|
Name |
Rank |
Unit |
Aircraft |
Date |
Location |
Circumstances |
Anderson, Scott A.
 |
SSgt |
Det 9,
67 ARRS |
C-130 |
02/28/1984 |
Spain
|
JA/AAT jump mission. Aircraft crashed
into terrain 4km NW Borja, Spain while in flight.
Staff Sergeant Anderson was participating in a night training jump
in conjunction with a joint Spanish and U.S. exercise.
The C-130E Hercules departed Zaragoza on a low-level
parachute training mission. Weather in the area included a 1200-feet
ceiling with 6 km visibility. The Hercules struck the face of a mesa at
an elevation of 2200 feet. Besides Anderson, seven combat controllers, 7
crewmembers, and 3 passengers for a total of 18 fatalities
NEWSPAPER
ARTICLE |
Arnott, Victor L.
 |
SSgt |
102 ARRS |
HC-130 |
05/08/1981 |
Nevada
|
S-18 Parachute Accident
Staff Sergeant Victor L.
Arnott Jr assigned to the 102nd ARRS, Plattsburgh AFB, New
York. Arnott, Jack Brehm, Mike Durante, and a PJ from Florida are sent
to Nellis AFB, Nevada, to participate in an "Operation Red Flag"
exercise. They are tasked to accomplish a night, low level, tactical
parachute jump. Following the jump, they were to complete an overland
desert ground rescue scenario. The weather was marginal with high winds
and the drop zone had some rough terrain. After landing, three of the
four PJs link up; but, Arnott is missing. The PJs set up a search and
Mike Durante finds Arnott laying on the ground still attached to his
parachute. An immediate medical assessment revealed that Sergeant Arnott
was deceased. The accident investigation board concluded that on landing
his head hit a rock that penetrated his helmet.
|
Barton, Sean M.
 |
TSgt |
320 STS |
N/A |
10/30/2014 |
Katmandu, Nepal
|
Climbing accident during team training in
Nepal
TSgt. Sean Barton, an Air Force Special Operations Command Pararescueman
died from injuries sustained after a rappelling training incident during
a joint exercise training event near Kathmandu, Nepal.
NEWSPAPER ARTICLES.. |
Berry, Robert L.
Click Hyperlink More Information
 |
SSgt |
Det 5, 38 ARRS Udorn RTAFB, Thailand |
N/A |
07/23/1966 |
Vietnam War
|
DIED OF BLACK WATER FEVER CONTRACTED IN LAOS DURING VIETNAM WAR.
Was MEDEVACed from Udorn RTAFB Thailand to
Clark Air Base Medical Center where he
died. Because he died at Clark Air Base, Philippines, and his illness was contracted in a
country that the U.S. denied we had troops in, his name was not
submitted for inclusion on the
Vietnam Veterans Memorial as a casualty of the Vietnam War. During the
Vietnam War, U.S. operations in Laos was denied by the United States and
any reference to those operations was classified SECRET. In 1993,
President Clinton ordered the mandatory declassification of Vietnam War
documents. From that point on, there was no further denial of Laotian
military operations. But no one took any actions to add Sergeant Berry
on the Vietnam
Veterans Memorial Wall.
Correcting Sergeant Berry's status and getting him on the wall is
the right thing to do. For two years the PJ Asso. (PJA) searched for a
volunteer to work this project; but no volunteers came forward. The
surviving members of Det 5 38 ARRS are few and dying off. In August 2025
Transito Trujillo passed away and we obviously cannot get a statement of
facts from him. So, the PJA has reprioritized history tasks and move the
Berry project to our priority one. Click
Berry, Robert L. for more details of the
project to add Robert to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in DC. |
Brady, Raymond A.
