Helicopter U-6A 57-16384

Information on U.S. Army helicopter U-6A tail number 57-16384
Date: 01/03/71
Incident number: 71010310.KIA
Unit: 61 AHC
Loss to Inventory

Crew Members:
P MAJ RHODES FERRIS ANSEL JR BNR
PP CPT PARSONS MICHAEL DUANE BNR
PP CW3 HOLGUIN LUIS GALLEGOS BNR
PP CW3 OKERLUND THOMAS RICHARD BNR
CX SP6 MAGEE PATRICK JOSEPH BNR

Passengers:
SP6 PALEN CARL ANTHONY, AR, CX , BNR; CW3 OMELIA DENNIS WILLIAM, AR, PP, BNR

War Story:
The pilot of the U-6A Beaver was MAJ. Ferris A. Rhodes Jr. listed on line 24 of panel 5W. The reason I know this is I was supposed to be on that flight. Dennis O'Melia took my place as the maintenance officer. Both Dennis and Thomas had just returned from R&R and wanted to get back to flying. If I remember correctly, Thomas Okerlund took Franklin McFaddens place as the other C model pilot. The mission was to pick up two C models and a H model. These aircraft had been looked at about a week earlier but had some problems that needed to be corrected. The weather had been bad for most of the time. On the day of there departure to pick up the aircraft, I ferried them over to Quin Oion Airfield to meet the fixed wing. Introduced them to Maj.(then Capt.) Ferris, and departed for LZ English. I do not think I'll ever forget either Dennis or Thomas, as well as the rest of the crew. Dennis, Thomas and I all started in class 70-1 they both went to Savanah, Ga. I went to Rucker. Dennis and I worked in maintenance until we were reassigned to Guns. Jim Beach, StarBlazer 24, May 1999.

This record was last updated on 05/07/99

The following is crew member information for this incident:

Name: CW3 Luis Gallegos Holguin
Status: Body Not Recovered from an incident on 01/03/71 while performing the duty of Pilot Passenger.
Declared dead on 10/30/78.
Age at death: 20.6
Date of Birth: 05/19/50
Home City: Oxnard, CA
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 61 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 70-13/70-9
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 05W-022
Short Summary: Left Qui Nhon in fixed wing to pick up 4 new UH-1 at Ban Me Thuot.
Aircraft: U-6A tail number 57-16384
SSN: 551669633
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: *
Primary cause: SVN-BNR
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: vehicular accident
Vehicle involved: fixed wing aircraft
Position in vehicle: passenger
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 07/03/70
"Official" listing: fixed wing air casualty - non-aircrew
The initial status of this person was: non-hostile missing - bonified
Length of service: *
Location: Unknown Province
Military grid coordinates of event: BR960250
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died while missing
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Roman Catholic
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 08/20/94

Name: SP6 Patrick Joseph Magee
Status: Body Not Recovered from an incident on 01/03/71 while performing the duty of Crew member passenger.
Declared dead on 04/07/76.
Age at death: 24.3
Date of Birth: 09/22/46
Home City: Alder, MT
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 61 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 05W-022
Short Summary: Left Qui Nhon in fixed wing to pick up 4 new UH-1 at Ban Me Thuot.
Aircraft: U-6A tail number 57-16384
SSN: 516526959
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 67N30 = UH-1 Helicopter Repairer
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: unknown or not reported
Vehicle involved: fixed wing aircraft
Position in vehicle: passenger
Vehicle ownership: government
"Official" listing: fixed wing air casualty - non-aircrew
The initial status of this person was: non-hostile missing - bonified
Length of service: *
Location: Unknown Province
Military grid coordinates of event: BR960250
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died while missing
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Episcopal (Anglican)
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 07/30/95

Name: CW3 Thomas Richard Okerlund
Status: Body Not Recovered from an incident on 01/03/71 while performing the duty of Pilot Passenger.
Declared dead on 11/06/78.
Age at death: 22.4
Date of Birth: 08/05/48
Home City: Seattle, WA
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 61 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 70-1
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 05W-022
Short Summary: Left Qui Nhon in fixed wing to pick up 4 new UH-1 at Ban Me Thuot.
Aircraft: U-6A tail number 57-16384
SSN: 535483999
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: *
Primary cause: SVN-BNR
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: vehicular accident
Vehicle involved: fixed wing aircraft
Position in vehicle: passenger
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 04/19/70
"Official" listing: fixed wing air casualty - non-aircrew
The initial status of this person was: non-hostile missing - bonified
Length of service: *
Location: Unknown Province
Military grid coordinates of event: BR960250
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died while missing
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Protestant - no denominational preference
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 05/07/99

