Name: WO1 Mark Andrew Whikehart
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 03/17/1970 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 22.1
Date of Birth: 02/13/1948
Home City: Arlington, VA
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 132 ASHC, 14 CAB
Major organization: Americal Division
Flight class: 69-19
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 12W-016
Short Summary: Aircraft accident with CW2 Truman D. Norris, SP5 Hugh Jr. Clowers, SP4 Douglas G. Howes, & SP5 Erwin Schmeling. Aircraft accident.
Aircraft: CH-47B tail number 67-18442
Call sign: HERCULES
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 100B = Utility/Observation Helicopter Pilot
Primary cause: A/C Accident
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: unknown
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: aircraft commander
Started Tour: 10/01/1969
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Location: Quang Ngai Province I Corps.
Additional information about this casualty:
Mark Whikehart 3/17/70 Mark was in my flight school class and a dear friend, he would have gone far in this world, he was one of those people you meet and say, this guy is special. He was the Honor Graduate of Class 69-19 at Hunter Stewart and that's how he was offered Chinooks.
From: Don Clarke, Dutchmaster 32
Our family was informed in the official military report that the helicopter crash was a result of a mechanical failure of the auto rotator pitch in the blades. It was also stated that 51 caliber machine gun rounds, were found in the turbines of the engines. We have always contended that this crash was a result of hostile fire and NOT a result of non hostile engine failure.
From: Drew Whikehart, brother
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
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Date posted on this site:
11/13/2023
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Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Religion: Baptist - other groups
Burial information: ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, VA
The following information secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 07/24/2015