WO Patrick G Fitzsimmons, Ventura, CA on www.VirtualWall.org The Virtual Wall® Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall

Official records recorded that Warrant Officer Patrick G. Fitzsimmons was killed in action when his OH-58A scout helicopter (tail number 68-16914) was shot down while on a reconnaissance mission. Although the helicopter was hit in the cockpit area, crashed, and burned, two others aboard survived with injuries. That short entry in a casualty report does not tell the full story as evidenced by several tributes as told by those who knew him or were there.

Fitz was killed on a visual recon of the Bien Hoa perimeter. and his length of service was approx 2 years (boot camp straight to flight school then 8 months in Vietnam.) A great guy who got the OH58 slot I wanted. Guess it goes to show that sometimes not getting what you want is a good thing. From: Rock Lyons, CW4 retired, as told to the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association in their update report.

On Aug 24, 1970, while preparing to depart the "Birdcage" of Spartan Field at Bien Hoa Air Force Base, to conduct a routine "ash n' trash," direct combat support mission, I was advised by 118th AHC Company Operations of an emergency situation of a downed aircraft. It was an OH58 scout aircraft conducting a visual recon for 145th Combat Aviation Battalion Headquarters that had crashed, about a 15 minute flight away. The OH58-A scout pilot (WO1 Patrick G. Fitzsimmons) of the 190th AHC "Spartans" had been conducting a Battalion reconaissance (Pink Team Heavy - Scout helicopter supported by 2 AH1-G Cobra's from the 334th Attack Helicopter Company, also of the 145th Combat Aviation Battalion flying cover).

Enroute to the crash site, Cobra flight could supply no information as to the cause of the downed Kiowa. Arriving on station, WO1 Morley, observed the downed helicopter on it's side in double canopy jungle, with survivors in contact returning fire on enemy locations unknown, they were using hand signals for rescue. There was no crash site fire, thankfully.

After three attempts to hover down to the survivors through the jungle canopy proved unsuccessful, Mr. Morley summoned the nearest available medical evacuation "Huey" helicopter, with jungle penetrator, to the scene. Mr. Morley attempted to signal the best evacuation route, to the surviving crew members, via hand signals, but such movement was impossible due to the dead pilot, wounded crew members and impenetrable jungle undergrowth.

When the Med-Evac UH1-H arrived on station, WO1 Morley dropped colored smoke and directed the helicopter's approach to the crash site. While attempting to extract the survivors, at a high hover with the dead pilot's body and crew gunner being pulled up on the jungle penetrator and into the aircraft. the enemy opened a heavy automatic weapons fire at the hovering med-evac and WO1 Morley's low-orbiting covering Huey.

The crew chief of WO1 Fitzsimmons recon bird, began to return fire with the M-60 machine gun as did Mr. Morley's crew chief in the direction of the source of the "Green tracers". Having sustained numerous bullet hits the hovering med-evac aircraft was able to accomplish a successful forced landing about 1/4 mile away, to a jungle free clearing. WO1 Morley immediately landed beside the stricken aircraft and completed the transfer of the dead pilot, his wounded crew member also the newly wounded med-evac door gunner (shot in the knee) direct to Long Binh Army Evac Hospital.

While helping to carry the dead pilot's body to my aircraft, I learned his identity, and was distressed to learn it was in fact a good friend, WO1 Pat Fitzsimmons of the 190th AHC.

After completing the transfer to the 93rd Evac Hosp at Long Binh, I voluntarily returning to the crash site and coordinated a second med-evac aircraft and the removal of the remaining crew survivors while flying low cover without further action. I then coordinated a follow-up rocket attack by the Pink Team, AH1-G Cobra's on station followed by an armored cavalry ground sweep and assault. The enemy had shot down two helicopters, killed the scout pilot, and wounded two crew-members.

Pat was a friend, a fellow Warrant Officer and had arrived in-country on the same flight. We were both assigned to the same Combat Aviation Battalion (145th) at Bien Hoa on the same day, Jan. 4, 1970. He was assigned to the 190th AHC "Spartans" and I to the 118th AHC "Thunderbirds," sister companies. As it turned out, I received a Christmas drop leaving "Nam" on Dec 20, he should have returned to the "World" the same day! Alas, it was not to be! Not our will, but God's will be done!

I learned from other crew members that Pat had aggressively gone after the suspected enemy, he had located in the jungle, but unfortunately was met with enemy return fire, .51 caliber maching gun and AK47 automatic weapons.

I keep him in my thoughts and prayers, always. [Posted on the internet, 5.31.2019 by: Thomas J. Morley Jr. former CW4 US Army Reserves]

- - The Virtual Wall, 6 May 2021

WO1 Patrick G. Fitzsimmons is buried with his mother Marjorie Maxine (Darrah) (1918-1999) and father Wilbert G. Fitzsimmons (1914-2003) in Ivy Lawn Memorial Park Ventura, Ventura County, California.