 |
Sgt |
71 ARRS |
N/A |
11/15/1975 |
Alaska
|
POV Vehicle accident while responding to
HC-130 SAR
scramble for a downed civilian aircraft. It was 8 a.m. and still dark
when his beeper informed him that the alert bird on which he was a PJ on
was being scrambled. Ray lived in Eagle River, AK about
14- miles away from Elmendorf AFB, AK. He owned a 4-wheel drive CJ-7 jeep
and was experienced in driving on Alaskan winter roads. His jeep hit a
patch of "black ice" on the hill between Eagle River, AK and Elmendorf
AFB. This was an undivided highway - Route 1. At the time, this
highway was two lanes; one lane northbound traffic to Palmer AK and the
Matanuska Valley and a second lane south to Anchorage and the Kenai
Peninsula. There were no
barriers separating the two lanes. After hitting the "black ice" Ray's
car went out of control and into the oncoming traffic lane. There he hit
another car travelling in the opposite direction. Both Ray and the other
driver were killed in the accident.
|
Burns, Robert
 |
|
10 ARS |
C-47 |
1949 |
Alaska
|
Parachute accident
ROBERT BURNS-Flt
A, 10th ARS, Elmendorf AFB, AK. Burns is on a training parachute jump
with Doc Weise, Bill Murphy, Billy Abernathy, Myron Shepard, and Tony
Willis. Burns exits the C-47 first as a "wind dummy." It becomes obvious
that he's drifting over the intended land drop zone towards a small
lake, which he lands in. The remaining PJs exit the aircraft. After
landing they use various methods to recover Burns, including a canoe.
This is successful and he is brought to land. Artificial respiration is
initiated and sustained for a long time without success. |
Carlton, Larry W
 |
A1C |
|
HC-54 |
06/29/1964 |
Bermuda
|
Mid air C54/C-97 during SAR training in
Bermuda
ACCIDENT
REPORT |
Carlyle, Steven L.
 |
SSgt |
129 ARRS |
HH-3 |
09/01/1988 |
California
|
Helicopter crash during training exercise
Sergeant Carlyle is part of an HH-3E crew engaged in a low level
training mission at Fort Irwin Range in southern California. Without
warning, the aircraft crashes, killing all on board. Born 2 May 1964,
Steven was 24 when he died. He was interred at Mountain View Cemetery,
Wala Wala, WA. |
Casey, Leon J.
no picture available |
|
|
|
1947 |
Alaska
|
Parachute accident during an Alaska SAR |
Coleman, Daniel N.
 |
TSgt |
71 ARS |
|
05/05/1958 |
Alaska
|
Helicopter crash
Sergeant Coleman was on a
search mission aboard an H-21 helicopter assigned to the 71st
ARS in Alaska. The aircraft contacted a wire in flight and crashed into
a river and Sergeant Coleman drowned.
Details of Accident
|
Crockford, Mark L.
 |
SRA |
67 ARRS |
HC-130 |
06/10/1981 |
North Sea off United Kingdom
|
Parachute accident during SAR. S-17 parachute
fatality
Senior Airman Mark L. Crockford was conducting a day water jump in
the United Kingdom, North Sea water training area. He drown after water
entry. The accident investigation board is unable to determine why
Airman Crockford drown. |
Curtis, Raleigh D.
 |
SMSgt |
|
|
04/20/1979 |
Colorado
|
Mountain training accident in Colorado
Curtis was
engaged in winter high altitude training in the Colorado Rockies. He
suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and later died of a heart attack at
Fitzsimons Army Hospital. Sergeant Curtis participated in three World
War II combat jumps with the
82nd Airborne Division
before
transferring into Pararescue. At the time of his death he was the oldest
PJ performing operational duties. |
Eccleston, Douglas L.
 |
SSgt |
|
|
12/07/2001 |
Atlantic Ocean
|
RAMZ (Rigging Alternate Method Zodiac) accident Atlantic Ocean
Following the successful water jump to treat a
critically ill seaman on the supertanker Amal Belia, Sergeant
Eccleston was involved in a fatal accident with the Zodiac inflatable
boat. The boat and PJ team had earlier been recovered by the tanker
where they provided medical treatment to the seaman. The tanker
proceeded to Bermuda,
where the sick man was transferred to shore on a smaller vessel. The
Zodiac was being lowered from the tanker to transfer it to a smaller
vessel. Doug and another PJ were in the raft while it was being lowered
when for an unknown reason, it flipped over tossing the two PJs into the
water. The other PJ was quickly pulled from the water but Eccleston
couldn't be found. The next day his body was found.
