Name: WO1 John Joseph Petrilla, Jr.
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 05/02/1972 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 22.5
Date of Birth: 10/25/1949
Home City: Philadelphia, PA
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: F/4 CAV
Prior Unit: 187 AHC?
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 71-29/71-23
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 01W-011
Short Summary: On second tour with CW2 William C. Jesse. First tour spent in Bear Cat. Elmore's roommate in 7th WOC.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 70-15863
Call sign: CENTAUR
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 100B = Utility/Observation Helicopter Pilot
Primary cause: Remains 7/72
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: small arms fire
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: pilot
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 11/02/1971
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
The initial status of this person was: missing in action - interim
Length of service: *
Location: Quang Tri Province I Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: YD440460
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - died while missing
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Religion: Roman Catholic
Burial information: RESURRECTION CEMETERY, WESCOSVILLE, PA
The following information secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 12/06/1998
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Date posted on this site: 11/13/2023
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