©2008 Stephen A. Judycki.
All Rights Reserved.
All content on this web site is copyrighted or used with permission.
|
The Springfield
50 Project
|
|
STEVEN JOHN KEARNS Personal
Data: Birth
Date:
May 18,
1951 Birth
Place: Race:
Caucasian Religion:
Protestant -
No Preference U.S.
Citizen: Yes Father’s
Name: Mother’s
Name: Sibling
Names: Marital
Status:
Single Wife’s
Name: Offspring
Names: Education: Schools
Attended: High
School Diploma: Selective
Service Data: SSS
Local Board Number: SSS
Local Board Location: SSS
Registration Date: SSS
Registrant Description: Military
Service Record: Entry
Date: Entry
Mode: Entry
Location: Home
of Record:
North Brookfield,
Massachusetts Service
Branch:
Army
Service
Component:
Regular
Rank:
Specialist
Five Rank
Abbrev:
SP5
Pay
Grade:
E5
MOS:
67U2F
MOS
Title: MOS
Background: Awards
Received:
Badges
Earned: Posthumous
Promotion:
Length
of Service: Southeast
Asia Tour Data: Date
Tour Commenced: August
2, 1970 Major
Command:
1st
Aviation Brigade
Air
Assignment: Air
Group:
17th
Aviation Group Battalion:
10th
Aviation Battalion
Company:
243rd Aviation
Company Casualty
Data: Casualty
Date:
May
31, 1971 Casualty
Time: Casualty
Age: 20
Casualty
Data 1: Non-hostile,
Died of Other Causes
Casualty
Data 2: Air
Loss, Crash on Land
Casualty
Data 3:
Helicopter
- Crew
Casualty
Province:
Phu Yen Casualty
Country:
South
Vietnam
Located In Or Near: Casualty Vehicle: CH-47A Chinook serial number 64-13116 Aircraft Incident Data: click here for Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association report Body Recovered: Yes Burial/Memorial: Burial
Location: Burial
Plot Location: Burial
Date: Consigned
Funeral Home: Military
Escort Name: North Brookfield’s Fallen Casualty Order:
1st Vietnam
Veterans Memorial Panel Number:
3W Helicopter CH-47A 64-13116Information on U.S. Army helicopter CH-47A tail number 64-13116 Accident Summary: ON 31 MAY 1971, AT 0818 HOURS, ARMY AIRCRAFT ^CH-47A^, SERIAL NUMBER ^64-13116^ DEPARTED DBT ENROUTE TO PHU HIEP, RVN ON A ROUTINE RE-SUPPLY MISSION IN SUPPORT OF THE ^28TH REGIMENT, 9TH ROKA INFANTRY DIVISION^. UPON STOPPING AT THE ^9TH DIVISION^ PAD IN NINH HOA, A SQUEAL WAS NOTED IN THE SAS SYSTEM, BUT AFTER RECYCLING THE SYSTEM THE SQUEAL DISAPPEARED, AND THE AIRCRAFT ON-LOADED 15 PASSENGERS. AIRCRAFT #116 CONTINUED ITS FLIGHT TO TUY HOA AAF, DROPPED OFF TWO PASSENGERS AND REFUELED AT THE CH-47 POL POINT. RETURNING TO THE ^28TH RCP^, THE AIRCRAFT DISCHARGED 15 PASSENGERS, PICKED UP THE KOREAN LIASON NCO, AND BEGAN ITS MISSION. AFTER HAULING FIVE SLINGLOADS OF SUPPLIES, AIRCRAFT ^#116^ RETURNED TO THE TUY HOA POL POINT FOR REFUELING, AND THEN CARRIED AN ADDITIONAL FIVE SLINGLOADS. RETURNING TO TUY HOA AT APPROXIMATELY 1230 HOURS, THE AIRCRAFT WAS AGAIN REFUELED FROM THE SAME POL POINT, AND THE CREW PREPARED TO RETURN TO PHU HIEP TO CARRY THE LAST TWO LOADS OF THE DAY. WITH ^WO1 SCHIEB^ AT THE CONTROLS, A HOVER CHECK WAS MADE WHICH INDICATED APPROXIMATELY 440 LBS OF TORQUE, AND ^WO1 SCHIEG^ THEN DEPARTED TO THE SOUTH ENROUTE TO PHU HIEP. WO1 ^SCHEIB^ MADE AN APPROACH TO A HOVER IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE LANDING STRIP AT THE RCP (160) AND HOVERED LEFT TO THE RESUPPLY PAD TO PICK UP THE LOAD. THE LOAD CONSISTED OF SEVERAL BOXES OF SUPPLIES (UNMARKED) A LOADED FUEL BLADDER, AND A LARGE WATER CONTAINER IN THREE SEPARATE SLING, WEIGHING A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 6000 LBS. AFTER LIFTING THE THREE SLINGS (APPROXIMATELY 30' LONG) 40-50 FEET CLEAR OF THE GROUND, ^WO1 SCHEIB^ MADE A RIGHT PEDAL TURN TO ALIGN THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE TAKEOFF HEADING AND MAKE A HOVER CHECK. THE HOVER CHECK INDICATED THAT #1 ENGINE HAD 90.5% N1 AT 640 LBS OF TORQUE. ^WO1 SCHEIB^ THEN BEGAN THE TAKEOFF BY MAKING A SLIGHT CYCLIC/PEDAL TURN TO THE RIGHT AND THEN TO THE LEFT TO ALIGN THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE CLEARED PATH (240) WHICH IS NORMALLY USED FOR TAKEOFF TO AVOID BUILDINGS IN CASE OF A DROPPED LOAD. AS THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED TRANSLATIONAL LIFT AT