If you knew or served with this Marine and have additional information or photos to support this Page,
please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s)
HERE
Travel to family in CONUS From Hawaii & To Reuions, WW2, Korea & Vietnam
Other Comments:
Vietnam Air Force Pilot Wings
My GySgt Rank came 3 months before I retired when the new E-8 E-9 ranks took full effect. I had a one year letter in to CMC for retirement & could not be promoted. I had been a MSGt E-7 since 1957, served as Personnel Sgt Major, Line Chief, Maintenence Chief, S-4 logistics Chief, S-3 Ops Chief. Had recived USAF/VNAF pilot wings on contract(after retirement USMC) at USAF Advisory Group-Vietnam 1964-1968). Also had Vietnamese award not shown on the available items.Served as Senior CH53 Rep for 14 Years on Okinawa Japan with MAG-36 (1973-1987). During those years was deployed to Korea each year for"Team Spirit Exercise". Also support of units in Cubi Pt PI. Was on the LPH Okinawa for Opertaion "Frequent Winds" Apr 1975 Evacuation of Saigon. Was deployed to Diego Garcia than to Oman in support of prepartion for rescue of prisoners in Iran Late Nov 1979 .Prisoners were released when Regan was elected as President WW II to Viet Nam
Other Memories Re: Helicopter Accidents Hanshin and Oppama, Japan I had been evacuated from Korea VMO-6 about 1 March 1954 to the yokota Naval Hospital. Than on 5 Mar I was assigned to the H-19 Rescue Det at MAG-11. I flew Co-pilot with Capt Lantz several times. He was happy about recieveing a letter from CMC designating him a Regular from his Reserve status. On the fatal flight 19 March I was suited up to fly with Capt Lantz when one of the NCOs begged to take the flight wanting to see Tokoyo. Cant recall his name. I guess it was his time instead of mine . I would like to get the names of those that was in the helicopter. Re: Helicopter Accidents Hanshin and Oppama, Japan With many thanks to Craig Fuller of AAIR, I am able to fill in the details of this sad incident.
On the 19th of March 1954, Captain Gerald R. Lentz took off from NAS Atsugi, Japan, flying a HRS-3 helicopter, BuNo 130206 of H&MS 11, MAG-11 of 1 MAW, on a round robin to Hardy Barracks, Tokyo, Japan. After discharging a passenger at Hardy Barracks Captain Lentz proceded on the return leg of the round robin from Tokyo to Atsugi. At 11.10 hours, when approx 5 miles NW of Yokohama and at an altitude of 450 feet, the main transmission left the airframe with all three blades attached. Almost simultaneously upon leaving the airframe, one of the blades struck the tail cone, severing it from the rest of the fuselage.
Cpl Harry J. Pitre flying in the LH side seat and MSgt Alexander N. Clark in the forward cabin seat also perished in the crash.
Re: Helicopter Accidents Hanshin and Oppama, Japan Thank you sir . It was one sad memory after 57 years details was mixed. Pitre spared my life and as always there is the "why me"? I remember him as being from Louisana and being so happy to get to fly to Tokoyo. I knew they were to pick up a passenger or passengers didnt know how many. Capt Lentz was the only Pilot we had during the short period I had been there & I flew Copilot with him several flights. After being grounded for a month while the accident was being investigated I was transferred to HMR-363 at MCAS Santa Ana. SF PM
