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Marines, Corpsmen, & Others,
I’m assisting Jack Kull, HISTORIAN/Contractor for SNA International, working MACVSOG losses for the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), to help solve a mystery surrounding the crash of a CH-46 helicopter during a Special Operations Group (SOG) mission in Laos on March 3, 1967. This is an effort to uncover more information about what happened to the aircraft and to Special Forces SGT Howard Bruce Carpenter [Panel 16E Line 26] of Youngstown, Ohio, who was killed while defending the downed chopper and crew. He remains unaccounted for, and we’re hoping to bring more clarity to this long-standing mystery.
Here’s what we know so far:
– The CH-46 was disabled on March 3, 1967, while inserting a SOG Hatchet Force into the GOLF 6 target area in Laos as part of SLAM III. The front rotor hit a banana tree, rendering the aircraft inoperable.
– The CH-46 crew survived the crash and were successfully extracted several days later when the Hatchet Force was finally recovered.
– Carpenter was the only US KIA on that LZ.
– Not-related but Dom Borja, another SOG trooper, was lost Feb 21, 1967, in that same target area and remains unaccounted for.
– A USMC repair team was scheduled for insertion into the LZ for the following day, March 4, to attempt repairs on the CH-46, but that did not take place. The bird was ultimately abandoned due to increasing North Vietnamese Army (NVA) activity in the area.
– Airstrikes were called in to destroy the chopper. It is unclear whether the airstrikes fully destroyed the aircraft or what, if any wreckage remains.
– The body of SGT Howard Carpenter, who had been killed defending the crash site, was reportedly placed near the ramp of the CH-46. His remains have never been recovered. His casualty date is listed as March 6, 1967. His unit is listed as DET B-50 (PROJECT DELTA), CCN, MACV-SOG, 5TH SF GROUP, USARV.
– Records indicate that two CH-46s, BuNo 152540 and 151944, were lost within the March 1967 time frame, but both appear to have survived the war, raising further questions about the identity of the downed helicopter.
– Information in the DPAA case file suggests that Ronald Chellman may have associated with the downed CH-46 crew. NFI. Arlington has a grave marker for a Ronald Jerry Chellman (Died in 2005), LTC US Army. Not sure if this is the same person. Could he have transitioned from USMC to fly for Army?
– The location of the crash is believed to be in the A Shau Valley, literally on a ridgeline on the Lao-Vietnam border.
Questions for the community:
1. Does anyone recall a CH-46 crash in the A Shau Valley on March 3-4, 1967, particularly one where the front rotor was damaged upon insertion?
2. Does anyone remember the Marine unit or any personnel involved in the crash or the subsequent extraction on March 7, 1967?
3. Are there any records, logs, or declassified documents that reference a CH-46 loss in this timeframe and location?
4. Did any Marine aviation personnel participate in or have knowledge of the airstrikes called in on the downed CH-46?
5. Does anyone have any knowledge of SGT Howard Carpenter’s actions that day or his possible location at the time of extraction?
6. Can anyone provide information on Ronald Chellman and confirm whether he was indeed the pilot of the downed CH-46?
7. Are there any firsthand accounts or veteran recollections of this event that might help in identifying the exact location or the disposition of the helicopter and the missing personnel?
Any information, no matter how small, could be vital in piecing together the details of this mission and potentially helping to bring closure to the family of SGT Carpenter. If you have any details or can connect us with anyone who might, please post in the comments section below.
Thank you for your time and assistance.
Semper Fi
Photo: Source
Wally, I research out country aircraft losses over North Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. I found two possible CH-46As that might fit the date. One is from HMM-165 tail number 152526 damaged beyond repair on 3/3/1967 and written off on 3/22/1967 at Chu Lai, SVN. The second is tail number 152504 from HMM-265 written off on 3/2/1967 at Phu Bai, SVN.
The 3rd ARRG rescue log for 6 Mar 1967 states, “A CH-3C from the 20th HS braved intense hostile fire in evacuating 26 critically wounded troops from a besieged Army Special Forces Camp at A Shau, RVN, located near the Laotian border.”
