Andrew William Smith
Sergeant
MABS-16, MAG-16, 1ST MAW, III MAF
United States Marine Corps
Phoenix, Arizona
December 04, 1944 to March 07, 1970
ANDREW W SMITH is on the Wall at Panel W13, Line 94

Combat Aircrew
 
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 Andrew W Smith
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SGT William Andrew Smith served as a gunner with HMM-263 and HMM-364. The photo was taken during his second tour in Vietnam. I flew many missions with him as the other gunner on CH-46s. I was serving with HML-367 (AH-1G Cobras) in 1970 and was able to get time off to fly as a gunner with HMM-263 and HMM-364. We were both Sergeants on multiple Vietnam tours. Andy loved flying. He was killed in action on 07 March 70.

The photo was provided by Allyn Hinton, HML-167, 69/70.

Semper Fidelis

George T. Curtis
"CURT"
Master Gunnery Sergeant
USMC Retired 66-91


 

A note from The Virtual Wall

CH-46A BuNo 154043 of HMM-263 launched on a "chase" mission, covering a UH-1 Huey carrying a senior officer. The flight had been delayed due to weather, which still was marginal. While over water near Danang the aircraft went into cloud and accidentally impacted the water. Four of the five crewmen aboard died in the crash:
  • CAPT Albert Henry Gates Jr., pilot, died, body not recovered
  • 1stLT Kay Kazu Kimura, copilot, died, body recovered
  • SGT Andrew William Smith, gunner, died, body recovered
  • CPL Glenn Frederic Austin, crew chief, died, body recovered
  • Gunner, name unknown, survived

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