Pegnitz 1971

38 US Army soldiers were killed in the the Pegnitz CH-47 crash of 1971. 34 members of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 56th Field Artillery Brigade and four members of the 4th Aviation Company died. Part of the Heavy Mortar Platoon from battalion headquarters were being transported from Ludwigsburg to Grafenwoehr for live fire training exercises aboard a CH-47A helicopter, airframe 66-19023. Fatigue failure of the rear rotor blade led to its failure; a rotor separated and caused structural damage. The helicopter crashed and exploded, killing all 38 on board.

CH-47A Airframe 66-19023

The Army accepted Airframe 66-19023 in December of 1966, and it was assigned to New Cumberland Army Depot. In 1967 it was reassigned a number of times- first to Fort Benning, Georgia, then to Fort Ord, California, Dugway Proving Grounds, Utah, and then moved to the Republic of Vietnam. From September 1967 through January 1969, 66-19023 was struck by small arms fire- a total of eleven rounds over six missions, taking damage to the structure, flight control components and the main rotor system. In each case, the aircraft was repaired in theater. In February 1969, 66-19023 was on the ground in the company area at Cu Chi. North Vietnamese forces penetrated the area and placed satchel charges near most of the unit aircraft, destroying fifteen aircraft and damaging a number of others. 66-19023 was heavily damaged, but repairable; it was returned to New Cumberland Army Depot for repairs. In August of 1970, it was transferred to the 4th Aviation Company, 15th Aviation Group in West Germany. One year later, 66-19023 crashed, killing all on board.

Memorial

A memorial was placed near the scene of the crash:

Deaths

• • 4th Aviation Company, 15th Aviation Group:

    • Captain James W. Hensley

    • CWO James H. Perry

    • SP5 Lawrence J. Angetini

    • SP4 Dennis A. Ferraro

  • Heavy Mortar Platoon, 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment:

    • 1LT John E. Echterling Jr.

    • 1LT Henry L. Pittard Jr.

    • SSG Paten L. Smith

    • SGT Terry E. Bowerman

    • SGT George J. Gongaware

    • SGT Christopher W. Pyzik

    • SGT Harold D. Dillaman Jr.

    • SP5 Russell L. Schober

    • SP4 Fernando Apodaca

    • PFC Ronald F. Scholl

    • PFC Arthur R. Kearney

    • PFC Roger M. Hartman

    • PFC Ronald R. Pestka

    • PFC Eric L. Landry

    • PFC Samuel M. Cherry

    • PFC David P. Dunks

    • PFC David W. Slaver

    • PFC Michael L. Annis

    • PFC Raymond T. Gadbois

    • PFC Lawrence H. Karaschin

    • PFC David A. Person

    • PFC Paul E. Hickson

    • PFC Charles E. Fife

    • PFC Jeffrey M. Vickerman

    • PFC Eddie W. Nichols

    • PFC Richard Willis

    • PFC Vernon L. Ailstock Jr.

    • PFC Noel Velez

    • PFC Mark P. Connors

    • PFC Edward A. Monnin Jr.

    • PFC Raymond H. Cork

    • PFC John P. Egelund

  • References

• 66-19023 History