Helicopter UH-34D 148071

Information on U.S. Marine Corps helicopter UH-34D tail number 148071
Date: 04/27/1967 MIA-POW file reference number: 0657
Incident number: 67042710.KIA
Unit: HMM-263
Over Water
UTM grid coordinates: CT700200 (To see this location on a map, go to https://legallandconverter.com/p50.html and search on Grid Reference 49PCT700200)
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Reference Notes. Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Also: 0657 ()
Loss to Inventory

Crew Members:
CE LCP DALLAS RICHARD HOWARD BNR
PX SGT CASTRO REINALDO ANTONIO BNR

Passengers and/or other participants:
LCP BENTON JAMES AUSTIN, MC, PX, BNR
LCP DYER BLENN COLBY, MC, PX, BNR
PFC OSBORNE SAMUEL WILLIAM JR, MC, PX, BNR
LCP PENNINGTON RONALD KEITH, MC, PX, BNR

War Story:
Per BLT 1/3 Command Chronology for April 1967 (TT 1201039031.pdf), page 10 of 44, five men from the BLT were killed "due to loss of helicopter in transferring personnel between ships". The helo was UH-34D BuNo 148071 assigned to HMM-263, then assigned as the helo unit for BLT 1/3. One crewman and five passengers were killed on 27 Apr 1967 when the UH-34 lost power immediately after lift-off, went into the water, and sank. All five passengers were combat engineers. The transfer of personnel was associated with preparations for landings under OPERATION BEAVER CAGE. Delta Company, which in common with the other 1/3 line companies had a combat engineer detachment from 2nd Plt, A Co, 3rd Engineers, landed via beach assault on 28 Apr 1967, the day after the helo incident. See After Action Report for BEAVER CAGE contained in the BLT 1/3 CmdChron. Since 1st Bn, 3rd Marines did not have an organic combat engineer element, these five men were probably part of the combat engineer det attached to BLT 1/3. If so, their unit was A Company, 3rd Engineer Bn attached to H&S Co, BLT 1/3 as stated in the BLT 1/3 Command Chronology.

This record was last updated on 12/26/2005

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Date posted on this site: 11/13/2023