More detail on this person: A/C accident while flying with IP M.E. Watts and student pilot Michael L. Thompson at Ft. Rucker. CH-47 transition course.W2 Michael L. Thompson had spent a year in Germany and had not gone to Vietnam prior to the accident. Thompson, Michael Leon 1944-1968 (CW2 Terry G. Kilpatrick) Monterey Peninsula Herald, CA July 6, 1968 p1,2,4 Helicopter Crash Kills P.G. Man The son of a Pacific Grove couple was one of four U.S. Army men killed when an Army helicopter crashed yesterday about 10 miles east of Ozark, Ala. CWO Michael L. Thompson, 23, whose parents, Mr. and Mrs. Otio E. Thompson, reside at 610 Granite St. in Pacific Grove, was identified as one of the dead. Moments after the twin-engine helicopter, a medium cargo CH47, took off from Goldberg Stage Field, it plummeted to the ground and burst into flames. There were no survivors. The pilot, VWO Merline E. Watts, 38, of Daleville, Ala., was a veteran of two tours of duty in Vietnam. Also killed were CQO Terry G. Kilpatrick, 22, of Daleville, and a fourth man, whose name was withheld pending notification of niext of kin. In addition to his parents, Thompson is survived by his wife, Sandra, who lives in Denton, Tex. Kilpatrick also has parents living in California, Mr. and Mrs. Bernard W. Kilpatrick of Stockton. He, too, was married. The helicopter was on a routine training flight when the crash occurred. Cause of the crash is under investigation, Army authorities at Fort Rucker said. 05 JUL 68 CW3 Merlin E. Watts [IP] CW2 Terry G. Kilpatrick CW2 Michael L. Thompson SSG Ramon O. Moreno Alabama [ Need A/C Unit] CH-47A #66-19139 A/C crashed and burned approx 10 miles E of Ozark shortly after taking off from Goldberg Stage Field during Chinook transition course.
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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