Otter 23 December 1970

McAndrews, Michael William
Army Warrant officer 1st class

Michael William McAndrews, age 22, from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Broward county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Wednesday, December 23, 1970

Death details:  On December 23, 1970, a U-1A Otter (tail number: 55-3298; call sign: Reliable 298) with a crew of three embarked on a courier mission over the Republic of (South) Vietnam. Witnesses on the ground saw the aircraft break into two pieces in mid-air approximately ten miles south of Tuy Hoa Air Base. The aircraft was said to be on fire when it split apart (vicinity of 49P CQ 285 350). Two rescue helicopters arrived on the scene within minutes and conducted an extensive aerial search for survivors along the coastline. Ground searches were also conducted, but were unsuccessful in finding any remains. The three men aboard the Otter are still unaccounted for.

Warrant Officer One (WO1) Michael William McAndrews, who joined the U.S. Army from Florida, served with the 18th Aviation Company, 223rd Aviation Battalion, 17th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade. He was the aircraft commander aboard the Otter when it went down, and his remains were not recovered. Today, WO McAndrews is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Cemetery: Memorialized at Arlington National

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

Wiseman, Bain Wendell Jr.
Army Warrant officer 1st class

Bain Wendell Wiseman Jr., age 23, from New Mexico, Sierra county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Wednesday, December 23, 1970

Death details: On December 23, 1970, a U-1A Otter (tail number: 55-3298; call sign: Reliable 298) with a crew of three embarked on a courier mission over the Republic of (South) Vietnam. Witnesses on the ground saw the aircraft break into two pieces in mid-air approximately ten miles south of Tuy Hoa Air Base. The aircraft was said to be on fire when it split apart (vicinity of 49P CQ 285 350). Two rescue helicopters arrived on the scene within minutes and conducted an extensive aerial search for survivors along the coastline. Ground searches were also conducted, but were unsuccessful in finding any remains. The three men aboard the Otter are still unaccounted for.

Warrant Officer One (WO1) Bain Wendell Wiseman, who joined the U.S. Army from New Mexico, served with the 18th Aviation Company, 223rd Aviation Battalion, 17th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade. He was the pilot of the Otter when it went down, and his remains were not recovered. Today, WO1 Wiseman is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

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

Booth, Gary Preston
Army Specialist 4

Gary Preston Booth, age 20, from Olympia, Washington, Thurston county.

Service era: Vietnam
Schools: Mount Saint Helens High (1968)

Date of death: Wednesday, December 23, 1970
Death details: On December 23, 1970, a U-1A Otter (tail number: 55-3298; call sign: Reliable 298) with a crew of three embarked on a courier mission over the Republic of (South) Vietnam. Witnesses on the ground saw the aircraft break into two pieces in mid-air approximately ten miles south of Tuy Hoa Air Base. The aircraft was said to be on fire when it split apart (vicinity of 49P CQ 285 350). Two rescue helicopters arrived on the scene within minutes and conducted an extensive aerial search for survivors along the coastline. Ground searches were also conducted, but were unsuccessful in finding any remains. The three men aboard the Otter are still unaccounted for. Specialist Four (SP4) Gary Preston Booth, who joined the U.S. Army from Washington, served with the 18th Aviation Company, 223rd Aviation Battalion, 17th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade. He was the crew chief aboard the Otter when it went down, and his remains were not recovered. Today, SP4 Booth is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Cemetery: Memorialized at Winlock, Washington

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, findagrave.com, Longview Daily News

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