Robert Lee BanksWarrant OfficerA CO, 501ST AVN BN, 1 AVN BDE Army of the United States 22 February 1945 - 27 August 1966 Philadelphia, PA Panel 10E Line 050 |
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The database page for Robert Lee Banks
The following article is taken from The Philadelphia Daily News, special supplement entitled 'SIX HUNDRED AND THIRTY,' October 26, 1987. The special supplement was issued in conjunction with the dedication of the Philadelphia Viet Nam Memorial. Banks had a lifelong love affair with airplanes, and as a youngster he would walk or hitchhike to Philadelphia International Airport to watch the big jets take off and land. He had been married a month before he joined the Army's 501st Assault Helicopter Company [sic] in Viet Nam. The warrant officer, a helicopter pilot, died on August 27, 1966, of severe burns suffered during hostile action. He was 21 years old. The 1963 South Philadelphia High School graduate was survived by his wife, parents, three brothers and a sister.
From a native Philadelphian and Marine, |
Virtual Wall NotesOn 14 December 1965, the 3rd Aviation Company (AML) was redesignated as A Company A, 501st Aviation Battalion, and alerted for movement to Vietnam. On arrival A/501st was assigned to the 145th Combat Aviation Battalion operating in the Saigon area. On 27 August 1966, an A/501st UH-1B gunship (tail number 66-00496) was assigned to gunship cover for troop insertion in the vicinity of Tay Ninh. The aircraft was crewed by
NOTE: Several days later, on 02 Sep 1966, A/501st Avn Bn was deactivated. The company's personnel and equipment were transferred to the newly activated 71st Aviation Company, later the 71st Assault Helicopter Company. is remembered by his brothers from A Company, 501st Aviation Battalion |
The point-of-contact for this memorial is a native Philadelphian and Vietnam veteran, Jim McIlhenney christianamacks@comcast.net 22 Dec 2002 |
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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 12/22/2002