SMITH STANLEY BRUCE

Narrative

Shortly after takeoff the aircraft was seen making a descending right turn. The aircraft crashed and burned killing all occupants. War Story: The crew was called out late one night for a flight to LZ Uplift. They, LZ Uplift, were taking sniper fire from the mountain side and had requested a flare mission flight. The pilot reported the weather as a factor in declining the mission after arriving. He was then "ordered" to make the flight, an order he could have but did not refuse, as it was his choice. The chopper was then loaded with 51 flares. On taking off the Huey hooked a skid on consertina wire and rolled into the ground, exploded and burnt. The additional heat from the 51 flares burning left little more than ashes of the aircraft. That morning, myself and several others were asked to sift through the ashes to try to locate any remains. While doing that I picked up a piece of charcoal about 18 inches long and maybe 12 inches wide that weighed maybe a pound?? I could see a metallic piece embedded in the mass. Later it was determined to be the dog tags of the torso I had found. Ben Speed, former 61 AHC pilot, Vietnam 1968