Two other aircraft were lost during this time frame in the same area and may have been involved in this operation. One was a USAF CH-3C lost on 2 Mar 1967 with all three crewmen rescued and a VNAF CH-34D shot down on 4 Mar 1967. I hope this information will be helpful to you.
Thanks John. John Kull should see your comment and get back to you.
Hi Sir,
Many thanks for your time and efforts; greatly appreciated. The HMM-165 loss most closely tracks with available information. If any HMM 165 vets out there are reading this and recall the indecent (or recall hearing about it), please let me know.
At the time of this incident, I was a pilot with HMM-164 and had been supporting SOG out of Khe Sanh. Their command was 5th SF Group out of Phu Bai. My relief at SOG was then Major Chuck Pitman. HMM-165. He may have been involved at this time. I do recall my Assistant Maintenance Officer 1stLt P. T. Looney having spent the night with his downed CH-46 in the vicinity of Ashau while in support of SOG, and that they were greatful for the 50 cals. This would seem to fit the timing. Lt Looney may have been involved a bird with 165 at the time. The AAR’s from SOG should be available at either the National Archives or at Fort Bragg. When I had occasion to view some of their documents at the Archives, they were so redacted they were almost useless because of the TS classification. The SOG DET CO and OPs officer at Khe Sanh were Maj van Sickle and Major Gerry Wilborn.
Sir,
Many thanks.
The Final Mission Report for that mission remains classified; I’ve accessed it (as part of my contract w/DPAA), but, unfortunately it does not reference the Marine aviation unit.
I’m digging through the HMM 164,165, 262, and 265 Command Histories and AARs for March 1967 located in the Texas Tech Vietnam archives. It appears HMM 164 was fragged for SOG support that month, but since the mission (SLAM III) was so large, I suspect other CH-46s units were involved. Many thanks for your post.
Best regards
Jack Kull
Read this article and thought I would see what I could find. I went to the Texas Tech site Records of War / Vietnam. I believe the CH-46 was from HMM-165, a unit with MAG-36. It states, A/C came under intense enemey fire and damaged during landing while on a classified mission. The A/C was later destoryed. I think there were about 9 other A/C involved in that mission from other units. I also believe there were some different units involved in recovery efforts on 7 March. I’m a member of Together We Serve (TWS), you might find someone there who knows more about that incident. I may find more in my search. Semper Fi / HMH-463 68-69
Hi Sir,
Many thanks.
I do not believe the CH-46 in question was shot down; its front rotors hit a banana tree on landing. But, that could have been an indirect result of ground fire. And, yes, the chopper was destroyed several days after the crash when it no longer became feasible to repair it. And the 7 March extraction tracks with available info.
I will appreciate anything you could do WRT posting a RQI on Together We Serve.
Best regards
Jack
I was a door gunner around that time and our 46 did go dawn. MAG 36. I’m 78 now and can’t recall much. We operated out of Quang Tri. I did two tours over there, part of 67 all of 68 then part of 69. I do have a photograph of myself, the crew chef and the pilot receiving the PH.
Hi Sir,
Appreciate your post.
If you do recall any details/information, please pop some smoke.
Thanks
Best regards
Jack
Wally, there were only a couple of ’46 squadrons in country at that time. I arrived in August, UH-34D. Searching squadron records (after action reports) for around the incident date might reveal enough info to answer the questions. University of Texas has a database on line for most, if not all, Marine units in RVN.
Hi Ed. Thanks. In March 1967, HMM-164 and HMM-265 were at MMAF. HMM-162 and HMM-262 were at Ky-Ha. HMM-265 was at Khe Sanh. HMM-164 was at Dong Ha. All had 46’s at that time. Just sharing in case this helps others in the case.
Morning Sir,
I’ve been deep into the records at Texas Tech’s Vietnam archives. From the records, there were four CH-46 squadrons in Vietnam in Spring 1967. It appears they were all fragged to support SOG ops at any given time and, considering the mission in question, SLAM III, was a Hatchet-size operation vice a standard recon team mission, I’m wondering if CH-46s from various units were fragged for the operation. Would that have been SOP?
Need to spent more time on the Texas Tex website.
Appreciate your post.
Best regards
Jack