WANDEL WARREN V

CW4 Warren V. Wandel was a VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 01/27/2012 at the age of 64.2
Arlington, TX
Flight Classes 68-1 and 67-25
Date of Birth 10/31/1947
Served in the U.S. Army
Served in Vietnam with A/2/20 ARA 1 CAV in 68
Call sign in Vietnam BLUE MAX 27B2
This information was provided by Sammie Williams

More detail on this person: Warren V. Wandel (1947 - 2012) Warren Vennell Wandel, 64, passed away at his home on Friday, Jan. 27, 2012. Interment: with military honors at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas. Suggested time to arrive is 1:45 p.m. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family asks that remembrances be considered for the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the USO, or the International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI). Warren was an Army aviator, an aviation safety officer, a National Transportation Safety Board accident investigator and a consulting aviation accident expert. He was also a decorated disabled veteran. His keen attention to detail, innate ability to analyze complex information with remarkable insight and unwavering integrity made him one of the most respected and sought after aviation accident experts in the country. An aviator from an early age, Warren learned to fly with his father, becoming a multi-engine, fixed wing pilot by age 16. He volunteered for the U.S. Army and graduated from Army Flight School in 1967 as one of three honor graduates in his class. He served as a U.S. Army aviator from 1967-1996, Active & Reserve, retiring as chief warrant officer four (CW4) in 1996. His active duty assignments included a combat tour with the 1st Cavalry as an aircraft commander, flying AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters in Vietnam (1968). Following training as an Army aviation safety officer and accident investigator, he continued to fly and serve in the Reserve, including an assignment as one of two aviation safety officers for the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. He was a UH-1 (Huey) pilot and unit safety officer for the 351st ASA Company attached to Randolph Air Force Base. Later, he served as an aviation safety staff officer for 5th Army, Fort Sam Houston, as well as a safety officer and investigation advisor for the Department of the Army. As a civilian, he worked with Bell Helicopter International as a safety officer and accident investigator in Tehran, Iran. He was with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Fort Worth Field Office, from 1980 until 1995. Upon retiring, he founded Warren V. Wandel & Associates, working as an aircraft accident investigation expert until his death. During his military and civilian careers, he investigated more than 1,600 aviation accidents and had a profound impact on aviation safety. Warren was a loving and much-loved husband, father and brother. Born in Houston, he was preceded in death by his father, Hugh Everett Wandel, and mother, Patricia Vennell Wandel. Survivors: His wife of 35 years, Dara Agnew Wandel of Arlington; daughter, Laura Diane Wandel of Las Vegas; son, Warren Lee Wandel of Arlington; sister, Margred Wandel Velazquez of Orange County, Calif.; nephew, Patrick Martinez; niece, Athena Schommer; as well as many friends and associates across the country who will never forget him. Published in Star-Telegram on February 5, 2012

Burial information: Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, Dallas, TX

This information was last updated 03/11/2021

Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters

Return to the Helicopter Pilot DAT name list

Return to VHPA web site

Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024


Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association