©2008 Stephen A. Judycki.
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The Springfield
50 Project
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VINCENT F. SABATINELLI Personal
Data: Birth
Date:
September
21, 1943 Birth
Place: Race:
Caucasian Religion:
Roman
Catholic 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:
Southbridge,
Massachusetts Service
Branch:
Army
Service
Component:
Reserve
Rank:
Captain Rank
Abbrev:
CPT
Pay
Grade:
+ O2
MOS:
31542
MOS
Title: MOS
Background: Awards
Received:
Badges
Earned: Posthumous
Promotion: Yes Length
of Service: Southeast
Asia Tour Data: Date
Tour Commenced: March
16, 1969 Major Command: U.S. Army Special Forces Land
Assignment: Regiment:
Battalion:
Company:
Forward Operating
Base 4 (Danang)
Casualty
Data: Casualty
Date:
July 25, 1969 Casualty
Time: Casualty
Age:
25
Casualty
Data 1: Non-hostile,
Died of Other Causes
Casualty
Data 2: Air
Loss, Crash on Land
Casualty
Data 3:
Helicopter
- Non-Crew
Casualty
Province:
Pleiku Casualty
Country:
South
Vietnam
Located
In Or Near: Casualty Vehicle: UH-1H Iroquois serial number 67-17533 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: Southbridge’s Fallen Casualty Order: 5th
Vietnam
Veterans Memorial Panel Number:
20W Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 67-17533 The Army purchased this helicopter 0568 Total flight hours at this point: 00000748 Date: 07/25/69 Incident number: 690725131ACD Accident case number: 690725131 Total loss or fatality Accident Unit: 525 MI GRP The station for this helicopter was Saigon-Cochin China in South Vietnam Number killed in accident = 8 . . Injured = 2 . . Passengers = 7 costing 625145 Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Army Aviation Safety Center database. Also: OPERA (Operations Report. ) Loss to Inventory Crew Members: AC CW2 GOLDBERG STEWART B KIA P W1 DEVEREUX TF CE E5 MUNKVOLD R G SP4 VALDEZ DAVID MEDINA INJ Passengers: CPT SABATINELLI VINCENT F, AR, PX, KIA; CPT PEELE ELVERNON, AR, PX, KIA; SFC EVERETT JAY LEROY, AR, PX, KIA; SP4 DYCKS RONALD KING, AR, PX, KIA; SGT DU BEAU GERALD EUGENE, NOT, A; CPT PFEFER ARTHUR THOMAS, AR, PX, KIA; Accident Summary: The board has been able to reconstruct the following description of the accident: Aircraft #67-17533 had flown approximately four hours and fifteen minutes prior to the accident. All flight conditions were normal with the exception that low ceilings necessitated low level flight from Ban Me Thout to Pleiku. The cloud ceiling was approximately 450 feet AGL at the time of departure from Ban Me Thout City Field. Since the ceiling wouldn't permit VFR flight at 1000' AGL as required by 525th M. I. SOP, the Aircraft Commander elected to fly VFR low level. According to the pilot, clouds forced the aircraft down from approximately 400 feet AGL to approximately 50 feet AGL as the weather deteriorated. From Ban Me Thout they utilized dead reckoning navigation to intercept Highway 14, and followed it north towards Pleiku. Due to the additional strain encountered by low level flight, the Aircraft Commander and pilot exchanged control of the aircraft several times. As they approached Dragon Mountain, visibility rapidly deteriorated. At this time the Aircraft Commander took control, the Aircraft Commander instructed the pilot to monitor the instruments, slowed the aircraft from approximately 110 knots to 80 knots and initiated a right turn presumably to complete a 180 degree turn and regain VFR flight conditions. There is a distinct possibility that the Aircraft Commander went into vertigo at this time. The attitude indicator on the left side of the aircraft was inoperative. Another indication of vertigo is a tape recorded by Peacock Control, Pleiku. Approximately 2 seconds after the pilot Rogered a weather report, he told the Aircraft Commander that he was in a steep bank. The aircraft was heading into the side of Dragon Mountain at this time. The tape also indicates that the mountain was seen just prior to impact. The Aircraft Commander apparently initiated an extremely steep flare as is evidenced by the fact that the tail rotor blades struck the ground first. He must have also applied collective pitch in an effort to cushion the impact as is evidenced by the fact that the aircraft slid approximately 60 meters up a 50 to 60 degree slope before the main rotor made contact with the ground and broke away from the aircraft. The aircraft flipped end over end when the main rotor broke away and then rolled approximately 30 meters back down the mountain where it came to rest, upside down, and burned. The distribution of the wreckage can be found on the enclosed DA Form 2397-5. This record was last updated on 09/20/98 The following is crew member information for this incident: Name: SGT Gerald Eugene Du Beau (posthumously promoted) Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 07/25/69 while performing the duty of Passenger. Age at death: 20.9 Date of Birth: 09/02/48 Home City: Springfield, IL Service: regular component of the U.S. Army. Unit: 525 MI GRP Major organization: other Service: U.S. Army. The Wall location: 20W-043 Short Summary: Crashed into the side of Dragon Mountain after going IFR at low altitude. Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17533 SSN: 347405820 Country: South Vietnam MOS: 31J20 = Teletypwriter Repairer Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea Compliment cause: fire or burns Vehicle involved: helicopter Position in vehicle: passenger Started Tour: 01/07/68 "Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew Length of service: 02 Location: Pleiku Province II Corps. Reason: aircraft lost or crashed Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes single male U.S. citizen Race: Caucasian Relgion: Presbyterian The following information is 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 07/29/95 Name: SP4 Ronald King Dycks Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 07/25/69 while performing the duty of Passenger. Died 1 days later on 07/26/69. Age at death: 22.6 Date of Birth: 01/03/47 Home City: Cleveland, OH Service: regular component of the U.S. Army. Unit: 1 LOG COM Major organization: 1st Logistic Command Service: U.S. Army. The Wall location: 20W-048 Short Summary: Crashed into the side of Dragon Mountain after going IFR at low altitude. Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17533 SSN: 288463664 Country: South Vietnam MOS: 57E20 = Laundry And Bath Specialist Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea Compliment cause: fire or burns Vehicle involved: helicopter Position in vehicle: passenger Started Tour: 05/05/68 "Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew Length of service: 02 Location: Pleiku Province II Corps. Reason: aircraft lost or crashed Casualty type: Non-hostile - died illness or injuries single male U.S. citizen Race: Negro Relgion: Baptist - other groups The following information is 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 07/29/95 Name: SFC Jay Leroy Everett Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 07/25/69 while performing the duty of Passenger. Age at death: 41.6 Date of Birth: 12/22/27 Home City: Latrobe, PA Service: regular component of the U.S. Army. Unit: 525 MI GRP Major organization: other Service: U.S. Army. The Wall location: 20W-043 Short Summary: Crashed into the side of Dragon Mountain after going IFR at low altitude. Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17533 SSN: 199202137 Country: South Vietnam MOS: 97B4L = Counterintelligence Agent Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea Compliment cause: fire or burns Vehicle involved: helicopter Position in vehicle: passenger Started Tour: 01/11/69 "Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew Length of service: 22 Location: Pleiku Province II Corps. Reason: aircraft lost or crashed Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes married male U.S. citizen Race: Caucasian Relgion: Protestant - no denominational preference The following information is 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 07/29/95 Name: CW2 Stewart B. Goldberg Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 07/25/69 while performing the duty of Aircraft Commander. Died 1 days later on 07/26/69. Age at death: 22.0 Date of Birth: 08/09/47 Home City: Baltimore, MD Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army. Unit: 525 MI GRP Major organization: other Flight class: 67-21 Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army. The Wall location: 20W-049 Short Summary: Crashed into the side of Dragon Mountain after going IFR at low altitude. Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17533 SSN: 212482538 Country: South Vietnam MOS: 100B = Utility/Observation Helicopter Pilot Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea Compliment cause: fire or burns Vehicle involved: helicopter Position in vehicle: aircraft commander Started Tour: 01/18/68 "Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew Length of service: 02 Location: Pleiku Province II Corps. Reason: aircraft lost or crashed Casualty type: Non-hostile - died illness or injuries single male U.S. citizen Race: Caucasian Relgion: Jewish The following information is 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: warrant officer This record was last updated on 07/28/94 Name: CPT Elvernon Peele Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 07/25/69 while performing the duty of Passenger. Died 1 days later on 07/26/69. Age at death: 25.5 Date of Birth: 01/24/44 Home City: Williamston, NC Service: MI branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army. Unit: 525 MI GRP Major organization: other Service: MI branch of the U.S. Army. The Wall location: 20W-051 Short Summary: Crashed into the side of Dragon Mountain after going IFR at low altitude. Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17533 SSN: 237722766 Country: South Vietnam MOS: 9666 = 96 Counterintelligence Officer Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea Compliment cause: fire or burns Vehicle involved: helicopter Position in vehicle: passenger Started Tour: 11/23/68 "Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew Length of service: 04 Location: Pleiku Province II Corps. Reason: aircraft lost or crashed Casualty type: Non-hostile - died illness or injuries married male U.S. citizen Race: Negro Relgion: Baptist - other groups The following information is 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: officer This record was last updated on 07/29/95 Name: CPT Arthur Thomas Pfefer Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 07/25/69 while performing the duty of Passenger. Age at death: 26.4 Date of Birth: 03/08/43 Home City: St Paul, MN Service: EN branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army. Unit: 525 MI GRP Major organization: other Service: EN branch of the U.S. Army. The Wall location: 20W-045 Short Summary: Crashed into the side of Dragon Mountain after going IFR at low altitude. Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17533 SSN: 472480943 Country: South Vietnam MOS: 4312 = 43 Real Estate Officer Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea Compliment cause: fire or burns Vehicle involved: helicopter Position in vehicle: passenger Started Tour: 11/12/68 "Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew Length of service: 04 Location: Pleiku Province II Corps. Reason: aircraft lost or crashed Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes married male U.S. citizen Race: Caucasian Relgion: Jewish The following information is 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: officer This record was last updated on 07/29/95 Name: CPT Vincent F. Sabatinelli (posthumously promoted) Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 07/25/69 while performing the duty of Passenger. Age at death: 25.8 Date of Birth: 09/21/43 Home City: Southbridge, MA Service: IN branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army. Unit: SPECIAL FORCES Major organization: Special Forces Service: IN branch of the U.S. Army. The Wall location: 20W-045 Short Summary: Crashed into the side of Dragon Mountain after going IFR at low altitude. Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17533 SSN: 029329993 Country: South Vietnam MOS: 31542 = 31 Peripheral Vascular Surgeon Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea Compliment cause: fire or burns Vehicle involved: helicopter Position in vehicle: passenger Started Tour: 03/16/69 "Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew Length of service: 02 Location: Pleiku Province II Corps. Reason: aircraft lost or crashed Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes single male U.S. citizen Race: Caucasian Relgion: Roman Catholic The following information is 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: officer This record was last updated on 07/29/95 Name: SP4 David Medina Valdez Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 07/25/69 while performing the duty of Gunner. Died 12 days later on 08/06/69. Age at death: 21.7 Date of Birth: 11/15/47 Home City: Los Angeles, CA Service: component of the U.S. Army. Unit: 525 MI GRP Major organization: other Service: U.S. Army. The Wall location: 20W-103 Short Summary: Crashed into the side of Dragon Mountain after going IFR at low altitude. Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17533 SSN: 561768950 Country: South Vietnam MOS: 67N20 = UH-1 Helicopter Repairer Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea Compliment cause: fire or burns Vehicle involved: helicopter Position in vehicle: door gunner Started Tour: 07/17/68 "Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew Length of service: 01 Location: Pleiku Province II Corps. Reason: aircraft lost or crashed Casualty type: Non-hostile - died illness or injuries single male U.S. citizen Race: Caucasian Relgion: Roman Catholic The following information is 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 07/28/94 The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number
67-17533 DATE FLT HRS UIC
UNIT
AREA
POST COUNTRY Printed from databases on: 08/27/00 Copyright © 1998, 1999 and 2000 Vietnam
Helicopter Pilots Association |
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©2008 Stephen A. Judycki.
All Rights Reserved.
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