ECCLESTON
FACILITY DEDICATION
|
Elliott, Robert T.
 |
Sgt |
|
|
05/20/1960 |
Alaska
|
SAR accident in Alaska
A climbing party has
fallen on Mt. McKinley. One man has a broken leg and the other has
frostbite. It is a joint mission between the Alaska 71st Air
Rescue Squadron and civilian pilots to affect the rescue. Sergeant
Elliott flies as an observer with a civilian pilot from Talkeetna,
Alaska. They set out to see how the climbers have weathered the previous
night. On one pass over the climbers, they crash into the mountain at
the 17,000-foot level. The aircraft burns on impact. At the families'
request no attempt is made to recover the remains. |
Ferreira, James A.
 |
A1C |
Det 15 39ARRW |
HH-3 |
04/07/1984 |
Florida
|
HH-3 crashed in the Atlantic Ocean
approximately 50 miles off shore of Cape Canaveral
Airman First Class James
A. Ferreira and Staff Sergeant Mark R. Judy were PJs on an HH-3 covering
a night missile launch from a Trident nuclear submarine just offshore
the Kennedy Space Center. At some point during the flight the aircraft
impacts the water and sinks. Three crewmembers escape the sinking helo
and five crewmembers are lost. The two PJs were among the fatalities. A
later attempt to recover the aircraft is conducted, but is unsuccessful.
NEWS
ARTICLES
MEMORIAL PROGRAM
MEMORIAL PLAQUE
|
Flower, William J.
 |
TSgt |
67 ARRS |
|
04/30/1972 |
England
|
Climbing accident in England during training
NEWS ARTICLE |
Gilbert, John R.
 |
SSgt |
6594 Test Gp |
HH-53 |
01/15/1985 |
Pacific Ocean off Hawaii
|
HH-53 based at Hickham AFB HI crashed during a
SAR. Also killed in the crash was Sgt Robert Jermyn
SSgt Gilbert and Sgt Jermyn were PJ crewmembers on an HH-53
helicopter during a medevac mission 540 miles from Honolulu, Hawaii. A
British seaman is suffering from internal bleeding. Two HH-53's are
dispatched to make a pickup and transport the patient to a hospital.
During the approach to a hover over the Japanese freighter Asian Beauty,
the HH-53 has a main rotor failure and crashes on the deck of the ship
killing all seven crewmembers including Gilbert and Jermyn.
WIKI ARTICLE
|
Harder, Richard A.
 |
MSgt |
304 RQS |
N/A |
11/21/1996 |
California |
Heart attack in California
Sergeant Harder is engaged in physical training when he suffers a heart
attack.Photo of MSgt Harder
wearing 1970's PARA-SCUBA gear |
Horton, John E.
 |
TSgt |
129 ARRS |
|
06/24/2002 |
California
|
All terrain vehicle (ATV) accident while conducting SAR training in
California
|
Hubble, James C.
 |
Lt |
Unknown |
|
1949 |
Florida
|
Parachute accident Sellers Lake, Florida
Lieutenant Hubble is
participating in a demonstration jump for the Civil Air Patrol. Upon
arrival over the proposed drop zone, it is ascertained that the drop
zone is unsuitable An open area between an airstrip and a lake is
selected. Lt Hubble exits the aircraft and the prevailing wind carries
him toward the lake. He lands in the lake approximately fifty yards
offshore and is observed clearing his parachute and swimming for shore.
