Incident Date 19690204 HMM-362 UH-34D 143965+ – HMM-362 UH-34D 150212+ – Mid-air Collision
[CREW]
Opsahl, James Dean 1stLT Pilot HMM-362 SLF “A” 1969-02-04 (vvm 33W:058)
Niccoli, Gregory Jerome LCpl Gunner HMM-362 SLF “A” 1969-02-04 (vvm 33W:057)
Knudtson, Roger Douglas 1stLT Co-Pilot HMM-362 SLF “A” 1969-02-04 (vvm 33W:058)
Houck II, Lawrence Emanuel 1stLT Pilot HMM-362 SLF “A” 1969-02-04 (vvm 33W:057)
Harrington, John Dee LCpl Crew Chief HMM-362 SLF “A” 1969-02-04 (vvm 33W:057)
Haglage, Andrew Martin 1stLT Co-Pilot HMM-362 SLF “A” 1969-02-04 (vvm 33W:056)
Green, Otis LCpl Gunner HMM-362 SLF “A” 1969-02-04 (vvm 33W:056)
Brubaker Jr., Joseph Harold Cpl Crew Chief HMM-362 SLF “A” 1969-02-04 (vvm 33W:054)
OPSAHL JAMES DEAN : 0103215 : USMCR : 1stLT : O2 : 7561 H-34 : 23 : BRITTON : SD : 19690204 : hostile, crash, land : Aircraft Commander : body recovered : Quang Nam (Da Nang) :04 : 19450519 : Cauc : Protestant/single : 33W : 058 : BuNo 150212
NICCOLI GREGORY JEROME : 2377109 : USMC : LCPL : E3 : 6332 : 22 : KENT : WA : 19690204 : hostile, crash, land : Crew : body recovered : Quang Nam (Da Nang) :01 : 19461222 : Cauc : Roman Catholic/single : 33W : 057 : BuNo 143965
KNUDTSON ROGER DOUGLAS : 0101597 : USMCR : 1stLT : O2 : 7561 H-34 : 24 : FAIRFIELD : ND : 19690204 : hostile, crash, land : Crew : body recovered :Quang Nam (Da Nang) :04 : 19440605 : Cauc : Protestant/married : 33W : 058 : BuNo 143965
HOUCK LAWRENCE EMANUEL II : 0100336 : USMCR : 1stLT : O2 : 7561 H-34 : 25 : HARRISBURG : PA : 19690204 : hostile, crash, land : Aircraft Commander : body recovered :Quang Nam (Da Nang) :02 : 19440126 : Cauc : Protestant/married : 33W : 057 : BuNo 143965
HARRINGTON JOHN DEE : 2230390 : USMC : LCPL : E3 : 6351 : 20 : PHOENIX : AZ : 19690204 : hostile, crash, land : CrewChief : body recovered : Quang Nam (Da Nang) :02 : 19480410 : Cauc : Roman Catholic/single : 33W : 057 : BuNo 150212
HAGLAGE ANDREW MARTIN : 095498 : USMC : 1stLT : O2 : 7561 H-34 : 25 : BATAVIA : OH : 19690204 : hostile, crash, land : Crew : body recovered : Quang Nam (Da Nang) :04 : 19430913 : Cauc : Roman Catholic/single : 33W : 056 : BuNo 150212
GREEN OTIS : 2347189 : USMC : LCPL : E3 : 6332 : 19 : BRIDGETON : NJ : 19690204 : hostile, crash, land : Crew : body recovered : Quang Nam (Da Nang) :01 : 19490726 : Negro : Protestant/single : 33W : 056 : BuNo 150212
BRUBAKER JOSEPH HAROLD JR : 2195714 : USMC : CPL : E4 : 6332 : 22 : SUMMIT : PA : 19690204 : hostile, crash, land : CrewChief : body recovered : Quang Nam (Da Nang) :03 : 19461125 : Cauc : Protestant/single : 33W : 054 : BuNo 143965
Personal Narrative
I was flying north from Hill 55 when I noticed two H-34’s turning on the ground in front of us just south of Hill 10. I watched them as we flew overhead to make sure they did not take off underneath us.
As soon as we cleared them to the north, I switched to DASC to report mission complete. DASC asked me if I had seen a midair that was just reported near my position. I said I had not and turned the aircraft back toward the south.
I saw the two columns of smoke and headed toward the area of the mishap. Marines from the ground unit had already rushed to the area but could nothing due to the intense heat from the burning magnesium. We only found one body. No survivors.
The FAC with a ground unit, an H-34 pilot from that squadron, knew all the pilots and crew. They had stopped to say “hi.” He stated, through tears, that as they took off dash two ran up underneath lead and, raising the nose, cut off the tail rotor of lead. Lead nose-dived, then pitched up before impact, shuddered and exploded. Dash two burst into flame in the air and the wreckage fell to earth.
Submitted by: Terry M. Curtis, Pilot of CH-46, first aircraft on scene, 20030821
Personal Recollection
I traded hops with the pilot. That morning he was nervous about flying north and I had a mail run south. He asked to trade hops. I said yes … he looked very nervous – like he knew something was going to happen.
Submitted by: Arthur Fanning, I traded hops with the pilot, 20131118
Personal Commentary
I have searched for decades for information on this mid-air crash. I am confident from reading in this document this is the crash I witnessed from 1st Battalion 1st Regiment 1st Marines camp south of DaNang.
I along with a Major from air liaison were first on the scene of the exploding helicopters. For authentication Operation Mameluke Thrust was happening. Our 105mm arty just fired a fire mission when I saw 2 helicopters come together in flight. I remember a lower aircraft collided with the upper. I have forever wondered if the arty was the cause.
I and the Major climbed into a jeep and raced down the road until we had to stop. The aircraft debris field lay just ahead of us; the crafts fell on the road. Everything was exploding. Soon there was an air cap forming overhead. Different types and kinds at different altitudes. I remember one helo broke apart and fell while the other seemed to be destroyed in air. After a time ground support arrived from our camp. There was nothing we could do as a rescue.
Submitted by: Walter Olschewske, Ground Witness, 20110315
Research Narrative
HMM-362 was under OPCON to MAG-36 01-13 Feb 1969. The MAG-36 Cmd
Chronology (Texas Tech 1201078302.pdf) places the mid-air at AT990650
which is 11 KM south of Danang City (not air base).
For reference, Hill 10 was at AT923691 and Hill 55 at AT970620.
Submitted by: Ken Davis, Researcher, The Virtual Wall, 20080903
Personal Narrative
I stumbled upon this site tonight while surfing the web and just doing a little research on Marine units I’d been assigned to. What a surprise when I found this information.
I was a proud member of the Ugly Angels of HMM-362 from July ’68 thru May ’69. The mid air collision described in this incident involved the bird I was assigned to fly as a gunner that day; however, shortly before we were due to depart, I was reassigned to another bird for another mission to the North.
When I returned to the line shack that night, I was met with surprised stares from those present. A glance at the flight board showed why. No one had updated the crew assignments and I was shown as a crew member in the mid air – “KIA” had been written at he end of the line. I have recently retired from a very active 33 year career in law enforcement with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and I can honestly say I’ve never experienced the feelings that went through me on that night. I only knew Brubaker and Green a short time, but they were good guys and it hurt to loose them. I did not know the others very well, but as fellow Marines, I will always keep them in my memory.
Submitted by: Patrick Soll, Friend of deceased, 20061211
Headstone – Arlington National Cemetery
“BROTHERHOOD” – Buried together at Arlington
Submitted by: POPASMOKE Admin, 20050220