APPROXIMATELY 20-30 KNOTS AND 100', THE #2 ENGINE FAILED, CAUSING THE ROTOR RPM TO DROP AND THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO SETTLE. ^CW2 MOREE^ TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, NOTED THAT THE #2 ENGINE N1 DECREASED THROUGH 55%, AND INSTRUCTED THE FLIGHT ENGINEER TO RELEASE THE LOAD ^WO1 SCHEIB^ ALSO ACTIVATED HIS CYCLIC RELEASE BUTTON AT THIS TIME. THE LOAD DROPPED APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET TO THE GROUND, CAUSING THE FUEL AND WATER CONTAINER TO BURST. AT LOAD RELEASE (APPROXIMATELY 60' ALTITUDE), ^CW2 MOREE^ NOTED THE #1 ENGINE REACH 780 LBS OF TORQUE AND THEN DECREASE RAPIDLY. THE AIRCRAFT LURCHED SLIGHTLY FORWARD AND ASSUMED A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE. ^CW2 MOREE^ WAS UNABLE TO LOWER THE THRUST CONTROL AND STATES THAT THE CYCLIC TRAVELED REARWARD IN THREE SHORT, RAPID MOVEMENTS TO THE FULL AFT POSITION AGAINST HIS CONTROL PRESSURES. WITH ROTOR RPM CONTINUING TO DETERIORATE, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A 9' HIGH SAND BERM WHICH WAS COVERED WITH CONCERTINA WIRE. THE LEFT AFT GEAR DUG AN 18" HOLE IN THE BERM, CAUSING THE GEAR STRUT UPPER ATTACHING POINT TO FAIL. SIMULTANEOUSLY, THE AFT ROTOR SYSTEM CONTACTED TWO FENCE POSTS ON THE BERM, CAUSING TWO 9' 6" SECTIONS FROM SEPARATE AFT BLADES TO SEPARATE FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE AFT SECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT AGAIN BECAME AIRBORNE AND PIVOTED COUNTER-CLOCKWISE AROUND THE FORWARD ROTOR SYSTEM, WHICH WAS ALREADY IN CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. THE FUSELAGE OF THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED VERTICALLY ON ITS RIGHT SIDE ON THE INNER PERIMETER FENCE OF THE ^28TH RCP^, DETONATING AT LEAST ONE CLAYMORE MINE AND TWO TRIP FLARES. FIRE WAS INSTANTANEOUS ON IMPACT OF THE AFT SECTION. THE PILOT EXITED THROUGH THE RIGHT COCKPIT JETTISONABLE DOOR WHICH HAD OPENED ON IMPACT, FOLLOWED BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT AND THE CREWCHIEF. THE GUNNER EXITED EITHER THROUGH THIS DOOR OR THE RIGHT CHIN BUBBLE. THE FLIGHT ENGINEER, WHO WAS IN THE VICINITY OF THE BOTTOM HATCH, AND THE KOREAN LIASON NCO, WHO WAS SITTING IN A TROOP SEAT BESIDE THE HATCH, WERE THROWN TOWARDS THE REAR OF THE AIRCRAFT WHEN IT ENTERED THE NOSE-HIGH CONFIGURATION, AND WERE NOT SEEN BY ANY MEMBER OF THE CREW AFTER IMPACT. AFTER CLEARING THE AIRCRAFT, THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT IMMEDIATELY WENT TO A PHONE AND NOTIFIED ^268TH AVIATION BATTALION^ OPERATIONS AND PROCURED MEDEVAC ASSISTANCE. THE FIRE CONSUMED THE ENTIRE AIRCRAFT WITHIN FIVE MINUTES.\\ This record was last updated on 11/21/98 The following is crew member information for this incident: Name: SP5 Steven John Kearns Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 05/31/1971 while performing the duty of Flight Engineer. Age at death: 20.0 Date of Birth: 05/18/1951 Home City: N Brookfield, MA Service: regular component of the U.S. Army. Unit: 243 ASHC Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade Service: U.S. Army. The Wall location: 03W-060 Short Summary: Crashed while carrying a sling because of engine failure. Aircraft: CH-47A tail number 64-13116 SSN: 016429801 Country: South Vietnam MOS: 67U = CH-47 Helicopter Repairer Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea Compliment cause: vehicular accident Vehicle involved: helicopter Position in vehicle: not a crew member Vehicle ownership: government Started Tour: 08/02/1970 "Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew The initial status of this person was: non-hostile missing - P I D Length of service: * Location: Phu Yen Province II Corps. Military grid coordinates of event: CO252345 Reason: aircraft lost or crashed Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes single male U.S. citizen Race: Caucasian Religion: Protestant - no denominational preference The following information secondary, but may help in explaining this incident. Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel This record was last updated on 03/06/2004 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name: X2 S. W. Pak The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter CH-47A tail
