MCMURRAY FRED HOWELL JR

Narrative

Scout pilot with b/1/9 cav 1 cav in OH-13. Shot down in Au Shaw Valley prior to push. Last light mission bird went down on fire. Observer got out and picked up. At first was reported fred was still in aircraft (dead). Next morning Blue's went in to recover body. Fred was not in aircraft. Chest protecter and helmet was found stacked up, like we did between missions. Name reported on document found later. from Larry Brown Loss Coordinates: 164413N 1064814E Other Personnel In Incident: James J. Powers (rescued) SYNOPSIS: At 1600 hours on April 7, 1968, 1Lt. McMurray was the pilot of an OH13S helicopter, tail number 63-9084, with one observer/door gunner, Sgt. James J. Powers. The aircraft departed the 1st Air Cavalry Division base at Landing Zone Stud with an AH1G armed helicopter escort for a reconnaissance mission in the support of an operation. 1Lt. McMurray was flying low-level when he reported seeing several recently repaired weapons positions and freshly used trails. 1Lt. McMurray marked the location with a smoke grenade to allow the AH1G to identify and fire rockets on the target. He also reported sighting NVA soldiers, whom he engaged. The escort helicopter continued to place suppresive fire in the area, and transmitted a request for a rifle platoon which was launched and was over the area in about 15 minutes. During the fighting, 1Lt. McMurray's aircraft received enemy fire, began burning in flight, and crashed. Sgt. Powers was subsequently rescued, but 1Lt. McMurray was not.