"History of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 161":
"Shortly after Colonel [Owen A.] Chambers assumed command of the squadron, another fatal accident occurred 6 miles northeast of Sinchon, Korea. Major Doil R. Stitzel was making a test hop out of Ascom City, the location of the squadron's rear echelon, when his helicopter crashed and burned. The pilot and his two mechanics, Master Sergeant Gilbert N. Candle [Caudle] and Sergeant Richard L. Parsell, died as a result of the accident."

Submitted by History and Museums Division, USMC, Historian, USMC Combat Helicopter Association

Personal Narrative:
I was on the ready line at A-33 Army airfield. All our planes were grounded becaue of the high winds thet were around 60 MPH.

We were shocked to hear a helicopter flying over head so we went outside our building to see who it was. We watched at it flew north about a half mile and as we watched one of the rotor blades broke off. The chopper tumbled around uncontrollable and crashed in a rice paddy. We threw our equipment in a three quarter ton truck and raced to the scene of the crash. As we arrived the chopper blew up.

The Major was thrown out but the two Sargeants were burned to death inside the pile of molten metal. I emptied my extinguisher on the Major who was already dead but burning. I know it was the Major because his Major leaves were floating in the water attached to the shoulder straps of his jacket.

I shall never forget this occurance.

Floyd Wagoner
5113 Dequin Dr.
Las Vegas Nevada 89130
Submitted by Flloyd Wagoner, On fire crew that was first to arrive at scene

Personal Narrative:
SGT. PARCELL WANTED TO TAKE THE TEST HOP SO THAT HE COULD GET 20 MINUETS FLYING TIME IN SO THAT HE COULD GET HIS FLIGHT PAY FOR THE MONTH. HE WAS SCHEDULED TO LEAVE FOR THE STATES IN 2 DAYS. WE WERE TALKING JUST BEFORE THEY TOOK OFF.

IT WAS A TEST HOP AFTER MAINTANCE HAD BEEN COMPLETED. THEY TOOK OFF AND WERE ABOUT 250 YARDS AWAY AND ABOUT 500 FEET HIGH. NUMBER 6 CYLINDER BLEW AND IT WENT INTO A BALL OF FIRE AND A ROTOR BLADE FLEW OFF AND THEY ENDED IN A DRY FIELD ABOUT 200 YARDS FROM THE MAINTANCE SHOP.

WE RAN OUT AND PARCELL WAS ON TOP OF THE ENGINE. M/SGT CAUDLE WAS ABOUT 20 FEET IN THE FRONT LEFT OF THE HELICOPTER AS HE HAD BEEN IN THE CO-PILOTS SEAT. CAPT. RUGGLES WAS ABOUT 15 FEET TO THE FRONT RIGHT OF THE HELICOPTER AND HIS BODY WAS LIKE IN A SITTING POSITION FACE DOWN LIKE HE WAS LOOKING IN A HOLE IN THE GROUND. I WILL NEVER FORGET THE EVENT AS LONG AS I LIVE. I HAD FLOWN SEVERAL TIMES AS CREW CHIEF WITH CAPT. RUGGLES. HE WAS A GOOD VERY PILOT.
Submitted by Richard Goode Sgt. USMC, I WAS WATCHING THE TEST HOP AT ASCOM CITY

Personal Narrative:
I PREVIOUSLY WROTE REMARKS ABOUT THE CRASH OF MAJOR STITZEL, M/SGT CAUDLE & SGT PARCELL AT ASCOM CITY, KOREA.

WHEN WRITING THE ARTICLE, EVERY THING WAS CORRECT EXCEPT I PLACED CAPT RUGGLES AS PILOT. IT WAS IN FACT MAJOR DOYLE STITZEL THAT WAS THE PILOT. I HAD BEEN THINKING OF THE GUYS THAT WE HAD LOST AND PLACED CAPT RUGGLES NAME IN ERROR. CAPT RUGGLES AND T/SGT JOE BRAND WERE FLYING TO A CARRIER SOUTH OF PUSON AND THEY WENT DOWN AT SEA AND THEIR BODYS WERE NOT RECOVERED.

IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME AGO BUT I STILL MISS PARCELL AND BRAND.
Submitted by RICHARD E. GOODE S/SGT. USMC, ERROR CORRECTION

KORWALD Loss Incident Summary:
KORWALD Loss Incident Summary

Date of Loss: 530325
Tail Number: 127822
Aircraft Type: HRS-2
Wing or Group: 1st Mar Div
Squadron: HMR-161
Circumstances of Loss: Crashed and burned during test hop from Ascom City, Korea



Crewmembers Associated With This Loss
Name
(Last, First Middle) Rank Service Status Comments
CAUDLE, JR., Gilbert N. MSGT USMC RCV Remains recovered
PARSELL, Richard S. SGT USMC RCV Remains recovered
STITZEL, Doil R. MAJ USMC RCV Remains recovered



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

Korean War Veterans Honor Roll:
Master Sergeant Caudle was a crew member of a HRS-2 Sikorski Helicopter with Marine Helicopter Transportation Squadron 161, 1st Marine Air Wing. On March 25, 1953, during a test flight from Ascom, South Korea, his helicopter crashed and burned killing its crew of three. Master Sergeant Caudle was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.

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

Korean War Project:
DOIL R STITZEL

161 HMR SQDN 1 MAW

Marines

Non-hostile, Died Other causes

Date Of Loss: March 25, 1953

MAJ - O4

Service Number: 020470 MOS:

Home of Record: SAN FRANCISCO, CA

Place of Loss: Unknown Location

Born: December 11, 1918
Year of Birth:

Race-Under Research

Korean War Project Key No: 36140

Date Of Final Status: (March 25, 1953)

Korean War Project:
RICHARD S PARSELL

161 HMR SQDN 1 MAW

Marines

Hostile, Died (KIA)

Date Of Loss: March 25, 1953

SGT - E5

Service Number: 1135451 MOS: -----

Home of Record: SPRINGFIELD, OH

Place of Loss: Unknown Location

Born: May 24, 1932
Year of Birth: 1932

Caucasian

Korean War Project Key No: 22899

Date Of Final Status: (March 25, 1953)

Korean War Project:
GILBERT N CAUDLE JR

161 HMR SQDN 1 MAW

Marines

Non-hostile, Died Other causes

Date Of Loss: March 25, 1953

MSGT - E8

Service Number: 330238 MOS:

Home of Record: PARMA, MO

Place of Loss: Unknown Location

Born: July 22, 1924
Year of Birth:

Race-Under Research

Korean War Project Key No: 34061

Date Of Final Status: (March 25, 1953)