In memory of my beloved brother.

 

Mission Notes At approximately 1800 hours 20 August 1969 WO1 Martin L. Taber and WO1 James R. Waldowski preflighted AH-1G serial number 68-15032 and assumed their duties as counter-mortar standby crew. At 2030 hours Dong Tam started receiving incoming mortars. The light fire team of ah-1g's led by WO1 Taber scrambled and made three (3) mini-gun runs on the coordinates furnished by Dong Tam artillery. Taber's wingman mentioned a burning structure and WO1 Taber decided to make a run on it heading 090 degrees but his gun system failed so he broke right and returned for another run using rockets. He ininitiated his rocket run at approximately 600 feet heading 090 degrees. WO1 Taber fired four pairs of rockets on this run, tucking the nose of the aircraft in an effort to put the last pair of rockets on target. He then transmitted "Breaking right", whereupon the aircraft crashed, exploding on impact. CW2 Charles J Nole, aircraft commander of the wing aircraft, checked the crash site with his searchlight and could see no sign that the crew survived the crash. At 0715 21 August 1969 the aero rifle platoon was inserted to recover the crew. The aircraft had crashed in a slight nose low attitude heading 135 degrees, and the two crewmen were found in the middle of the wreckage. From the VHPA database

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