KLINE BRUCE EUGENE

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Name: 1LT Bruce Eugene Kline
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 05/24/1972 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 24.4
Date of Birth: 12/18/1947
Home City: Lakeland, FL
Service: TC branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 48 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 71-22
Service: TC branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 01W-030
Short Summary: Flying C&C with MAJ Dan C. Kingman (A/C and CO of 48 AHC) shot down by SA-7 near Hue. Crew was Bausch and Monkelbaan.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 68-15381 (this tail number is questionable)
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 64823
Primary cause: SA-7 Missle
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: small arms fire
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: pilot
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 01/04/1972
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
The initial status of this person was: missing in action - P I D
Length of service: *
Location: Thua Thien Province I Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: YD565445

Additional information about this casualty:
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY 48TH ASSAULT HELICOPTER COMPANY APO SAN FRANCISCO 96349 7 JUN 1972 Mr. and Mrs. Eugene R. Kline 625 West Oak Drive Lakeland, Florida 33803 Dear Mr. and Mrs. Kline: It is with the deepest regret that I extend to you the sympathy of the men of the 48th Assault Helicopter Company for the loss of your son, First Lieutenant Bruce E. Kline, who was killed in action 24 May 1972. The UH-1H helicopter, on which Bruce was the pilot, was the command and Control aircraft in an operation to move Vietnamese Marines into battle in the Thua Thien Province. During the course of this mission a CH-47 helicopter crashed in the vicinity of the operation. your son's aircraft, proceeded towards the location of the downed CH-47 to assist in search and rescue operations. While in route his aircraft was engaged by enemy fire and destroyed. Upon losing radio contact with Bruce's aircraft, a search was initiated to determine its location. During this search everything humanly possible was done to locate the aircraft expeditiously. Upon finding the wreckage it was determined that your son had perished in the crash. His body was recovered on 27 May 1972. I sincerely hope that the knowledge that your son was a truly exemplary Officer, who lost his life while in service of his country will comfort you in this time of great sorrow. The men of the 48th Assault Helicopter Company share deeply your grief over the loss of Bruce. A Memorial Service was conducted on 27 May at the Marble Mountain Army Airfield Chapel. The attendance of so many of Bruce's friends and fellow soldiers indicated the great respect held for your son by all. Once again, on behalf of the men of this unit and myself, please accept our deepest sympathy. HARVEY E. WILSON Captain, Infantry Commanding

Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - died while missing
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Religion: Presbyterian
Burial information: OAK HILL BURIAL PARK, LAKELAND, FL
The following information secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: officer
This record was last updated on 02/03/1996


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Date posted on this site: 11/13/2023


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