Helicopter crash 2 February 1968

Adkins, Charles Leroy
Army Private 1st class

Charles Leroy Adkins from Barnesville, Ohio, Belmont county. Their last known residence was in Barnesville.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: February 2, 1968
Death details: On February 2, 1968, a UH-1H Iroquois (tail number 66-16442) carrying three passengers and two crew members was making a ground radar controlled approach to Da Nang Air Base when the ground controller suddenly and unexpectedly lost radio and radar contact with the aircraft. The entire crew was lost along with the helicopter. Several months later in May 1968, the aircraft was discovered to have crashed in a heavily-wooded gully with dense underbrush. Some remains were recovered but could not be identified as any of the crew members. Subsequent efforts to locate the crew’s remains have been unsuccessful.

Specialist 4 Charles Leroy Adkins entered the U.S. Army from Ohio and served in Troop B, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He was a passenger aboard the helicopter when it crashed and his remains were not recovered. Following the incident, the Army promoted SP4 Adkins to the rank of Sergeant First Class (SFC). Today, Sergeant First Class Adkins is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Patton, Kenneth James
Army Staff Sergeant

Kenneth James Patton from McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, Allegheny county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: February 2, 1968
Death details: On February 2, 1968, a UH-1H Iroquois (tail number 66-16442) carrying three passengers and two crew members was making a ground radar controlled approach to Da Nang Air Base when the ground controller suddenly and unexpectedly lost radio and radar contact with the aircraft. The entire crew was lost along with the helicopter. Several months later in May 1968, the aircraft was discovered to have crashed in a heavily-wooded gully with dense underbrush. Some remains were recovered but could not be identified as any of the crew members. Subsequent efforts to locate the crew’s remains have been unsuccessful.

Specialist 5 Kenneth James Patton entered the U.S. Army from Pennsylvania and served in Troop B, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He was the crew chief of the helicopter when it crashed on February 2, 1968, and his remains were not recovered. Following the incident, the Army promoted SP5 Patton to the rank of Staff Sergeant. Today, Staff Sergeant Patton is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives., Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Puggi, Joseph David
Army Sergeant 1st class

Joseph David Puggi from Pleasantville, New Jersey.

Date of death: February 2, 1968
Death details:  On February 2, 1968, a UH-1H Iroquois (tail number 66-16442) carrying three passengers and two crew members was making a ground radar controlled approach to Da Nang Air Base when the ground controller suddenly and unexpectedly lost radio and radar contact with the aircraft. The entire crew was lost along with the helicopter. Several months later in May 1968, the aircraft was discovered to have crashed in a heavily-wooded gully with dense underbrush. Some remains were recovered but could not be identified as any of the crew members. Subsequent efforts to locate the crew’s remains have been unsuccessful.

Staff Sergeant Joseph David Puggi entered the U.S. Army from New Jersey and served in Troop B, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He was a passenger aboard the helicopter when it crashed on February 2, 1968, and his remains were not recovered. Following the incident, the Army promoted SSG Puggi to the rank of Sergeant First Class. Today, Sergeant First Class Puggi is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Sources: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Pringle, Joe Harold Army sergeant master

Joe Harold Pringle from Horner, West Virginia, Lewis county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Friday, February 2, 1968
Death details:  On February 2, 1968, a UH-1H Iroquois (tail number 66-16442) carrying three passengers and two crew members was making a ground radar controlled approach to Da Nang Air Base when the ground controller suddenly and unexpectedly lost radio and radar contact with the aircraft. The entire crew was lost along with the helicopter. Several months later in May 1968, the aircraft was discovered to have crashed in a heavily-wooded gully with dense underbrush. Some remains were recovered but could not be identified as any of the crew members. Subsequent efforts to locate the crew’s remains have been unsuccessful.

Sergeant First Class (SFC) Joe Harold Pringle entered the U.S. Army from West Virginia and served in Troop B, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He was a passenger aboard the helicopter when it crashed and his remains were not recovered. Following the incident, the Army promoted SFC Pringle to the rank of Sergeant Major. Today, Sergeant Major Pringle is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Burnham, Donald Dawson
Army Lieutenant colonel

Donald Dawson Burnham from Webb, Alabama, Houston county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Friday, February 2, 1968

Death details: On February 2, 1968, a UH-1H Iroquois (tail number 66-16442) carrying three passengers and two crew members was making a ground radar controlled approach to Da Nang Air Base when the ground controller suddenly and unexpectedly lost radio and radar contact with the aircraft. The entire crew was lost along with the helicopter. Several months later in May 1968, the aircraft was discovered to have crashed in a heavily-wooded gully with dense underbrush. Some remains were recovered but could not be identified as any of the crew members. Subsequent efforts to locate the crew’s remains have been unsuccessful.

Captain Donald Dawson Burnham entered the U.S. Army from Alabama and served in Troop B, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He was the pilot of the helicopter when it crashed on February 2, 1968, and his remains were not recovered. Following the incident, the Army promoted CPT Burnham to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (LTC). Today, Lieutenant Colonel Burnham is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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