His jump partner, John Branch, drops two life rafts to Lt Hubble. Branch
then parachutes from the aircraft and attempts to find Lt Hubble. All he
finds is his floating helmet. Lt Hubble drowns in this incident.
|
Hursh, Scott B.
 |
SSgt |
102 ARRS |
HH-3 |
06/13/1978 |
New York
|
102 ARRS ANG HH-3 crash into a mountain during bad weather in New York.
Two other PJs were also on this aircraft (MSgt Allan Snyder and SSgt
David Lambert). They were enroute to a water training area near
Plattsburg AFB, NY. The aircraft suddenly became enveloped in fog and
clouds and flew into a mountainside.
NEWSPAPER
ARTICLE
PLAQUE |
Jermyn, Robert A.
 |
Sgt |
6594 Test Gp |
HH-53 |
01/15/1985 |
Pacific Ocean off
Hawaii
|
HH-53 based at Hickham AFB HI crashed during a
SAR. Also killed in the crash was PJ SSgt John R. Gilbert
Sgt Jermyn and SSgt Gilbert were PJ crewmembers on an HH-53
helicopter during a medevac mission 540 miles from Honolulu, Hawaii. A
British seaman is suffering from internal bleeding. Two HH-53's are
dispatched to make a pickup and transport the patient to a hospital.
During the approach to a hover over the Japanese freighter Asian Beauty,
the HH-53 has a main rotor failure and crashes on the deck of the ship
killing all seven crewmembers including Jermyn and Gilbert.
WIKI ARTICLE
|
Jones, Jeffrey Y.
 |
SSgt |
41 ARRS |
HC-130 |
04/01/1983 |
Pacific Ocean
|
Jump mission Pacific Ocean. May have hit head
on SCUBA tanks during jump. Body never recovered. S-17 parachute
fatality
Staff Sergeant Jones was initially listed as missing after he and his
partner, Staff Sergeant Steven Rodman, parachuted into heavy seas 700
miles northeast of Hawaii, to rescue two downed aviators. The PJs were
on an HC-130, which was escorting a flight of A-4 Skyhawk fighters on
their way to the United States mainland. One of the A-4s developed
engine problems and the pilots ejected and parachute into the ocean.
MA-1 kits were deployed to the fliers. A two man Pararescue team
deployed next. Sergeant Rodman and the A-4 fliers make it to the rafts,
but Sergeant Jones is never seen again. After ten days of searching, the
SAR effort is called off. Sergeant Jones is declared as deceased.
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION |
Jones, Wayne R.
|
TSgt |
1550 TCHTS |
HC-130 |
09/27/1998 |
Nellis AFB, Nevada
|
Parachute accident in Nevada.
Technical Sergeant Wayne R. Jones was assigned to the Pararescue
School, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico. He was TDY to Nellis AFB, Nevada when
he was killed during an MT-1X freefall parachute jump.
OBITUARY |
Judy, Mark R.
 |
SSgt |
Det 15 39ARRW |
HH-3 |
04/07/1984 |
Florida
|
HH-3 crashed in the Atlantic Ocean
approximately 50 miles off shore of Cape Canaveral
Staff Sergeant Mark R.
Judy and Airman First Class James A. Ferreira were PJs on an HH-3
covering a night missile launch from a Trident nuclear submarine just
offshore the Kennedy Space Center. At some point during the flight the
aircraft impacts the water and sinks. Three crewmembers escape the
sinking helo and five crewmembers are lost. The two PJs were among the
fatalities. A later attempt to recover the aircraft is conducted, but is
unsuccessful.
