Charles Henry Meeks, Jr

Sergeant
HMM-364, MAG-16, 1ST MAW
United States Marine Corps
15 March 1946 - 11 April 1969
Los Angeles, CA
Panel 27W Line 060

1ST MAW

HMM-364
CH46

Combat Aircrew

Air Medal, National Defense, Vietnam Service, Vietnam Campaign

The database page for Charles Henry Meeks, Jr

13 Jul 2003

On 11 April 1969, a CH-46A, BuNo 153332, of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364 was conducting a routine flight when without warning it broke up in midair and crashed, killing the four crewmen aboard:

After the wreckage was recovered and examined, it was determined that the cause was a catastrophic blade failure - one of the three forward rotor blades failed due to metal fatigue. When the one blade failed it produced enormous unbalanced load conditions on the forward rotor head and forward transmission causing them to be literally torn from the aircraft. During this disintegration process, some of the debris impacted the aft rotor system and pylon and it too was torn from the helicopter.

These four men, and the other Purple Foxes who served in Vietnam, are remembered by the women who waited at home, whether mothers, sisters, daughters, or friends. Those women, the

Purple Foxy Ladies
the Purple Foxy Ladies

continue to support today's Purple Foxes of HMM-364 as they serve our country.

Visit
HMM-364
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





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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 08/10/2009