davet
Crewmember
Posts: 8
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Post by davet on Apr 26, 2011 21:10:30 GMT -6
There is now a memorial at the crash site In memory of the aircrew and passengers of
CH-3E, 65-05692, call sign PONY 1-2
That were lost here March 12, 1989
May they rest in peace Memorial Day Tribute May 2010. Braving temperatures that were topping 100 degrees, I set out to remember forgotten heroes who died in the crash of their CH-3E helicopter. Earlier this year, I had located the micro site and planned to return with a marker for the crash site victims due to the great loss of life, 4 aircrew and 11 passengers. I thought they deserved something to mark the desolate desert site. I had just finished the marker and I was going to be in the area on Memorial Day so I thought it would be a good time to place it. I planted the marker next to a small tree and just in front of the impact site. I then read off the list of the names of the fallen and then gave a final salute. My hope is that the marker will last for years. I have checked the marker recently and it is doing fine. My hope is that it will be there for anyone who wants to visit the site. Sincerly DaveTrojan |
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Post by armamentdawg on May 18, 2011 1:17:22 GMT -6
I am in awe at your efforts, and success in this matter. If Im ever in AZ, I will be sure to stop in at the memorial site.
May they forever Rest in Peace
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Post by Mike G on Feb 23, 2012 19:45:42 GMT -6
CH-3E, 65-05692, "Pony12" stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base crashed 12 Mar 89 in a desolate desert region 20 miles Northwest of Tucson. The Air Force Helicopter with an Air Force Reserve crew of 4 had an 11 member Army Special Forces Team aboard from Fort Bragg North Carolina. All were lost in the crash. The accident occurred during joint service training exercises. I'm looking for more info concerning this crash. I'm interested because I worked on CH-3 helicopters for 4 years. I live in Arizona and want to visit the crash site and place a memorial at the crash location. Thanks in advance for any help with this research. |
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Post by phatgal on May 26, 2012 4:45:48 GMT -6
Hi Mike, I will never forget the phone call I received that night from Chip, "Something terrible has happened, but don't worry, I am okay." A horrible event for all concerned. I hope you are well. Please email me if you see this: thephatgal@gmail.com MJ Today marks 22 years since the loss of so many sons, fathers, brothers and comrades-in-arms. Our memories of them are still strong, and so is the military of the United States to which they dedicated themselves, and gave all. Thanks to all who have helped keep the memories alive and active, and preserved this history here and in other ways. Mike Davidson Maj, USA-Ret 5th SFGA |
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Post by Sherry Humphrey on Aug 25, 2012 4:20:43 GMT -6
Dear Mr Trojan - I am the aunt of SSGT Robert L. Griswold. I never knew the truth about what happened that day. Thank you for all you have done. Robert is still remembered, loved and missed everyday. God bless you always.
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Post by maradams on Nov 8, 2012 23:02:01 GMT -6
Dave,
I would be very interested in any and all info you have on this crash including the detailed pictures.There are still so many questions unanswered not only for me but my children.I am the wife of the late SSgt.John Warren Bigler II 5th group Special Forces who was on board . If anyone would like to share info with me my e-mail address follows.Thanks in advance.Mary "Shelli" Bigler
mar.adams@mail.com
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Post by Pam Fuller on Aug 2, 2014 20:35:44 GMT -6
Dear Mr Trojan - I am the aunt of SSGT Robert L. Griswold. I never knew the truth about what happened that day. Thank you for all you have done. Robert is still remembered, loved and missed everyday. God bless you always. |
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Post by Pam Fullet on Aug 2, 2014 20:43:43 GMT -6
My husband Darrell was a childhood friend of one of the men killed, Robert L. Griswold. They kept in touch while both were in the Army through the early 1980s then lost touch while Robert was in Italy and my husband in Germany. He still has all the letters Robert wrote while they were in touch and over the years we would occasionally try to find him via the Internet. We were shocked and saddened to learn earlier this year of this crash and his death. We appreciate your research to give the loved ones answers. We would still be in the dark if not for this thread. Our hearts go out to all of the families and in particular Robert's family. Thank you.