NEWSPAPER
ARTICLES
MEMORIAL PLAQUE
|
Kimbrel, Robert W.
 |
SSgt |
1550 TCHTS |
HC-130 |
04/02/1986 |
New Mexico
|
HC-130 crashed near Kirtland AFB, NM when a wing
came off during a low level mission
On 2 April 1986, an HC-130, call sign King
11, assigned to the 1550 TCHTS Kirtland Air Force Base was scheduled to
fly low level practice enroute to an Pararescue airdrop at the Burris
DZ, New Mexico. The flight was uneventful until it arrived at the drop
zone when the jumps were canceled due to high winds on the DZ. The
aircraft then proceeded on to continue the low level training. During
this phase of the flight profile one of the wings ripped off and all on
board were killed in the subsequent crash. An investigation revealed
that corrosion was the cause of the wing failure. There were 11 men on
board and none survived. The PJs who died in the crash were TSgt John R.
McGee, SSgt Robert W. Kimbrel, SSgt Michael D. Perron and Sgt Leo M.
Purchiaroni.
NEWS ARTICLES
MEMORIAL
PROGRAM
MEMORIAL PLAQUE
|
Kinney, Albert C
Photo not available |
|
71 ARS |
|
1947 |
Alaska
|
Parachute accident during SAR in Alaska |
Koecher, Robert P.
 |
SSgt |
38 ARRS |
HH-3 |
10/22/1973 |
Korea
|
HH-3 crash in Korea
Staff Sergeant Koecher is
on an HH-3 engaged in a training flight. He is killed when the aircraft
flies into a mountain near Osan Air Base, Korea. |
Kraines, Peter A.
 |
TSgt |
24th SOW |
|
10/08/2019 |
Idaho
|
Climbing accident during mountain rescue
training in Idaho
Suffered injuries in an estimated 40-foot fall while performing
mountain rescue techniques. The Ada County Sheriff’s Office
investigators believe an equipment error caused the fall
NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
ACCIDENT SITE PHOTO |
Kutscher, Jason C.
 |
SRA |
33 ARRS |
HH-3 |
10/06/1994 |
Korea
|
HH-60 crash near Osan AB Korea. Hit power
lines
PJs SRA Jason Kutsher and SRA Richard Setaro were part of an HH-60
crew engaged in a night training flight out of Osan Air Base, Korea.
During the flight, the aircraft hit a communications cable suspended
over a small valley and impacts the ground. Both airmen, along with the
rest of the crew, are killed in the crash. |
Lambert, David D.
 |
SSgt |
102 ARRS |
HH-3 |
06/13/1978 |
New York
|
102 ARRS ANG HH-3 crash into a mountain during bad weather in New York.
Two other PJs were also on this aircraft (MSgt Allan Snyder and SSgt
Scott Hursh). They were enroute to a water training area near Plattsburg AFB, NY.
The aircraft suddenly became enveloped in fog and clouds and flew into a
mountainside.
NEWSPAPER
ARTICLE
|
London, Santhal O.
 |
|
71 ARS |
|
1947 |
Alaska
|
Parachute accident during SAR in Alaska |
Magee, Martin D.
 |
SSgt |
41 ARRS |
HH-53 |
07/17/1977 |
|
HH-53 in flight loss of control during night
training flight in Nevada. Hit by tail rotor during bailout.
Sergeant Magee was on an
HH-53 flight near Nellis AFB, Nevada. His aircraft developed problems in
flight. Staff Sergeant Magee was thrown, or jumped from the ramp. He
makes contact with the tail rotor and dies of his injuries. |
McComb, Randy S.
 |
|
HQ ARRS |
N/A |
11/19/1983 |
Illinois |
Vehicle accident in Illinois.
While assigned to HQ ARRS at Scott AFB, IL., he was driving to work when
a tree fell onto his car and killed him. Also in the car was his
wife Peach who incredibly was not injured.
