AKERS JERRY G

CW4 Jerry G. Akers was a potential VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 04/09/1986 at the age of 38.6 from Mid-air
Ft. Stewart, GA
Flight Classes 69-23 and 69-21
Date of Birth 09/05/1947
Served in the U.S. Army
Served in Vietnam with 101 ABN
This information was provided by Bill Atkinson

More detail on this person: This aircraft was with the 132 ASHC, CH-47 85-24325 while in low altitude cruise flight, during an NVG training mission, the Chinook and an AH-1S Cobra, flying in opposite directions, collided. The main rotor blades struck the forward cabin area and the main rotor system of the AH-1, which caused the in-flight breakup of both aircraft.

Jerry Akers was giving Charles Falk an NVG (night vision goggles) check ride when this mid-air happen. Falk was also a Vietnam veteran. Also killed in the crash were the flight engineer, SSG Siebert H. Everetts (Pete); the crew chief, Sgt Alonzo Ferguson and two other enlisted crew members. The cobra flew up into the aft rotor of the Chinook. The aft rotor departed the CH 47. The Chinook crashed but there was no post crash fire. The Cobra crashed in flames. This was during the infancy of night vision goggles training.

I don't know who the other two were. They were on board to act as hookup men for the external load portion of the checkride.

I was in the unit when it happened.

From: John Clifford

This information was last updated 05/18/2016

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Date posted on this site: 08/31/2024