Info Sheet - William C. Jesse
Killed in Action on 2 May 1972 while Pilot in Command of a UH-1H Slick helicopter.
They were hit by an SA-7 surface to air missile.
All crew members and one passenger were killed. See story by Russ Miller
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Info from the VHPA:
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 05/02/1972 while performing the duty of Aircraft Commander.
Age at death: 22.6
Date of Birth: 09/25/1949
Home City: Lawton, OK
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: F/4 CAV
Prior Unit: 128 AHC 69
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 68-17
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 01W-011
Short Summary: With WO John J. Petrilla.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 70-15863
Call sign: Centaur 6a
Service number: W3163097
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 100B = Utility/Observation Helicopter Pilot
Primary cause: Remains 7/72
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: small arms fire
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: aircraft commander
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 12/30/1971
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
The initial status of this person was: missing in action - interim
Length of service: *
Location: Quang Tri Province I Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: YD440460
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - died while missing
married male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Religion: Baptist - other groups
The following information secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 12/06/1998