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Davit, I can tell you what hap
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Post by Davit, I can tell you what hap on Oct 25, 2014 19:56:59 GMT -6
I was assgined to the 1550th CCTW Kirltand AFB New mexico in 1988. At the time our Skirsky Ch-3 branch heard of the accident and our senior Supervisor was asked to fly to Arizona for a in depth crash investigation. He returned to say the rotor blade sleave and spindle snapped and caused the rotor blade plus half the sleave and spindle to eject away from the aircraft. This cause Severe and violent shaking of the aircraft and subsquenty crash that killed everyone on board. After that accident, all Sikorsky CH-3E were grounded world wide and all sleave and spindles were replaced.
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Post by Julie Brown on Jan 14, 2015 9:14:54 GMT -6
My brother, Capt Alan C Brown, was on the helicopter. I have talked to David T. via email several times and he has sent pictures. I had plans to take my mother this past March to the crash site. Sadly, she was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and died 8 weeks later, just two months before our plans to go to the site. Thank you all for remembering these soldiers, those who did recovery from the crash, and those who keep their memories alive. I send out a special thanks to those of you who have gone to the site, placed memorials, and recorded those things to share with us. If any of you would like to contact me, my email is Julie.Brown.8000@gmail.com. I would like to go to the crash site very soon, and yes, I would like to see a permanent memorial placed there, too. Recently, my friend went to Ft Bragg and looked for the memorial with the soldiers names on it. She was told that the memorial with their names was moved to the base in Kentucky where the group was now stationed. My friend said that the memorial in Ft Bragg deserved their names because they fought for our country, even though they were stateside when they crashed. She made contact with someone at Ft Bragg who said they could make that happen. I will keep any of you posted who would like to know.
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Post by jnr421 on Mar 24, 2015 15:53:27 GMT -6
I was just reminiscing and came across this website. Larry R. was one of the most special, unique, wonderful and unforgettable persons that I have or will ever have known. His entire family was special. I am glad to have stumbled on these postings to remember a hero in my life.....hero not just for the heroic acts for which he was commended but for the incredible way in which he lived.
thanks for taking the time to search for the remnants of that horrific night. Truth is....Larry used to say on nights that he was flying that he was "protecting the Country!!" Truth is, he was just doing it because he loved doing it and even if they didn't pay him he would have done it for free. He did it because he loved to fly the chopper and he loved the guys tht he did it with even more.
If he can read this from heaven I hope he smiles and hears the buffarillo's calling out and recognizing who they are.......
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Post by DaveTr on Jun 1, 2016 23:25:45 GMT -6
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Post by La Posada on Jan 30, 2017 0:41:52 GMT -6
Today marks 22 years since the loss of so many sons, fathers, brothers and comrades-in-arms. Our memories of them are still strong, and so is the military of the United States to which they dedicated themselves, and gave all. Thanks to all who have helped keep the memories alive and active, and preserved this history here and in other ways. Mike Davidson Maj, USA-Ret 5th SFGA |
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Post by Mike Williams on Apr 18, 2017 5:23:27 GMT -6
There were parts of two SF Teams on the Helo that night. ODA-591 and ODA 593, I had just given up command of ODA-591 to Al Brown a month before and had taken command of the freefall team in that company. My new team and I were at El Centro Naval Air Station, CA and were to join the rest of the company at Gila Bend the next day. We got the call enroute and diverted to Luke AFB, and then flew to the crash site to assist in the recovery. From the debris we found and some of the investigators we talked to it looked like the aircraft spiraled in, I heard several years later that one of the rotor blades came off in flight and sheared off the tail boom.
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Post by mark harris on Nov 10, 2018 7:47:30 GMT -6
I was in the 302nd. sos squadron at the time of the crash. I knew the aircrew. we actually operated from luke afb. our commander lt col rolle was pilot. I also knew malte who was a great chef as well. this was a small tight squadron. after our reserve weekends we had the elebrated byob party sunday evening. Malte and col rolle were the best comrades a soldier could have. no matter how badly you screwed up Col. Rolle would roll his eyes and smile and tell you to better next time. Malte was especially good to the new guys. He was a sweet man who adored his family and his squadron mates. he was also a world class chef. the squadron was devastated and we were disbanded a short time afterward when it became an F-16 unit and moved to D.M. The story I heard from a flight mech who was there was that it was very dark. a 2 ship formation. they said a bolt had separated from the main roto hit a blade and was flung into the tail rotor. they were at 5000 feet agl. the chopper went down s fast that the other ship which was slightly lead didn't realalize for a few minutes what had happned.when the turned back the ship was on fire. they couldn't get close as the ammo from the green berets was going off everywhere.I think of those brave guys every veterans day. I miss you guys always.
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