Name: CW3 Dennis William O'Melia
Status: Body Not Recovered from an incident on 01/03/71 while performing the duty of Pilot Passenger.
Declared dead on 08/22/78.
Age at death: 29.7
Date of Birth: 05/06/41
Home City: Smithfield, NC
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 61 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 70-1
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 05W-023
Short Summary: Left Qui Nhon in fixed wing to pick up 4 new UH-1 at Ban Me Thuot.
Aircraft: U-6A tail number 57-16384
SSN: 112308516
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: *
Primary cause: SVN-BNR
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: vehicular accident
Vehicle involved: fixed wing aircraft
Position in vehicle: passenger
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 04/18/70
"Official" listing: fixed wing air casualty - non-aircrew
The initial status of this person was: non-hostile missing - bonified
Length of service: *
Location: Unknown Province
Military grid coordinates of event: BR960250
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died while missing
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Roman Catholic
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 08/22/94

Name: SP6 Carl Anthony Palen
Status: Body Not Recovered from an incident on 01/03/71 while performing the duty of Crew member passenger.
Declared dead on 08/22/78.
Age at death: 23.7
Date of Birth: 04/11/47
Home City: Dubuque, IA
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 61 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 05W-023
Short Summary: Left Qui Nhon in fixed wing to pick up 4 new UH-1 at Ban Me Thuot.
Aircraft: U-6A tail number 57-16384
SSN: 481582517
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: *
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: vehicular accident
Vehicle involved: fixed wing aircraft
Position in vehicle: passenger
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 07/28/70
"Official" listing: fixed wing air casualty - non-aircrew
The initial status of this person was: non-hostile missing - bonified
Length of service: *
Location: Unknown Province
Military grid coordinates of event: BR960250
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died while missing
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Roman Catholic
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 07/30/95

Name: CPT Michael Duane Parsons
Status: Body Not Recovered from an incident on 01/03/71 while performing the duty of Pilot Passenger.
Declared dead on 04/03/75.
Age at death: 25.7
Date of Birth: 05/07/45
Home City: Reno, NV
Service: IN branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 61 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 70-12
Service: IN branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 05W-023
Short Summary: Left Qui Nhon in fixed wing to pick up 4 new UH-1 at Ban Me Thuot.
Aircraft: U-6A tail number 57-16384
SSN: 573666111 Service number: O5719969
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 1981 = 19 Rotary Wing Aviator (Unit Commander)
Primary cause: SVN-BNR
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: unknown or not reported
Vehicle involved: fixed wing aircraft
Position in vehicle: passenger
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 07/08/70
"Official" listing: fixed wing air casualty - non-aircrew
The initial status of this person was: non-hostile missing - bonified
Length of service: *
Location: Unknown Province
Military grid coordinates of event: BR960250
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died while missing
married male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Episcopal (Anglican)
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: officer
This record was last updated on 08/22/94

Name: MAJ Ferris Ansel Rhodes, Jr.
Status: Body Not Recovered from an incident on 01/03/71 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Declared dead on 08/14/78.
Age at death: 35.0
Date of Birth: 01/19/36
Home City: Greenwood, SC
Service: TC branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: HHC/223 AVN
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Service: TC branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 05W-024
Short Summary: Left Qui Nhon in fixed wing to pick up 4 new UH-1 at Ban Me Thuot.
Aircraft: U-6A tail number 57-16384
SSN: 247525406 Service number: O2311982
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: *
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: vehicular accident
Vehicle involved: fixed wing aircraft
Position in vehicle: pilot
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 02/17/70
"Official" listing: fixed wing air casualty - pilot
The initial status of this person was: non-hostile missing - bonified
Length of service: *
Location: Unknown Province
Military grid coordinates of event: BR960250
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died while missing
married male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Methodist (Evangelical United Brethren)
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: officer
This record was last updated on 08/20/95

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter U6-A tail number 57-16384
It is provided here as an ESTIMATE of the history of this helicopter and is not intended to be the final authority.
This helicopter was purchased by the US Army in .
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
7101   0    0 WAYPAA 61 AHC           VIETNAM

Please send additions or corrections to:

VHPA Head Quarters or Gary Roush or Mike Law

Printed from databases on: 08/27/00