Bruce Alan Pankuch
Private First Class
HMM-364, MAG-16, 1ST MAW, III MAF
United States Marine Corps
Middleburg Heights, Ohio
March 31, 1946 to June 07, 1969
BRUCE A PANKUCH is on the Wall at Panel W23, Line 104

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Combat Aircrew
 
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17 Aug 2003

Two men died on 07 June 1969 when CH-46A BuNo 153397 sufferred a hydraulic system failure while lifting off from Landing Zone Eagle (Hill 364):

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

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Purple Foxy Ladies

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

Visit
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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


 

Mission Notes

CH-46A BuNo 153397 was on a routine resupply run to Landing Zone Eagle about five miles northwest of DaNang. The crew consisted of 1stLt Carmine A. Casciano, pilot in command; Major John C. Archbold, copilot; PFC Bruce A. Pankuch, crew chief; and LCpl J. D. Mills, gunner. As the aircraft departed, the pilot radioed that they had hydraulic system problems and that he was going to attempt a controlled landing. He didn't make it; the CH-46 turned 180 degrees, pitched down, crashed nose-first into the side of the mountain, burst into flames, and rolled down the 60 to 70 degree slope.

As noted above, Archbold and Pankuch died in the crash.


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