ON THE NIGHT OF 12, SEPTEMBER, 1969, CRID DECLARED A TACTICAL-EMERGENCY AND AT APPROXIMATELY 2130 HOURS , THE "257", WAS LAUNCHED FROM LANE ARMY HELICOPTER PORT. THE CREW OF THE "257", ATTACHED TO THE 129TH ASSAULT HELICOPTER COMPANY, WAS NOT ADVISED OF THE WEATHER BY EITHER THE OPERATIONS OFFICER OF THE 129TH AHC OR LANE TOWER.

THE MISSION OF THE CREW WAS TO EXTRACT ONE VC/POW FROM THE 11TH COMPANY CAV. REGIMENT, AND FLY THE VC/POW TO REPUBLIC OF KOREAN HOSPITAL. ENROUTE THE CREW WAS TO PICK UP PERSONNEL FROM THE CRID TOC, WHICH THEY DID, AND THE CREW THEN REQUESTED, AND RECEIVED, PERMISSION TO FLY THROUGH THE PASS NORTHWEST OF LANE AHP. THE AIRCRAFT ARRIVED AT THE 11TH COMPANY AT APPROXIMATELY 2155 HOURS AND DEPARTED AT 2205 HOURS. THE CREW CONTACTED PHU CAT APPROACH CONTROL AND NOTIFIED THEM THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD GONE INTO IFR CONDITIONS AND REQUESTED A RADAR VECTOR TO VFR CONDITIONS. THE PILOT REPORTED HIS ALTITUDE WAS 5,000 FEET AND REQUESTED A PRIORITY RADAR VECTOR FOR A GROUND CONTROL APPROACH INTO PHU CAT AIR FORCE BASE. THE PILOT REPORTED HIS POSITION AS OVER THE CHA RANG VALLEY OFF THE 170 RADIAL FROM PHU CAT AFB.

PHU CAT APPROACH CONTROL COULD NOT MAKE A POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION BUT HAD A SUSPECTED RADAR TARGET SEVEN MILES ON THE 170 RADIAL. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER REPORTED HE WAS ENCOUNTERING SEVERE TURBULENCE. AT 2212 HOURS PHU CAT CONTROL INSTRUCTED THE AC TO TURN INBOUND TO THE BEACON AND CLIMB TO 6000 FEET. THE PILOT ROGERED THE CONTROLLER'S INSTRUCTION. THIS WAS THE LAST COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE AIRCRAFT AND THE GROUND. AFTER RADIO CONTACT WAS LOST, THE DUST OFF AND GUNSHIPS WERE LAUNCHED, HOWEVER, THE WEATHER CONDITIONS DID NOT PERMIT THE SEARCH AIRCRAFT TO ARRIVE AT THE SCENE UNTIL 0030 HOURS. ( then what the hell was the "257" doing out in that crap?....MJ )

THE "257" IMPACTED ON THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN AT 1990 FEET AND 125 FEET FROM THE CREST OF THE MOUNTAIN. THE WRECKAGE SUGGESTS THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN A SLIGHTLY NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE AND WAS IN A SHALLOW RIGHT HAND TURN. THE AIRCRAFT'S LEFT SKID CONTACTED THE GROUND AND THERE WAS A BLADE STRIKE ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE RIGHT SKID HIT NEXT, AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS PITCHED FORWARD, AND UP THE HILL WHERE THE TRANSMISSION AND THE MAIN WRECKAGE REMAINED. THE ENGINE WAS TOSSED FURTHER UP THE HILL, AND THE TAIL BOOM SEPARATED FROM THE FUSELAGE AND CAME TO REST 75 FEET NORTH OF THE ENGINE. THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO HAVE BURNED DUE TO IMPACT. ALL ABOARD, GAVE THEIR LIFE, FOR THE COST OF FREEDOM.

TO WHOM EVER READS THIS, FOLKS....YOU WOULD NOT BE HERE IF THERE WASN'T A REASON. WE COME TO PLACES LIKE THIS ON THE NET TO REMEMBER. I KNOW, YOU WHO KNOW, KNOW WHAT I MEAN. WE HAVE BEEN CONTACTED BY OUR LOST SOULS TO CONTINUE THEIR LAST MISSIONS. YOU WHO POST HERE, CAN FEEL COMFORT IN KNOWING,THAT OUR LOST SOULS ARE SMILING DOWN UPON US.

I THANK THE STAFF OF THIS PAGE FOR THE TIME, AND SPACE. GOD BLESS YOU!!!! REST ASSURED THAT YOU ARE HELPING TO KEEP THE LOST SOULS SPIRIT'S ALIVE.

THE "NEW 257", TURNING INBOUND TO THE BEACON AND CLIMBING TO 6,000 FT.