KIA INCIDENT: 19530212 HMR-161 Korea

Brothers (& Sisters) Killed in Action in USMC Helicopters or while assigned to USMC Helicopter or Tiltrotor Squadrons

19530212HMR-161 Korea

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Incident Date 19530212 HMR-161 HRS-1 BuNo 127798 - Crashed at sea enroute to carrier

[CREW]
Ruggles, Allen Ward Capt Pilot HMR-161 1stMARDIV 1953-02-12
Brand Jr., Joe Lycurgus TSgt Crew Chief HMR-161 1stMAW 1953-02-12

ALLEN WARD RUGGLES :
161 HMR SQDN 1 MAW :
MARINES :
HOSTILE, DIED (KIA) :
DATE OF LOSS FEBRUARY 12, 1953 :
CPT - O3 :
038673 :

MOS ----- :
CONCORD, MA :
PLACE OF LOSS - AT SEA 25 MILES S PUSAN:
BORN DECEMBER 13, 1920 :

CAUCASIAN :
KOREAN WAR PROJECT KEY NO 25984 :
DATE OF FINAL STATUS: (FEBRUARY 12, 1953) :
body not recovered
JOE LYCURGUS BRAND JR :
161 HMR SQDN 1 MAW :
MARINES :
HOSTILE, DIED (KIA) :
DATE OF LOSS FEBRUARY 12, 1953 :
GSGT - E7 :
415257 :
MOS ----- :
ORLANDO, FL :
PLACE OF LOSS - AT SEA 25 MILES S PUSAN :
BORN SEPTEMBER 3, 1923 :

CAUCASIAN :
KOREAN WAR PROJECT KEY NO 3054 :
DATE OF FINAL STATUS: (FEBRUARY 12, 1953) :
C1 PER DIOR HELICOPTER CRASH AT SEA :
body not recovered

History and Museums Division, USMC

"HMR-161 had been able to maintain an amazing record of flight safety conducting helicopter operations in a combat zone for 17 months without losing a man. Unfortunately, this record ended on 12 February 1953. Captain Allen W. Ruggles and his crew chief, Technical Sergeant Joseph L. Brand Jr., were about 25 miles south of Pusan on their way to rendezvous with an aircraft carrier that was to take them to Japan, when their helicopter crashed into the water. Mechanical trouble was believed to have been the cause; neither the bodies nor the aircraft were ever recovered."

Submitted by: Alan H Barbour, Historian, Historian, USMC Combat Helicopter Association, 20060110

KORWALD Loss Incident Summary

KORWALD Loss Incident Summary

Date of Loss: 530212
Tail Number: 127798
Aircraft Type: HRS-1
Wing or Group: 1st Mar Div
Squadron: HMR-161
Circumstances of Loss: Crashed into water 25 mi S of Pusan during rendezvous with aircraft carrier



Crewmembers Associated With This Loss
Name
(Last, First Middle) Rank Service Status Comments
BRAND, JR., Joe L. TSGT USMC KIA
RUGGLES, Allen W. CAPT USMC KIA (161st MAW, Marine Helicopter Trans Sq)




Submitted by: Alan H Barbour, Historian, USMC Combat Helicopter Association, 20060107

Korean War Project

ALLEN WARD RUGGLES

161 HMR SQDN 1 MAW

Marines

Hostile, Died (KIA)

Date Of Loss: February 12, 1953

CPT - O3

Service Number: 038673 MOS: -----

Home of Record: CONCORD, MA

Place of Loss: Unknown Location

Born: December 13, 1920
Year of Birth: 1920

Caucasian

Korean War Project Key No: 25984

Date Of Final Status: (February 12, 1953)

Submitted by: N/A, 20060109

Korean War Project

JOE LYCURGUS BRAND JR

161 HMR SQDN 1 MAW

Marines

Hostile, Died (KIA)

Date Of Loss: February 12, 1953

GSGT - E7

Service Number: 415257 MOS: -----

Home of Record: ORLANDO, FL

Place of Loss: Unknown Location

Born: September 3, 1923
Year of Birth: 1923

Caucasian

Korean War Project Key No: 3054

Date Of Final Status: (February 12, 1953)
C1 per DIOR HELICOPTER CRASH AT SEA

Submitted by: N/A, 20060109