LTC JOHN SIDNEY BONNER Jr

 

834TH AIR DIVISION (USAF) TAN SON NHUT AB, VIETNAM 31 MAY 1970 - BIN LONG Lt Col John Sidney Bonner Lt Col Harold Joseph Shea Major Benton Francis Asbury SSgt Durywn Lee Wolf Aloha The men and women of the 834th were saddened when we heard your chopper had been shot down - only hours after talking to you. Your sacrifice epitomizes our motto "ALL THE WAY" so that others may live. My father, a 1st Lt in World War II, joined you last month - welcome him to the unit. After 32 years I finally found you to give you my last salute * Mahalo Nui Loa The Pineapple August 69-70 * The Moving Vietnam Veterans Wall November 5-11 2002 Reno Nevada "ALL THE WAY" SMSgt Eugene L Mago, USAF (Ret) elm4546@webtv.net 12 Nov 2002

 

24 Sep 2006 All of us who served with the 834th Air Div remember the great men who died in the helicopter crash and we have not and will not ever forget them and the sacrifice they made. Their families continue to be in our prayers. Mike Burns 834th Air Div HQ 9/69 - 4/71 yanks48@frontiernet.net

 

Notes from The Virtual Wall On 31 May 1970, a UH-1H (tail number 68-16528) of the 120th Assault Helicopter Company was tasked to provide transportation for an airfield inspection team from the 834th Air Division. The UH-1, call sign DEAN 528, departed Long Binh at 0725 enroute Saigon to pick up the team and departed Saigon at 0745 enroute Vung Tau. The flight proceeded without incident, stopping at Long Binh, O'Rang, Bu Dop, and Loc Ninh. When DEAN 528 departed Loc Ninh enroute Saigon at about 1625 there were thunderstorms in the area. At 1800 the Capital Air Traffic Control Center advised the 120th AHC Operations Center that DEAN 528 had not requested or received flight following enroute Saigon. The 120th AHC initiated telephone and radio searches, but DEAN 528 was not located. Nightfall and adverse weather conditions precluded airborne searches until about 1000 01 June, when the 120th AHC and other units commenced search operations. A 1st Cav Div OH-6A helicopter located DEAN 528 at approximately 1330; the UH-1 had crashed and burned. A 120th AHC UH-1 landed near the wreckage as soon as it was secured by ground forces. The 120th AHC crew removed the bodies of nine men from the wreckage: 120th AHC aircrew (all Army) WO1 John Charles Burris, pilot WO1 James Donald Griffin, copilot SP5 Bruce Richardson, crew chief PVT Robert Phillip O'Brien, gunner Passengers (all US Air Force) LtCol Harold J. Shea, 834th Air Div LtCol John Sidney Bonner, Jr, 834th Air Div Major Benton F. Asbury, 834th Air Div Capt Gary D. Hults, 1131st Spec Activities Sqd SSgt Durwyn L. Wolf, 834th Air Div There were no signs of hostile action against the helicopter and it was supposed that it had gone down as a result of the previous evening's adverse weather.

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