This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Sgt Thomas Rudolph (Rudy/Black Cloud)
to remember
Marine Capt Jeffery Stewart Wright.
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Contact Info
Home Town Conyers
Last Address Conyers, Georgia
Date of Passing Nov 04, 1992
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
During a night training exercise on 4 November 1992, the air crew of a CH-53E (Bu.No.163064), including pilot Capt Jeffrey Wright, were killed when their CH-53E went down 37 miles east of the coast of the Canary Islands. Conditions were foggy at the time. The helicopter was operating off the USS Guam (LBH-9), an amphibious assault ship. All were members of the HMM-261, MAG-26, 2nd MAW, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. (Landing Force 6th Fleet LF6F 92-93).
Crew:
1st Lt. Mark Gruber (co-pilot) (remains recovered)
Capt. Jeffrey Wright (pilot) (BNR)
SSgt. Dennis R. Dwyer (BNR)
LCpl. Scott B. Paul (crew chief) (BNR)
LCpl. Kenneth W. Saunders Jr. (BNR)
Capt Wright has a memorial marker in Arlington National Cemetery,,Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, Plot Memorial Section H.
Other Comments:
Nov 4, 1992 Capt. Wright was killed while flying in some not so perfect weather conditions while on LF6F 92-93. Capt. Wright you were a brother and you will always be missed. Semper Fi
Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron (HMR) 261, the "Raging Bulls", was activated on 5 April, 1951 at MCAS Cherry Point, N.C. Throughout its history, the squadron has carried the tail code of "EM" on its aircraft.
In 1954, the squadron moved from MCAS Cherry Point to its current home, MCAS New River, North Carolina. In October 1954, HMR-261 embarked its HRS helicopters on the USS Saipan (CVL-48) and sailed for Haiti where they flew humanitarian assistance/disaster relief missions following Hurricane Hazel. In 1956, the squadron was redesignated Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron (Light) 261 (HMR(L)-261) to reflect the acquisition of the H-34 Choctaw to replace its HRS-1 helicopters. The squadron was the first helicopter squadron to conduct troop lifts on the East coast. In 1961, the squadron was redesignated Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 261 (HMM-261). The squadron was, by then, flying the UH-34D helicopter. During 1962, HMM-261 was embarked aboard the USS Boxer (CV-21) and subsequently the USS Thetis Bay (CVE-90) for support during the Cuban Blockade. Returning to MCAF New River, HMM 261 was deployed to the southern United States during the Civil Rights Movement to support freedom marches in the spring of 1963. Returning to MAG-26, MCAF New River, HMM-261 prepared to stand down for subsequent transfer of its colors to the Western Pacific.
