William Patrick Higgins

The database page for William Patrick Higgins

11 Sep 2003 On 28 Dec 1969, an HMM-364 CH-46 (YK-13, BuNo 153379) was returning from Phu Bai on a night IFR flight in heavy weather. In addition to the weather, YK-13 had to contend with radio problems. Although their IFR clearance specified an in-flight altitude of 5,000 feet above sea level they read back and flew at 3,000 feet. Danang Approach Control made every effort to alert the crew to their error, transmitting on all available radio frequencies, but were not able to contact YK-13. YK-13 flew into Hai Van Pass under IMC conditions and hit a mountain, killing all ten men aboard the aircraft: HMM-364: 1st Lt Charles King Butler, pilot 1st Lt William Patrick Higgins, copilot SSgt Robert Ray Swain, crew chief PFC William Lee Beadnell, gunner Passengers: MGySgt Edward Reynold Storm, L Co, Marine Spt Bn, 3rdMAF CTC Robert Sidney Gates, NAVSUPACT, USNAVFORV SSgt Richard David Walsh, MABS-16, MAG-16 LCpl James Howard Pence, MABS-16, MAG-16 LCpl Leslie Lewis Shelton, MABS-16, MAG-16 PFC James Muriel Alderman, MABS-16, MAG-16 Bill Higgins, and the other Purple Foxes who served in Vietnam, are remembered by the women who waited at home, whether mothers, sisters, wives, daughters, or friends. Those women, the Purple Foxy Ladies continue to support today's Purple Foxes of HMM-364 as they serve our country. Visit the Purple Foxes on-line or go to our unit page on The Virtual Wall A memorial initiated by the Purple Foxy Ladies Foxyladiesgroup@aol.com

The point-of-contact for this memorial is HMM-364 and the Purple Foxy Ladies, Frank Gulledge, Point Man gulledge@bbtel.com  12 Sep 2003

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Channing Prothro, former CAP Marine
Last updated 09/12/2003