Helicopter CH-53A 152394

Information on U.S. Marine Corps helicopter CH-53A tail number 152394
Date: 11/01/1969 MIA-POW file reference number: 1508
Incident number: 69110110.KIA
Unit: HMH 361 MAG 16 1 MAW
Over Water
UTM grid coordinates: BT144755 (To see this location on a map, go to https://legallandconverter.com/p50.html and search on Grid Reference 49QBT144755)
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Reference Notes. Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Also: 1508 ()
Loss to Inventory

Crew Members:
P CPT PARTINGTON ROGER DALE BNR

REFNO Synopsis:
PARTINGTON, ROGER DALE Name: Roger Dale Partington Rank/Branch: O3/US Marine Corps Unit: HMH 361, MAG 16, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing Date of Birth: 12 December 1940 Home City of Record: Sparta IL Date of Loss: 01 November 1969 Country of Loss: South Vietnam/Over Water Loss Coordinates: 160117N 1082011E (BT144755) Status (in 1973): Killed/Body Not Recovered Category: 5 Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: CH53A Other Personnel in Incident: (none missing) REMARKS: SYNOPSIS: On November 1, 1969, Capt. Robert D. Partington was a crewmember aboard a CH53A helicopter which went down at sea just southeast of the military installation near Marble Mountain at Da Nang, South Vietnam. The helicopter was not hit by enemy fire, but suffered some other problem which caused it to explode and burn. Capt. Partington is the only man not recovered from the aircraft. Following searches for Capt. Partington, a review board determined that he was dead, and it was unlikely that his remains would ever be recovered. He is listed among the missing because no body was ever returned home for burial. Partington's family can be as certain as it is possible to be that he is dead. For most of the other missing, however, simple resolution is not possible. Many of the missing were known to be alive the last they were seen. Some were held in prison camps with others Americans, only to disappear from the camp system. Still others were heard on radio or photographed in captivity. Others simply disappeared without a trace. Since American involvement in the Vietnam war ended, the U.S. Government has reviewed "several million documents" and conducted "over 250,000 interviews" relating to Americans missing in Southeast Asia. Many authorities who have had access to this classified information are convinced that hundreds of Americans remain alive in the hands of our old enemies. Partington, evidently is not among those said to still be alive. However, one can imagine that he would gladly fly one more mission to help his comrades to safety.

This record was last updated on 05/25/1998

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Date posted on this site: 11/13/2023