RUTLEDGE PHILLIP LAYNE

CWO Phillip Layne Rutledge was a VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 06/13/2003 at the age of 54.6 from A/C accident
Bakersfield, CA
Flight Classes 71-7 and 71-5
Date of Birth 11/21/1948
Served in the U.S. Army
Served in Vietnam with C/158 AVN 101 ABN in 71-72, B/101 AVN 101 ABN in 72
Call sign in Vietnam PHOENIX 38
This information was provided by Jim McLaughlin

More detail on this person: Phillip Layne Rutledge was killed last Friday in the crash of his Ag helicopter near Bakersfield California. His obituary says he served in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot with the 101st Airborne in 1971-72.

From: "James O. McLaughlin"

NTSB extract; Phillip Layne Rutledge (CWO Army Aviator and Vietnam Veteran) age 54 Harvest Enterprises resident Bakersfield, CA

Killed in Bell 47G4 during pesticide application flight in the mid morning with good weather when shortly after departing a truck platform the aircraft lost control due to unknown cause in an application turn, nosed over, and crashed into flat terrain complicated by post crash fire near Porterville, CA. He died 13 Jun 2003.

Obituary for Phillip Layne Rutledge, November 21, 1948 - June 13, 2003

Visitation for Phillip Layne Rutledge will be held at Basham Funeral Care, 3312 Niles St., on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. and funeral services will be held at the River Lakes Community Church at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 19, 2003.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Marie Rutledge; and he is survived by his loving wife of 32 years, Diane Rutledge; daughter and son-in-law, Elisabeth and Scott Davis; son Matthew Rutledge; brother and sister-in-law, John and Betty Rutledge; brother and sister-in-law Sue and Rob Wykoff; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Phillip was born and raised in Bakersfield and attended South High School and Bakersfield College. He was the owner-operator of Rutledge Ag Air Crop Dusting for 4 years, and had been a crop duster for 15 years. Phil served in the 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army, he was a decorated helicopter pilot, he was a Vietnam veteran 1971-72; a member of the D.E.R.O.S. Veteran's Group of Kern Christian Center; he loved his Lord, his family, his country and his breakfast club buddies. He was a true patriot. He loved a good story and was a master joke teller. He loved to laugh; and he eagerly anticipated the November arrival of his first grandchild. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the River Lakes Community Church Building Fund or the American Cancer Society. For additional service information please contact Basham Funeral Care, 3312 Niles Street, Bakersfield (661) 873-8200.

This information was last updated 05/18/2016

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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024


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