CHILDERS PHILLIP DON

Narrative

Mid-air with 63-8594. War Story: The accident occurred at 0947 hours, 28 May 1965 within the confines of the Bien Hao Air Base, RVN. Weather was not a factor. Two UH-1B helicopters, serial numbers 63-08592 and 63-08594 were involved with crews and passengers. It was impossible to determine which of the aviators in either of the aircraft was in control at the time of the accident. Aircraft 594 had just departed from the III Corps hilipad on a heading of approvimately 280 degrees and was in a shallow climb at an altitude of about 75 feet. Aircraft 592 was descending apparently in autorotation, on a heading of approximately 250 degrees. Aircraft 592 entered the right rear quadrant of the rotor disc area of 594 from above; the point of collision being approximately 250 yards south of the pierced steel plank runway. Aircraft 592 burst into flame, became inverted and hit the ground almost directly under the point of collision. Aircraft 594, minus its main rotor, fell toward the northwest, struck the ground with its tailboom, bounced, caught fire on second impact (when it struck nose down), slid 100 feet and burned.