More detail on this person: Hiller UH-12
accident in Alaska. I worked in Alaska for
several years in the 70's I know of three Vietnam
vet pilots who were killed/died during that time.
First was DeLand Graham, "D" I remember him
from flight school and believe he was in 66-5, at
least he was ahead of me in 66-7. His home was
Wichita Falls Tx. he was married and living in
Wolters Village. He worked for Utility Helicopters
and did a hitch in Argentina where he picked up a
local wife. I don't think there were any children
from either marriage. We double crewed a Bell
206B for Anchorage Helicopter Svc. working with
core drillers on the Alaska pipeline in the spring
of 1971. He was on nights and taking off from the
highway about 5 miles east of Fairbanks. Hit some
wires, which severed the push-pull tubes. The A/C
spun into the trees throwing D out, He hit his
head on (a tree) and died instantly. The A/C
burned and the other 2 pass didn't get out. I
believe this happened in June 71. Second is Mike
Tinker.
I was in B flight at wolters with Mike in 1967-68.
I think he was in a class ahead of me also. He was
flying a Bell-47 with 2 geologists in central
alaska in the spring of 1970 or 71 for Anchorage
Helicopters. He had just started work for them and
this was his first flight, probably less than a
week. They were missing for several days and all
died in the crash, I think engine failure was the
cause. They rolled down a hill quit a ways. He
had worked for Cascade or Columbia heli in
Washington the prior season. I think that was his
home. Last and saddest is Art Stratton. He worked
for Anchorage Helicopters in the early 70's.
Probably in a class in 68/69. Lost his job due to
a drinking problem. What little history I remember
there was talk about him getting the silver star
after being shot down and EandEing out for several
days. Maybe early PTSD that went untreated, back
in those days that was more common than we'll
ever know. He died in an alley in
Fairbanks I think in 1974. He was working as a
drummer in a band but I lost track of him in 73.
I've never seen these names in the directory and
if you need more info try Jack Audiss or Frank
Heffernan.
From: Bill Springer
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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