The Mission On 26 September C Company, 229th Aviation Battalion, launched five UH-1 helicopters on a formation flight from Bien Hoa to Fire Support Base Green. The aircraft formed up in a "V" formation and climbed through an overcast to visual flight conditions on top at 4,000 feet ASL. While enroute, the flight leader (WO Bauer in UH-1H 68-16123) directed a spread formation for the purpose of conducting aircraft checks. UH-1H 68-15648 was in left echelon on the flight lead. During the checks, 68-15648 accelerated forward and drifted right, impacting the lead aircraft's tail boom. Both aircraft departed controlled flight and disappeared into the clouds, impacting the ground about 250 meters apart. All eight crewmen died in the crash: Aboard UH-1H tail number 68-16123: WO1 Robert Ernest Bauer, aircraft commander and flight lead 1LT Warren Stephen Lawson, copilot SP5 Douglas Mead Woodland, crew chief SP4 Robert Albert Painter, Jr., gunner Aboard UH-1H tail number 68-15648: WO1 Mark Richard Holtom, aircraft commander CPT Francis Jordan Sullivan, copilot SGT Donald Allen Hall, Jr., crew chief SP4 Ernest Hammond Laidler, gunner

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