More detail on this person: I believe that the
accident was in April or May of 1970 although it
could have been earlier that year while with
HMH-363. The copilot survived that accident but
was badly burned. He was actually one of the
student pilots being trained for Vietnam, however
I do not have his name (it may be in the accident
report). He was mustered out of the Corps because
of his disability. This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site:
03/10/2024
Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association
From: Seppo I. Hurme
HMH-363 Aircraft Crashes, Pilot Dies
A Marine Heavy Helicopter Squardron (HMH)363
Aircraft crashed Monday, killing its pilot and
injuring four other crew members.
Killed in the accident near Thermal, Calif. was
1st Lieutenant Robert K. Ryan, Jr., 25.
Hospitalized at the U.S. Naval Hspital, Camp
Pendleton, in serious condition are 1st Lieutenant
Thomas V. Copperthwait, 23, the co-pilot and Lance
Corporal Richard R. Hutter, 19, crew chief, who
suffered burns on his face, neck and hands.
Treated and released from the hospital was Lance
Corporal Thomas E. Means, 18, a passenger.
Memorial services for LT Ryan are scheduled for
today at 11 a.m., at the MCAS (H) chapel with
funeral services to be held in Utica, NY.
The helicopter was on a navigational training
mission 14 miles southwest of Thermal, when it
crashed and burned at about 1:45 p.m., while
attempting a practice approach landing. The
copter and all persons aboard, were assigned to
the Marine Corps Air Station (Helicopter), Santa
Ana. Ryan, Copperthwait and Lane were assigned
to HMH-363, while LCpls. Means and Hutter were
from the helicopter station's Headquarters and
Headquarters Squadron.
Ryan is survived by his father, Robert K. Ryan
Sr., of White Plains, MD., and mother, Lillian W.
Ryan of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.