FLORIO ROLAND LOUIE

Narrative

The aircraft departed Camp Martin Cox, Bearcat, RVN at 0605 hours 15 Aug 1968 to perform a routine courier mission in support of the 9th Signaled BN, 9th Infantry Division. After takeoff, the crew of 66-779 monitored a radio call on guard concerning a downed dustoff helicopter. At 0606 hours the pilot of 66-779 called Bien Hoa tower on guard and offered assistance in search and rescue operations. Bien Hoa tower gave the location of the downed aircraft as about 6 miles south of Zuan Loc. The pilot of 66-779 advised Bien Hoa tower that he was proceeding from Bearcat enroute to the area of the downed aircraft and start a search. The last radio transmission from the crew of 66-779 to Bien Hoa tower was at 0608. At approximately 0619, aircraft 66-779 struck a non-electrical support cable of the power lines that cross highway 1 at coordinates YT 155113. After striking the cable, the aircraft crashed and burned. The main portion of the wreckage was located 132 meters from the point of the wire strike.