Description
The image was shared by Patricia Beland of the Providence College Human Resources Department. Beland also shared the below description, taken from the Vietnam Helicopter Pilot's Association web site: https://www.vhpa.org/KIA/incident/69062121KIA.HTM At approximately 1045 hours on June 21, 1969, a U.S. Marine Corps helicopter CH-46D (tail number 154811) from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165 was on a reconnaissance insertion mission in Quang Nam Province, RVN, about 22 1/2 miles northwest of Danang, when the aircraft was hit by hostile enemy fire, causing the helicopter to crash and burn. The helicopter was attempting to insert a recon team at position ZC033864. The attempt was abandoned because of enemy opposition, and the aircraft was moving away when the gunner heard a loud explosion from the controls closet area. The co-pilot reported later that the aircraft lost boost pressure. It is suspected that the aircraft as hit in the controls closet area by a rocket propelled grenade (RPG). Another report suggested small arms fire damaged the helicopter. The aircraft then went out of control and crashed. Pilot 1LT William L. Peters Jr. and crew chief LCPL Paul E. Petroline plus six members of the recon team, including 2LT William G. Schanck Jr., LCP Frank J. Bosco, LCPL Richard A. Weil Jr., PFC Arthur C. Council III, PFC Robert L. Crites Jr., and PFC James O. Hall Jr. were killed in the crash. The co-pilot, the two gunners, and the remaining two members of the recon team were injured and later rescued.
