Helicopter Accidents Hanshin and Oppama, Japan

[stonko34]

I am trying to pin down information related to helicopter accidents involving HMR 162 and 163 which supposedly happened in 1953/54. One apparently involved a transmission failure at Hanshin and may have involved fatalities. The other in 1954 was a mid-air collision over Tokyo Bay supposedly with four fatalities. I am not absolutely certain of the squadrons involved, but would like to pin this down for the purpose of identifiying fatalities. I would certainly appreciate any information related to these incidents. I served with HMR 163 during this period.

LTC Stan Hendrickson, USA, Ret.

[pm3777]

Atsugi Apr/May 1954 I was in the H19 Rescue Det. We had a Capt Lantz crash on the way to the embassy in Tokoyo. As I recall there was about 11 Marines in the troop compartment. Crash was caused by the A frame supporting the aft of the MGB broke & the Main rotors came down & cut off the tail cone. PM

[Craig59]

HMR-162 deployed from Santa Ana to Oppama in March 1954. One year later, they replaced HMR-161 in Korea when 161 redeployed to Hawaii. So, that makes those two squadrons your likely targets. I'll dig through what data I have and see what I can find.

[Craig59]

This one occured March 25, 1953 and may be the one you're referring to:

http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_info_2511.htm

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

[Jack Ubel]

Thats not the accident. Hanshin and Oppoma are in Japan. Ascom City was our rear Maintence area in Korea. I remember the crash. They were on a check ride after a major check. Had to be HMR162 or HMR163 . Both were at Oppoma at that time frame.

[SIDSIKO]

I have two HRS-3's that were written off on the same date while with HMM-163, did the mid air you mention involve another helicopter?

130231 and 130249 were both written off while with HMM-163, base given as Oppama on the 13th of October 1954.

I am trying to locate more details of this incident for you

Sid

[SIDSIKO]

On 13th of October 1954, at approx 1410 hours, a mid air head on collision occurred between two HRS-3 helicopters at Lat 35 12' North, 139 41' East (Uaraga Channel, Tokyo Bay). Both aircraft involved in the accident were on authorised routine training flights. At the time of the accident both aircraft were at an estimated altitude of 500 feet and flying at estimated cruising speeds of 65-70 knots.

One helicopter, HS-9, BuNo 130249, from HMR-162 at NAF Oppama, piloted by Maj. Charles J. Hawken and 2nd Lt. Henry P. Cohn Jr. with PFC George W. Talton as crew chief was returning to Oppama heliport flying in a northeast direction over Nagasawa Beach from Camp McGill airstrip where they had been practising simulated autorotations and normal landings.

The other helicopter, HP-1, BuNo 130231, from HMR-163 at NAF Oppama, piloted by Captain Sidney R. Richardson and 2Lt Richard F. Powers with Cpl Joseph J. Kubes and PFC Raymond L. Scott as crew members was on a local area check out and famil flight. They were flying in a southwest direction over Nagasawa Beach.

All perished in the crash apart from Maj Hawken.

[pm3777]

SIDSIKO: Can you located the H19 Crash from H&MS-11, MAG 11 dates between 5 Mar & end of March 1954 ?? SF PM

[Craig59]

Great work as usual, Sid.

I show BuNo130206 assigned to MAMRON 11 being SOC (destroyed) on March 19, 1954.

[pm3777]

Can you bring up the crew & passengers etc ?? I was there but memory only that I think the Pilot was Capt Lantz ?? There was several Marines getting flight time in the troop compartment. Thanks SF PM

[Craig59]

Can you bring up the crew & passengers etc ?? I was there but memory only that I think the Pilot was Capt Lantz ?? There was several Marines getting flight time in the troop compartment. Thanks SF PM

Paul,

I don't have that accident data but, perhaps Sid does. A quick search on accident-report.com shows reports available for three persons named Lantz; Daniel C., George C., and Harold L.

[pm3777]

I had been evacuated from Korea VMO-6 about 1 March 1954 to the yokota Naval Hospital. Than on 5 Mar I was assigned to the H-19 Rescue Det at MAG-11. I flew Co-pilot with Capt Lantz several times. He was happy about recieveing a letter from CMC designating him a Regular from his Reserve status. On the fatal flight 19 March I was suited up to fly with Capt Lantz when one of the Sgts begged to take the flight wanting to see Tokoyo. Cant recall his name. I guess it was his time instead of mine . I would like to get the names of those that was in the Helicopter. SF PM

[SIDSIKO]

With many thanks to Craig Fuller of AAIR, I am able to fill in the details of this sad incident.

On the 19th of March 1954, Captain Gerald R. Lentz took off from NAS Atsugi, Japan, flying a HRS-3 helicopter, BuNo 130206 of H&MS 11, MAG-11 of 1 MAW, on a round robin to Hardy Barracks, Tokyo, Japan. After discharging a passenger at Hardy Barracks Captain Lentz proceded on the return leg of the round robin from Tokyo to Atsugi. At 11.10 hours, when approx 5 miles NW of Yokohama and at an altitude of 450 feet, the main transmission left the airframe with all three blades attached. Almost simultaneously upon leaving the airframe, one of the blades struck the tail cone, severing it from the rest of the fuselage.

Cpl Harry J. Pitre flying in the LH side seat and MSgt Alexander N. Clark in the forward cabin seat also perished in the crash.

Sid

[stonko34]

Many Thanks for all your hard work trying to answer my question related to the accidents. The mid-air I had only read about in the Pacific Stars and Stripes. The accident happened within a few days of my rotation out of HMR 163 after my 14 months in the East. I was aware of the crash caused by the transmission failure in H&MS 11 but did not have the details. Once again, thanks for easing this nagging feeling which I have had for so long.

LTC Stan Hendrickson, USA, Ret.

[stonko34]

Another question for the old-timers. In the spring of 1953 there was a fatal involving an HMR 163 helicopter that I understand tangled with high power lines. I believe that it occurred over Camp Pendleton. There were three fatlities but I seem to recall that a Crew Chief by the name of Sanchez was involved. The unit was based at MCAF Santa Ana at the time. I was new to the unit at the time and don't recall much of the details except there was not much left of the craft except ashes.

Stan Hendrickson

[SIDSIKO]

Hello Stan,

This crash involved HRS-1 BuNo 127788 of HMR-163 on the 3rd of June 1953. It was piloted by Captain Donald. F. Bolinski with 1st LT. Wayne Morse as co-pilot. Cpl Angel Sanchez was the crew chief.

They were on a S&R mission in the Laguna Hills, after a false report of a jet that had expolded in mid air, in the area.

They hit HT lines in El Morro Canyon and sadly all perished in the crash.

[stonko34]

Thanks Sidsiko.

I have often wondered about the people involved. I knew Cpl Sanchez only briefly, but was involved in the recovery of remains of the helicopter. It seems that HP 1 was perhaps a jinxed number because it was involved in a head-on mid air collision with a helicopter from HMR 162 in 1954 near Tokyo Bay with the loss of four lives.