CONDREY GEORGE THOMAS III

Narrative

SYNOPSIS: George Condrey, pilot, James Dayton, aircraft commander, Daniel Jurecko, crewchief, and Robert Jenne, crewman were on a combat support mission 35 nautical miles southwest of Da Nang on May 8, 1968. During the mission, the helicopter was completing a turn from the east to the west when it exploded in midair and plunged into the Buong River bank. The violent midair explosion of the aircraft indicated that it had been hit by an explosive projectile. Shortly after the incident, recovery personnel landed in the vicinity of the crash, but were unable to find any signs of life. On 12 May, a ground patrol located the remains of four bodies. Two bodies were found in the wreckage, one along side, and one was two meters forward of the aircraft. All bodies were burned beyond recognition. Due to enemy activity and the badly deteriorated state of the remains, the remains were not recovered.