TO HAM NGHI. HE FLEW VARIOUS MISSIONS IN SUPPORT OF UNITS OF THE ^1ST BDE 5TH INF DIV (M)^ THAT MORNING WITH SEVERAL STOPS FOR FUEL AND FOR LUNCH. AT APPROXIMATELY 1300 HOURS HE BEGAN FLYING AS A COMMAND AND CONTROL AIRCRAFT AND PICKED UP THE COMMANDING OFFICER AND OPERATIONS OFFICER OF A BATTALION. HE WAS LAST SEEN AT APPROXIMATELY 1345 HOURS AT A FIELD LOCATION FOUR MILES TO THE NORTHWEST OF HAM NGHI. AT THIS TIME HE APPEARED TO BE IN GOOD SPIRITS WITH NO SIGN OF FATIGUE. HE DEPARTED THAT LOCATION WITH TWO PERSONS ON BOARD AND FLEW OFF TO THE SOUTHWEST. THE NEXT TIME THE AIRCRAFT WAS SSEN WAS AT APPROXIMATELY 1415 HOURS WHEN A SURVEY TEAM FROM THE ^108TH ARTY GP^, WORKING NORTHWEST OF HAM NGHI VIC XD 778438 REPORTED AN AIRCRAFT BURNING ON THE MOUNTAIN NEAR THEM. ^D TROOP 3/5 CAV^ WAS NOTIFIED AND RESPONDED BY REROUTING A VR TEAM TO THE AREA FOR SEARCH AND RESCUE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOCATED, FOUND TO BE COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND THE BODIES OF ALL OCCUPANTS WERE RECOVERED.
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