number 64-13116 DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 6610 64 542 WAAWB0 COB 228ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6611 33 575 WAAWB0 COB 228ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6612 24 599 WAAWB0 COB 228ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6701 27 626 WAAWB0 COB 228ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6702 36 662 WAAWB0 COB 228ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6703 32 694 WAAWB0 COB 228ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6704 49 743 WAAWB0 COB 228ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6705 26 769 WAAWB0 COB 228ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6706 15 784 WAAWB0 COB 228ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6707 0 784 3478 USARV FLT DET VIETNAM RVN 6708 0 784 3478 BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 6709 18 802 WAAWA0 COA 228ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6710 66 868 WAAWA0 COA 228ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6711 45 913 WAAWA0 COA 228ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6712 92 1005 WAAWA0 COA 228ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6801 0 1005 WAAWA0 COA 228ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6802 131 1136 WAAWA0 COA 228ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6803 21 1157 3261 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 6804 0 1157 3261 BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 6805 7 1164 3261 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 6806 0 1164 WC5GAA 610 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6807 0 1164 WC5GAA 610 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6808 0 1164 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVCOMITR 6809 0 1164 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVCOMITR 6810 0 1164 W0Y6AA INTRANSIT IN TRANSIT AVCOMCTR 6811 0 1164 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVCOMITR 6812 0 1164 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVCOMITR 6901 0 1164 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVCOMITR 6902 16 1180 WC5LAA 180 AVN CO 10AV VIETNAM RVN 6903 109 1289 WC5LAA 180 AVN CO 10AV VIETNAM RVN 6904 39 1328 WC5LAA 180 AVN CO 10AV VIETNAM RVN 6905 2 1330 WC5LAA 180 AVN CO 10AV VIETNAM RVN 6906 57 1387 WC5LAA 180 AVN CO 10AV VIETNAM RVN 6907 69 1456 WC5LAA 180 AVN CO 10AV VIETNAM RVN 6908 107 1563 WC5LAA 180 AVN CO 10AV VIETNAM RVN 6909 93 1656 WC5LAA 180 AVN CO 10AV VIETNAM RVN 6910 62 1718 WC5LAA 180 AVN CO 10AV VIETNAM RVN 6911 38 1756 WC5LAA 180 AVN CO 10AV VIETNAM RVN 6912 1 1757 WC5LAA 180 AVN CO 10AV VIETNAM RVN 7001 25 1782 WC5LAA 180 ASHC 17 AVN VIETNAM RVN 7002 61 1843 WC5LAA 180 ASHC 17 AVN VIETNAM RVN 7003 2 1845 WDYEAA 243 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7004 78 1923 WDYEAA 243 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7005 20 1943 WDYEAA 243 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7006 47 1990 WDYEAA 243 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7007 50 2040 WDYEAA 243 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7008 9 2049 WDYEAA 243 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7009 63 2112 WDYEAA 243 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7010 24 2136 WDYEAA 243 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7011 79 2215 WDYEAA 243 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7012 23 2238 WDYEAA 243 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7101 50 2288 WDYEAA 243 ASHC VIETNAM RVN 7102 40 2328 WDYEAA 243 ASHC VIETNAM RVN 7103 0 2328 WC5EAA 608 TC DS VIETNAM RVN 7104 0 2328 WC5EAA A BTRY 4 77 ART VIETNAM RVN 7105 18 2346 WDYEAA 243 ASHC VIETNAM RVN Printed from databases on: 08/27/00 Copyright © 1998, 1999 and 2000 Vietnam
Helicopter Pilots Association |
|
©2008 Stephen A. Judycki.
All Rights Reserved.
|