THE WALL OF FACES

Never forgotten.

HOOAH

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us.

Specialist Four Franklin Darrell Ashley II, Served with the 335th Assault Helicopter Company, 268th Aviation Battalion, 17th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade, United States Army Vietnam. Montani Semper Liberi !

DEAR SPEC 4 ASHLEY,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS A FLIGHT QUALIFIED AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE APPRENTICE. REST IN PEACE.

At 1915 hours on the evening prior to the accident of March 20, 1969, the 335th Assault Helicopter Company closed home station, Bear Cat RVN, after being released from their mission. The 335th AHC had been notified that their aircraft would have to be dispersed on the night of March 20, 1969. Major Riley dispatched 8 UH-1H aircraft at 2130 hours from Bear Cat. The plan was to return to Bear Cat by 0545 hours, March 21, 1969, change crews as required, eat breakfast, and depart at 0700 hours, in time to meet mission report time. The eight ships departed Bear Cat in two flights, one of six ships, and one of two ships, at 2130 hours. By 2230 hours, March 20, 1969, all eight aircraft were shut down in "l" shaped revetments at Blackhorse. Between 0445 hours and 0505 hours on March 21, 1969, the crews were awakened by other crew members or by the sound of the lead aircraft cranking up. At approximately 0515 hours a ground communications check was initiated by Alpha flight lead, WO Knoblacuh. He then called Blackhorse tower for hover and line-up instructions for a flight of eight. Alpha lead received instructions, acknowledged them, and moved out to his position. Chalks 2 and 3 of Alpha flight moved out in order and took up the ip positions. Aircraft 380, belonging in Bravo flight from position assignments on March 20, 1969, hovered out in front of Bravo lead, and then remained as Chalk 4 in Alpha flight. Bravo lead then assumed the fifth position, and Alpha lead, which was on tower frequency, was unaware that he now had a flight of four. The rest of the line-up was accomplished without incident and at 0522 hours, Blackhorse tower cleared Alpha lead and a flight of eight (8) for takeoff to the east on Runway 11. Alpha lead initiated his takeoff and climb out still unaware that he had a fourth aircraft. At approximately 1000 feet indicated altitude (Blackhorse field elevation is 820 feet) he experienced a thin wisp of cloud or haze, and noticed low-hanging clouds to the northeast, or to his left. At this time he executed an abrupt 20 to 25 degree right bank and transmitted to the flight to "come up a loose, loose vee of three". Alpha chalks 2, 3, and 4 observed Alpha lead make his turn and began to turn and move out to their formation positions. Chalk 2 experienced haze or clouds and intermittent IFR (instrument flight rules) weather conditions. Chalk 3 could partially see the running light on alpha lead, but as he slipped left (east) to gain his position in the "vee", he also experienced intermittent IFR weather conditions, and did not break out completely until he reached 2000 feet indicated altitude. Aircraft 380, Alpha Chalk 4, moved to pick up his position centered behind lead to form a diamond. He did not begin a climb and attempted to descent below the level of the clouds until his pilot and crew members yelled "Trees!", and at a position not more than ten feet above the tree tops he initiated a normal climb. Simultaneously Bravo flight took off with no apparent separation between the flights. Bravo flight established a trail formation carrying out to the east for separation. Bravo lead entered a wisp of clouds or haze, and turned left, probably inadvertently, past a 90 degree heading so that his ground track and that of the tree ships behind him was in fact 050 degrees from the east end of Runway 11. He initiated and maintained a climb of 1000 feet per minute, 40 lbs. torque, and 60 knots indicated airspeed. Bravo Chalk 2, Chalk 3, and trail aircraft 385, continued on this ground track. Chalk 2 was climbing slowly at a rate estimated to be less than 300 feet per minute, and Chalk 3 was following him. Chalk 2 then transmitted, "Chalk 2, I’m in trouble, watch me…", he must have encountered, unexpectedly, the same IFR conditions the five previous ships had entered. Approximately one minute and twenty five seconds after liftoff, aircraft serial number 66-16928 turned right and crashed on a 210 degree heading. Alpha flight proceeded to Bearcat as a flight. Bravo lead began circling midway between Bearcat and Blackhorse, attempting to contact his aircraft. Bravo trail continued alone into Bearcat with UHF radio problems. At approximately 0535 hours or ten to fifteen minutes after takeoff, Bravo lead, aircraft 654, called Blackhorse tower and said he had found one aircraft, thinking he knew where 354 was, but was still missing one. The tower informed him of a report by a perimeter guard that a ship had crashed east of the compound. After searching through more intermittent IFR cloud conditions, Bravo lead located aircraft 928 at approximately 0630 hours, March 21, 1969. Lost crew members included aircraft commander 1LT Thomas M. Newman, pilot 1LT Thomas E. Jones Jr., crew chief SP4 Franklin D. Ashley II, and gunner PFC Robert E. Pierson. [Taken from vhpa.org]