U6A Beaver 3 January 1971

Palen, Carl Anthony
Army Specialist 6

Carl Anthony Palen, age 23, from Dubuque, Iowa, Dubuque county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: January 3, 1971

Military History: 61st Assault Helicopter Company

Death details: On January 3, 1971, a U-6A Beaver (tail number 52-2584) took off carrying a pilot and six passengers on an administrative support flight from Qui Nhon to Ban Me Thuot, South Vietnam. The flight was over mountainous terrain and flown in inclement weather. Radar contact was lost with the aircraft fourteen miles southeast of Phu Cat, South Vietnam, in the vicinity of (GC) BR 960 250, and the U-6A never reached Ban Me Thuot. Attempts to locate the aircraft, pilot, or any of the passengers following the disappearance were unsuccessful.

Specialist 5 Carl Anthony Palen entered the U.S. Army from Iowa and was a member of the 61st Aviation Company, 223rd Aviation Battalion, 17th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade. He was a passenger on board this U-6A when it was lost on January 3, 1971, and he remains unaccounted-for. After the incident, the Army promoted SP5 Palen to the rank of Sergeant First Class (SFC). Today, Sergeant First Class Palen is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Dubuque Telegraph Herald (2014), Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Holguin, Luis Gallegos
Army Chief warrant officer 3

Luis Gallegos Holguin, age 20, from Oxnard, California, Ventura county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, January 3, 1971
Death details: On January 3, 1971, a U-6A Beaver (tail number 52-2584) took off carrying a pilot and six passengers on an administrative support flight from Qui Nhon to Ban Me Thuot, South Vietnam. The flight was over mountainous terrain and flown in inclement weather. Radar contact was lost with the aircraft fourteen miles southeast of Phu Cat, South Vietnam, in the vicinity of (GC) BR 960 250, and the U-6A never reached Ban Me Thuot. Attempts to locate the aircraft, pilot, or any of the passengers following the disappearance were unsuccessful. Warrant Officer 1 Luis Gallegos Holguin entered the U.S. Army from California and was a member of the 61st Aviation Company, 223rd Aviation Battalion, 17th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade. He was a passenger aboard this aircraft when it was lost on January 3, 1971, and he remains unaccounted-for. After the incident, the Army promoted WO1 Holguin to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 3 (CWO3). Today, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Holguin is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Magee, Patrick Joseph
Army Specialist 6

Patrick Joseph Magee, age 24, from Montana, Madison county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, January 3, 1971
Death details: On January 3, 1971, a U-6A Beaver (tail number 52-2584) took off carrying a pilot and six passengers on an administrative support flight from Qui Nhon to Ban Me Thuot, South Vietnam. The flight was over mountainous terrain and flown in inclement weather. Radar contact was lost with the aircraft fourteen miles southeast of Phu Cat, South Vietnam, in the vicinity of (GC) BR 960 250, and the U-6A never reached Ban Me Thuot. Attempts to locate the aircraft, pilot, or any of the passengers following the disappearance were unsuccessful. Specialist 6 Patrick Joseph Magee entered the U.S. Army from Montana and was a member of the 61st Aviation Company, 223rd Aviation Battalion, 17th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade. He was a passenger on board this U-6A when it was lost, and remains unaccounted for. Today, Specialist 6 Magee is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Okerlund, Thomas Richard
Army Chief warrant officer 3

Thomas Richard Okerlund, age 22, from Seattle, Washington, King county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, January 3, 1971
Death details: On January 3, 1971, a U-6A Beaver (tail number 52-2584) took off carrying a pilot and six passengers on an administrative support flight from Qui Nhon to Ban Me Thuot, South Vietnam. The flight was over mountainous terrain and flown in inclement weather. Radar contact was lost with the aircraft fourteen miles southeast of Phu Cat, South Vietnam, in the vicinity of (GC) BR 960 250, and the U-6A never reached Ban Me Thuot. Attempts to locate the aircraft, pilot, or any of the passengers following the disappearance were unsuccessful. Warrant Officer 1 Thomas Richard Okerlund entered the U.S. Army from Washington and was a member of the 61st Aviation Company, 223rd Aviation Battalion, 17th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade. He was a passenger aboard this U-6A when it was lost, and remains unaccounted for. After the incident, the U.S. Army promoted Warrant Officer 1 Okerlund to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 3. Today, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Okerlund is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Omelia, Dennis William
Army Chief warrant officer 3

Dennis William Omelia, age 19, from Smithfield, North Carolina, Johnston county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, January 3, 1971
Death details: On January 3, 1971, a U-6A Beaver (tail number 52-2584) took off carrying a pilot and six passengers on an administrative support flight from Qui Nhon to Ban Me Thuot, South Vietnam. The flight was over mountainous terrain and flown in inclement weather. Radar contact was lost with the aircraft fourteen miles southeast of Phu Cat, South Vietnam, in the vicinity of (GC) BR 960 250, and the U-6A never reached Ban Me Thuot. Attempts to locate the aircraft, pilot, or any of the passengers following the disappearance were unsuccessful. Warrant Officer 1 Dennis William O’Melia entered the U.S. Army from North Carolina and was a member of the 61st Aviation Company, 223rd Aviation Battalion, 17th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade. He was a passenger aboard this U-6A when it was lost on January 3, 1971, and he remains unaccounted-for. After the incident, the U.S. Army promoted WO1 O’Melia to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 3 (CWO3). Today, Chief Warrant Officer 3 O’Melia is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Parsons, Michael Duane
Army Captain

Michael Duane Parsons, age 25, from Reno, Nevada, Washoe county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, January 3, 1971
Death details: On January 3, 1971, a U-6A Beaver (tail number 52-2584) took off carrying a pilot and six passengers on an administrative support flight from Qui Nhon to Ban Me Thuot, South Vietnam. The flight was over mountainous terrain and flown in inclement weather. Radar contact was lost with the aircraft fourteen miles southeast of Phu Cat, South Vietnam, in the vicinity of (GC) BR 960 250, and the U-6A never reached Ban Me Thuot. Attempts to locate the aircraft, pilot, or any of the passengers following the disappearance were unsuccessful. First Lieutenant Michael Duane Parsons entered the U.S. Army from Nevada and was a member of the 61st Aviation Company, 223rd Aviation Battalion, 17th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade. He was a passenger on board this U-6A when it was lost, and remains unaccounted for. After the incident, First Lieutenant Parsons was promoted to the rank of Captain. Today, Captain Parsons is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Rhodes, Ferris Ansel Jr.
Army Major

Ferris Ansel Jr. Rhodes, age 34, from Greenwood, South Carolina, Greenwood county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, January 3, 1971
Death details: On January 3, 1971, a U-6A Beaver (tail number 52-2584) took off carrying a pilot and six passengers on an administrative support flight from Qui Nhon to Ban Me Thuot, South Vietnam. The flight was over mountainous terrain and flown in inclement weather. Radar contact was lost with the aircraft fourteen miles southeast of Phu Cat, South Vietnam, in the vicinity of (GC) BR 960 250, and the U-6A never reached Ban Me Thuot. Attempts to locate the aircraft, pilot, or any of the passengers following the disappearance were unsuccessful. Captain Ferris Ansel Rhodes Jr. entered the U.S. Army from South Carolina and was a member of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 223rd Aviation Battalion, 17th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade. He was the pilot of this U-6A when it was lost, and remains unaccounted for. After the incident, the U.S. Army promoted Captain Rhodes to the rank of Major. Today, Major Rhodes 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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