YT-14: The Last Helicopter Lost in Vietnam

At dawn on April 29, 1975, the CH-46D Sea Knight, known as YT-14, stood ready on the deck of the USS Hancock (CVA-19). Designated as the overwater Search and Rescue (SAR) aircraft for Operation Frequent Wind, the final evacuation of Saigon, YT-14 was poised for a day that would stretch the limits of endurance and courage.

Cpl. Stephen R. Wills, serving as Crew Chief and Right Gunner, alongside Cpl. Richard L. Scott, the 1st Mechanic and Left Gunner, manned YT-14 as it orbited over the South China Sea. For 17 relentless hours, they remained airborne, their rotors never ceasing, their vigilance unwavering.

Throughout the day, the skies were a tapestry of chaos. Vietnamese aircraft, both helicopters and fixed-wing, approached the fleet, some attempting to land, others ditching nearby. The decks of ships like the USS Hancock became crowded stages of desperation and hope.

During one of several hot refueling operations, Cpl. Wills recalled, “Vietnamese aircraft were trying to land on top of us.” The crew’s conversations were sparse, focused on duty, and tinged with a longing for elsewhere.

At approximately 13:00, Capt. William C. Nystul and 1stLt. Michael J. Shea relieved the original pilot and copilot. Capt. Nystul, recently arrived in Okinawa, had just completed his CH-46 training. 1stLt. Shea, primarily a CH-53 pilot, had about 25 hours in the CH-46.

Capt. Chic Schoener, who also flew extensively during the operation, had known both Nystul and Shea from their time in Okinawa. He recalled giving Nystul an island familiarization flight before they embarked on the USS Midway, later transferring to the USS Hancock.

The CH-46D carried 2,400 lbs. of jet fuel, offering a flight endurance of about two hours. However, the day’s extraordinary circumstances pushed both aircraft and crew beyond standard limits.

Cpl. Wills recounted multiple refuelings—six or seven times, perhaps more. On one occasion, they carried about twenty refugees destined for transfer to the USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19). Twice, they had to jettison fuel due to weight concerns. Capt. Nystul, recalling a previous incident where fuel was inadvertently dumped due to a switch left open, trusted Wills’ assurance that the system was functioning correctly.

Later, they were vectored to assist a Marine CH-53 struggling to maintain altitude with over thirty people aboard. Anticipating a possible rescue, YT-14 dumped fuel to lighten their load, ready to hover if needed. Fortunately, the CH-53 regained altitude, and YT-14’s intervention was unnecessary.

As night fell, fatigue weighed heavily. Twice, during their final hour, YT-14 was on approach to the USS Hancock when redirected for potential SAR missions. With only 30 minutes of fuel remaining, Capt. Nystul requested clearance to land. During the approach, Cpl. Wills spotted another aircraft closing in from behind. A hard right turn averted a collision by less than 100 feet. The tension was palpable, with Capt. Nystul remarking, “Someone is going to die up here tonight.”

On their final approach, a sudden command “Pick it up, Pick it up, Pick it up” rang out. Moments later, YT-14 crashed into the sea. Cpl. Wills regained consciousness underwater, his survival training kicking in. He surfaced, injured, and signaled with pen flares and a strobe light. Cpl. Scott, also afloat, joined him.

Rescue attempts by two Navy SH-3s and a Marine CH-53 were thwarted by rotor wash and the darkness. Finally, another CH-46D, call sign Swift 07, piloted by Capt. Steve Haley and 1stLt. Dean Koontz, launched from the USS Hancock. They hoisted Cpl. Scott aboard and, executing a daring water landing, retrieved the severely injured Cpl. Wills by hand.

Sgt. Lon Chaney, the rescue aircraft’s crew chief, extended the hand that pulled Wills to safety. Wills later reflected, “The aircrew of that ship will always live in my heart and mind as my guardian angel, even though I was flying the Angel Flight.”

Capt. Nystul and 1stLt. Shea perished in the crash; their bodies were never recovered. A burial at sea was conducted aboard the USS Hancock on April 30, 1975. Operation Frequent Wind concluded that morning with the extraction of Ambassador Graham Martin and the Marine Security Detachment, marking the end of U.S. involvement in Vietnam.

YT-14 (BuNo 154042) of HMM-164 rests at the bottom of the South China Sea, approximately 30 nautical miles from Vung Tau, a silent testament to the bravery and sacrifice of those aboard.

Semper Fidelis.

Cpl. Beddoe