Sea King crash 23 May 1967

Pettis, Thomas Edwin
Navy Lieutenant (junior grade)

Thomas Edwin Pettis, age 25, from Mobile, Alabama, Mobile county.

Service era: Vietnam
Military history: Purple Heart

Date of death: Tuesday, May 23, 1967

Death details: 

On May 23, 1967, an SH-3A Sea King (bureau 148985, call sign “Chink”) with a crew of four took off from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CVS 12) in the Gulf of Tonkin on a search and rescue mission. On their approach, the crew radioed that they expected to be at the destination within half an hour, but made no further contact and was not seen again. A radio check was conducted on all frequencies, but contact with the crew could not be re-established. The helicopter never returned to the Hornet. Aerial and surface searches continued but none of the crew members were ever recovered.

Lieutenant Junior Grade Thomas Edwin Pettis, who joined the U.S. Navy from Alabama, served with Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 2 aboard the Hornet. He was the pilot of the Sea King when it disappeared, and he remains unaccounted for. Today, Lieutenant Junior Grade Pettis is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual’s case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.

Cemetery: Memorialized at Mobile National

Source: National Archives, grave marker, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Homuth, Richard Wendal
Navy Lieutenant

Richard Wendal Homuth, age 30, from Spring Valley, California, San Diego county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Tuesday, May 23, 1967
Death details: On May 23, 1967, an SH-3A Sea King (bureau 148985, call sign “Chink”) with a crew of four took off from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CVS 12) in the Gulf of Tonkin on a search and rescue mission. On their approach, the crew radioed that they expected to be at the destination within half an hour, but made no further contact and was not seen again. A radio check was conducted on all frequencies, but contact with the crew could not be re-established. The helicopter never returned to the Hornet. Aerial and surface searches continued but none of the crew members were ever recovered. Lieutenant Richard Wendal Homuth, who joined the U.S. Navy from California, was a member of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 2, embarked aboard the Hornet. He was the copilot aboard this Sea King when it went missing, and was lost with the aircraft. His remains were not recovered. After the incident, the Navy promoted LT Homuth to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. Today, Lieutenant Commander Homuth is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual’s case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Schmittou, Eureka Lavern
Navy Petty officer 1st class

Eureka Lavern Schmittou, age 38, from Ringgold, Texas, Montague county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Tuesday, May 23, 1967
Death details: On May 23, 1967, an SH-3A Sea King (bureau 148985, call sign “Chink”) with a crew of four took off from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CVS 12) in the Gulf of Tonkin on a search and rescue mission. On their approach, the crew radioed that they expected to be at the destination within half an hour, but made no further contact and was not seen again. A radio check was conducted on all frequencies, but contact with the crew could not be re-established. The helicopter never returned to the Hornet. Aerial and surface searches continued but none of the crew members were ever recovered. Aircrew Survival Equipmentman Second Class Eureka Lavern Schmittou, who joined the U.S. Navy from Texas, was a member of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 2, embarked aboard the Hornet. He was a crew member aboard the Sea King when it went missing, and was lost with the aircraft. His remains were not recovered. After the incident, the Navy promoted PR2 Schmittou to the rank of Aircrew Survival Equipmentman First Class (PR1). Today, Aircrew Survival Equipmentman First Class Schmittou is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual’s case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Soucy, Ronald Philip Sr.
Navy Aviation machinist’s mate 2

Ronald Philip Sr. Soucy, age 30, from Whitting Lake, Indiana, Lake county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Tuesday, May 23, 1967
Death details: On May 23, 1967, an SH-3A Sea King (bureau 148985, call sign “Chink”) with a crew of four took off from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CVS 12) in the Gulf of Tonkin on a search and rescue mission. On their approach, the crew radioed that they expected to be at the destination within half an hour, but made no further contact and was not seen again. A radio check was conducted on all frequencies, but contact with the crew could not be re-established. The helicopter never returned to the Hornet. Aerial and surface searches continued but none of the crew members were ever recovered. Aviation Machinist’s Mate (Jet Engines) Second Class Ronald Philip Soucy, who joined the U.S. Navy from Indiana, was a member of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 2, embarked aboard the Hornet. He was a crew member aboard the Sea King when it went missing, and was lost with the aircraft. His remains were not recovered. After the incident, the Navy promoted ADJ2 Soucy to the rank of Aviation Machinist’s Mate (Jet Engines) First Class (ADJ1). Today, Aviation Machinist’s Mate (Jet Engines) First Class Soucy is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual’s case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency 

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