Pacific Stars and Stripes information
for HMM-362
For date 680804
HMM-362 was a US Marine Corps unit
Primary service involved, US Marine Corps
Quang Tri Province, I Corps, South Vietnam
Description: She - the first UH34D Sea Horse helicopter purchased by the Marine Corps in 1957 - was slated for retirement from active service and a spot in the Marine Corps Museum at Quantico, Va. YL10, as she was known by her markings, began her Marine Corps career with the Marine Helicopter Sq. 363 at Santa Ana, Calif., and ended it 11 years later in a small clearing just south of the Demilitarized Zone. As related by 1st Lt. Alfred M. West, copilot on YL10's last flight with Marine Medium Helicopter Sq. 362, "We had just finished a combat mission and were headed for home when a radio transmission came through to pick up passengers. We sat down in the zone and began receiving mortar fire. The first round exploded about two feet from the right side of the aircraft injuring the pilot, crew chief and gunner." West took the controls, lifted out of the zone and headed for the Dong Ha landing strip where medical aid would be awaiting the injured crew. "About two miles out of the zone," he said, "I had difficulty handling the aircraft. All controls became sluggish and she vibrated violently." He landed in a clearing and made a hasty inspection to locate their trouble. "There were numerous holes through right side," he said. "The main rotor blades had been damaged, and the right tire had been blown." West knew he would be unable to fly YL10 out. He began stripping her of maps, charts, radio frequency cards and machine guns in preparation for pick-up by another chopper. Because of darkness it was considered too risky to go back into the area with a maintenance crew to retrieve the YL-10. Plans were made to bring her out the following morning. When the crew arrived the next day, all that remained was a charred mass. Enemy soldiers had moved in during the night and set her afire.
Comments: 1LT West, Alfred M,; ; ;
The source for this information was 6807PSS.AVN supplied by Les Hines
Additional information is available on CD-ROM.
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Date posted on this site:
05/13/2023