More detail on this person: Civilian helicopter disappearred over the Gulf of Mexico and has not
been found.As longtime friend and neighbor of Jim Goldthorpe, (Goldie) a member of your
organization, and the oldest active Army chopper pilot, be advised that Jim's civilian chopper went
down over the Gulf of Mexico a week ago Thursday, 6 Oct. His company is continuing the search but
the Coast Guard has called off the search. No wreckage or personnel have been found. This information was last updated 05/18/2016
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
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Date posted on this site:
08/31/2024
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From: Mickey Crawford
According to George Larson Goldie flew out to retrieve 2 repairmen from a rig that is normally
unmanned. When Goldie didn't show up back at home plate on time, a search was launched, including
a trip to the rig. The two repairmen weren't on the rig. It's surmised that Goldie picked the guys
up and headed home, but neither he nor the repairmen nor the acft have been seen since Goldie
departed for the rig. During the search there was a lot of debris, etc., from Katrina in the Gulf,
so it made it harder to determine if/where/when the acft had gone into the water.
Goldie was an OH-58 IP. He was also the main force behind the 2000 Reunion Committee in
Washington, D. C., a reunion that still stands out as one of the most memorable in VHPA history.
Goldie was also the impetus behind the formation of the VHPA National Capital Chapter and was the
initial Chapter President.
To those who knew him, Goldie is sorely missed.
From: Jay Brown
Jim "Goldie" Goldthorpe died on October 6, 2005 in a helicopter accident in the Gulf of Mexico off
the Louisiana shoreline.
Goldie was a Founding Member of the Combat Helicopter Pilots Association and was active with the
Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association having served as the Reunion Chairperson for the 2000 VHPA
Reunion in Washington, DC. He was instrumental in the creation of the former National Capital
Chapter of VHPA.
In the military, Goldie was a Chief Warrant Officer 4 (CW4) and was the oldest, active duty aviator
in the Army until he retired March 31, 2005. His service spans a thirty year period. As an Army
helicopter pilot, he amassed over 7200 hours of flight time, some of which was in a combat tour of
duty in the Vietnam. His other assignments have included a tour of duty in Germany as an instructor
pilot and pilot in command for the 22nd Aviation Detachment, a tour in Korea as an instructor pilot
and operations officer for the 45th Transportation Company, and various stateside assignments.
Although previously retired, Goldie demonstrated his devotion to duty and patriotism by volunteering
to return to active duty to assist his country during the latest Iraq conflict. He was assigned to
the Ft. Polk Joint Readiness Center in Louisiana where he trained many soldiers and their units for
their vital missions. Throughout his career, he earned more than 20 medals including the Bronze
Star, the Purple Heart, and 15 Air Medals. Goldie's exceptional performance and total devotion to
duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the service and reflect great credit upon
himself and the United States Army.
The "Goldie" Fund has been created to honor him. The former National Capital Chapter of VHPA turned
over its treasury as seed money for the Fund. The Fund, which will be managed by CHPA, will pay for
a Memorial Service and Hospitality Room at the 2006 VHPA reunion in Washington, DC. Subsequent
expenditures will be used to assist Veterans, particularly Helicopter Veterans, and honor Goldie and
the ideals for which he lived.
Please try to attend the Memorial Service and come have a drink to toast Goldie. The hospitality
will be on the evening of July 2 and July 3. The Room number will be posted at the VHPA reunion.
For additional information or to donate to the Goldie Fund go to www.chpa-us.org and click on "The
Goldie Fund"
From: Wes Moore