MITCHELL JAMES STEPHEN

Narrative

On the night of 23 July 1968, aircraft 66-15500 was on an authorized mission, firefly in Xuen Loc Province. The time was approximately 2330 hours. The weather: low thick patches of fog and clouds, heavy rain showers throughout the area. The ceiling was from the ground to eleven hundred feet. Visibility was 0 to 15 miles. A firefly team was working along the Dong Nai River and at the completion of the mission the team leader sent the other two aircraft to Bien Hoa. The team leader, LT Fullenton, proceeded to Xuan Loc to drop off an aerial observer. WO1 Kaye was in the lead aircraft of the two aircraft returning to Bien Hoa. Initially he turned east towards Xuan Loc to avoid the clouds and fog. When he arrived at a point, that he believed was highway 1, he turned to the west. After flying a short distance, WO1 Kay became IFR for about 30 seconds. LT Fullenton, who was monitoring the radio transmissions, advised the two aircraft to turn north, back to VFR conditions. WO1 Kaye complied with these instructions and flew north until he could see the lights of Long Binh. He then turned to a heading of 250 degrees at an altitude of 1200 feet and proceeded to Long Binh. CW2 Mitchell who was following WO1 Kaye was at 1500 ft, and enroute to Long Binh, became IFR. CW2 Mitchell contacted WO1 Kaye, and asked if he was still VFR. WO1 Kaye replied 'yes' that he was VFR, and could still see the lights of Long Binh. CW2 Mitchell then turned to a heading of 270 degrees and announced that 1500 feet was his problem and that he was going to initiate a letdown on a heading of 270 degrees. As this letdown was accomplished the aircraft struck the trees and crashed at coordinates XT 340160.