OBITUARY |
McDermott, Sean J.
 |
SRA |
320 STS |
C-130 |
08/13/1998 |
Oura Bay, Okinawa
|
Freefall RAMZ jump into Pacific Ocean. MT-1X malfunction
Senior Airman Sean J. McDermott was acting as team leader on a HALO
RAMZ (Rigging Alternate Method Zodiac) water jump into the Oura Bay,
Okinawa drop zone. Sean was on the 3rd pass with two other
jumpers and a RAMZ package. He encountered problems with his main
parachute deployment. He cut away the main canopy, pulled his reserve,
but the bridle line entangled on the strobe light on his helmet, causing
the parachute not to open. 33rd RQS and 320th STS
Pararescuemen treated him on scene and an HH-60 hoisted him out via
Stokes litter. PJs TSgt Jim Thede and SSgt Ron Thompson treated him on
the way to the hospital. Sean died of his injuries while in the
hospital.
OTHER INFORMATION
|
McGee, John R.
 |
TSgt |
1550 TCHTS |
HC-130 |
04/02/1986 |
New Mexico
|
HC-130 crashed near Kirtland AFB, NM when a wing
came off during a low level mission
On 2 April 1986, an HC-130, call sign King
11, assigned to the 1550 TCHTS Kirtland Air Force Base was scheduled to
fly low level practice enroute to an Pararescue airdrop at the Burris
DZ, New Mexico. The flight was uneventful until it arrived at the drop
zone when the jumps were canceled due to high winds on the DZ. The
aircraft then proceeded on to continue the low level training. During
this phase of the flight profile one of the wings ripped off and all on
board were killed in the subsequent crash. An investigation revealed
that corrosion was the cause of the wing failure. There were 11 men on
board and none survived. The PJs who died in the crash were TSgt John R.
McGee, SSgt Robert W. Kimbrel, SSgt Michael D. Perron and Sgt Leo M.
Purchiaroni.
NEWS ARTICLES
MEMORIAL
PROGRAM
MEMORIAL PLAQUE |
McGill, Charles
 |
|
305 ARRS |
HC-130 |
Unknown |
Oregon |
During a night freefall jump in Oregon. Chuck hits a tree
stump on landing and broke his neck. Was paralyzed and placed in iron
lung for approximately 18 months before he passed away. |
McKenna, Kevin P.
 |
SSgt |
129 ARRS |
N/A |
09/07/1993 |
Saudi Arabia
|
Heart attack while doing PT. Was on deployment
to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Storm. Born 23
April 1964, Kevin was 29 when he died. Was interred at Laurel Land
Memorial Park, Fort Worth, TX
|
Novak, Joseph E.
 |
Sgt |
71 ARRS |
N/A |
12/04/1977 |
Alaska
|
SCUBA accident in Alaska
Sergeant Novak was engaged in a training dive operation in Finger Lake,
Alaska. The operation is being conducted under ten inches of ice.
He suffered a Unisuit regulator
malfunction and drowned. |
O'Dell, Robert M.
O'Dell, Mike
|
SSgt |
66 ARRS |
HC-130 |
12/08/1985 |
Florida
|
TDY at Eglin AFB, FL to teach PJs military
freefall with MT-1X.
Staff Sergeant O'Dell was a freefall instructor assigned to the 23rd
Air Force MT-1X parachute mobile training team. He was participating in
a night free-fall parachute jump from an HC-130 to a drop zone on Eglin
AFB. During freefall he collides with another jumper and O'Dell is
knocked unconscious. He died on ground impact. The other jumper in the
collision landed OK. Sergeant O'Dell and his family always used his
middle name "Mike" when talking to or about him.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
|
Perron, Michael D.
 |
SSgt |
1550 TCHTS |
HC-130 |
04/02/1986 |
New Mexico
|
HC-130 crashed near Kirtland AFB, NM when a wing
came off during a low level mission
On 2 April 1986, an HC-130, call sign King
11, assigned to the 1550 TCHTS Kirtland Air Force Base was scheduled to
fly low level practice enroute to an Pararescue airdrop at the Burris
DZ, New Mexico. The flight was uneventful until it arrived at the drop
zone when the jumps were canceled due to high winds on the DZ. The
aircraft then proceeded on to continue the low level training. During
this phase of the flight profile one of the wings ripped off and all on
board were killed in the subsequent crash. An investigation revealed
that corrosion was the cause of the wing failure. There were 11 men on
board and none survived. The PJs who died in the crash were TSgt John R.
McGee, SSgt Robert W. Kimbrel, SSgt Michael D. Perron and Sgt Leo M.
Purchiaroni.
PICTURE1
PICTURE2
NEWS ARTICLES
MEMORIAL
PROGRAM
MEMORIAL PLAQUE
|
Purchiaroni, Leo M.
 |
Sgt |
1550 TCHTS |
HC-130 |
04/02/1986 |
New Mexico
|
HC-130 crashed near Kirtland AFB, NM when a wing
came off during a low level mission
On 2 April 1986, an HC-130, call sign King
11, assigned to the 1550 TCHTS Kirtland Air Force Base was scheduled to
fly low level practice enroute to an Pararescue airdrop at the Burris
DZ, New Mexico. The flight was uneventful until it arrived at the drop
zone when the jumps were canceled due to high winds on the DZ. The
aircraft then proceeded on to continue the low level training. During
this phase of the flight profile one of the wings ripped off and all on
board were killed in the subsequent crash. An investigation revealed
that corrosion was the cause of the wing failure. There were 11 men on
board and none survived. The PJs who died in the crash were TSgt John R.
McGee, SSgt Robert W. Kimbrel, SSgt Michael D. Perron and Sgt Leo M.
Purchiaroni.
NEWS ARTICLES
MEMORIAL
PROGRAM
MEMORIAL PLAQUE
|
Reindl, Paul J.
|
SSgt |
31 ARRS |
HC-130 |
02/05/1969 |
Pacific Ocean off Taiwan
|
HC-130 crash Pacific Ocean near Taiwan during SAR
USAF ACCIDENT REPORT |
Rowe, Thomas
 |
SSgt |
Unknown |
N/A |
1961 |
Florida
|
SCUBA accident off Florida coastline. |
Setaro, Richard M.
 |
SRA |
33 ARRS |
HH-60 |
10/06/1994 |
Korea
|
HH-60 crash near Osan AB, Korea. Hit power
lines
PJs SRA Jason Kutsher and SRA Richard Setaro were part of an HH-60
crew engaged in a night training flight out of Osan Air Base, Korea.
During the flight, the aircraft hit a communications cable suspended
over a small valley and impacts the ground. Both airmen, along with the
rest of the crew, are killed in the crash. |
Smith, Arden R.
 |
TSgt |
102 ARRS |
HH-60 |
10/30/1991 |
Atlantic Ocean
|
“Perfect Storm SAR.” 106th RQS HH-60 ditched
into Atlantic Ocean. Body never recovered
Smith and John Spillane
are Pararescue crewmembers on an HH-60 crew dispatched to recover an
individual from a sailboat out in the Atlantic. The weather gets
continually worse the farther out they proceed. The wind and weather are
too severe to accomplish a pick up. They abort and proceed back to
shore. They attempt to air refuel, but because of the severe weather and
turbulence air refueling is impossible. They are forced to ditch.
Spillane and Smith exit the door with Smith jumping first. Spillane
states that he fell for a long time and hit hard. He is severely
injured. The aircraft impacts the water and the remaining three
crewmembers exit. After a perilous time in the water, Spillane and the
other crewmembers are rescued by a Coast Guard cutter. There is no sign
of Smith. An extensive search is conducted but Smith is never seen
again.
|
Snowden, William K.
 |
SSgt |
Det 3, 39th ARRWg |
U-10 |
10/23/1968
|
Panama
|
SAR jump accident in Panama
An Army
UH1D Huey went down about 800 yards south west of the base hospital. Sgt
Snowden and Sgt Pickelsimer were both in separate U-10B's waiting for
their regular Wednesday jumps when they were called by radio on their
planes to jump into the scene. Pickelsimer freefall jumped from 1500
feet with a Paracommander parachute and landed a few feet from the crash
site. Snowden jumped static line from 1100 feet with a 35-foot S-10
parachute and landed in a tree about 100 yards away. The crewmembers on
the chopper didn't need any major medical attention. However, Snowden
never showed up. A ground search for Snowden was done and he was found
deceased on the jungle floor below the parachute he had jumped with.
After landing in the tree, Snowden had deployed his reserve parachute.
This was before tree letdown devices were implemented. The tree letdown
procedure those days was to deploy your reserve and use it to climb down
to the ground. Cause of death was strangulation. Somehow, he was
strangled trying to get to the ground.
SEE DUTY LOG ENTRY SNOWDEN DEATH
|
Snyder, Allen G.
 |
MSgt |
102 ARRS |
HH-3 |
06/13/1978 |
New York
|
102 ARRS ANG HH-3 crash into a mountain during bad weather in New York.
Two other PJs were also on this aircraft (SSgt Scott Hursh and SSgt
David Lambert). They were enroute to a water training area near
Plattsburg AFB, NY. The aircraft suddenly became enveloped in fog and
clouds and flew into a mountainside.
NEWSPAPER
ARTICLE
PLAQUE |
Stewart, Jesse D.
 |
SRA |
66 RQS |
HH-60 |
09/03/1998 |
Nevada
|
HH-60 crash after midair collision with
another HH-60
Senior Airman Jesse
Stewart and Airman First Class Justin Wotasik are PJ aircrew members on
two HH-60 helicopters assigned to the 66th RQS assigned to
Nellis AFB, Nevada. They were participating in night training
operations, in the extensive range complex, north of Las Vegas, Nevada.
The aircraft did not return to base as scheduled. A search was initiated
and both aircraft are found crashed in a rugged mountainous area of the
range. Both aircraft impacted the ground, killing all crewmembers on
board. |
Walker, Michael L.
 |
TSgt |
40 ARRS |
N/A |
07/10/1973 |
Thailand
|
May have died of illness contracted in Laos at
forward operating location.
We need additional information on this PJ hero.
Arlington Picture |
Whipple, John
|
|
Unknown |
N/A |
10/00/1951
Date uncertain. Incident occurred sometime between Sept and Oct 1951 |
Philippines
|
Philippine SAR heat stroke
The telephone line between the Camp O'Donnell Gunnery Range and the
main base has become inoperative. The anti-government "Huk" guerillas
have been active in the area. Whipple is tasked to transport Air
Police and telephone repair personnel, in one of the units tracked
"Weasel" vehicles, along the communication line to investigate. Some
distance from the main base the vehicle throws a track and becomes
disabled. Whipple attempts repairs by in the process becomes ill and
suffers from heat prostration. He is evacuated to the base hospital and
dies a few days later from complications. |
Wotasik, Justin C.
 |
A1C |
66 RQS |
HH-60 |
09/03/1998 |
Nevada
|
HH-60 crash after midair collision with
another HH-60
Senior Airman Jesse
Stewart and Airman First Class Justin Wotasik are PJ aircrew members on
two HH-60 helicopters assigned to the 66th RQS assigned to
Nellis AFB, Nevada. They were participating in night training
operations, in the extensive range complex, north of Las Vegas, Nevada.
The aircraft did not return to base as scheduled. A search was initiated
and both aircraft are found crashed in a rugged mountainous area of the
range. Both aircraft impacted the ground, killing all crewmembers on
board.
|
Zimmermann, Lawrence R.
|
Sgt |
129 ARRS |
HC-130 |
07/12/1977 |
California
|
S-17 parachute accident during training jump
in CA.
Sergeant Zimmerman was
participating in a training parach
ute jump. During the descent he
collides with another jumper, causing his parachute to malfunction. He
is killed on impact with the ground. The accident occurs near Livermore,
California. |
