Home of Record: Kenosha, WI
Date of birth: 11/25/1945
MILITARY DATA
Service: Army of the United States
Grade at loss: W1
Rank: Warrant Officer
ID No: W3154606
MOS: 062B: Helicopter Pilot, Utility and Light Cargo Single Rotor
Length Service: 01
Unit: 119TH AHC, 52ND AVN BN, 17TH AVN GROUP, 1ST AVIATION BDE, USARV
CASUALTY DATA
Start Tour: 12/08/1966
Incident Date: 11/10/1967
Casualty Date: 11/14/1967
Age at Loss: 21 (based on date declared dead)
Location: Kontum Province, South Vietnam
Remains: Body recovered
Casualty Type: Hostile, died of wounds
Casualty Reason: Helicopter - Pilot
Casualty Detail: Air loss or crash over land
ON THE WALL Panel 29E Line 095
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
Name: WO1 Raleigh L. Hewitt II
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 11/10/1967 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Died 4 days later on 11/14/1967.
Age at death: 22.0
Date of Birth: 11/25/1945
Home City: Kenosha, WI
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 119 AHC, 17 CAG
Major organization: other
Flight class: 66-17
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 29E-095
Short Summary: Gunship escorting slicks when 23mm opened up. He said "I got it" & rolled in with 36 rockets. 23mm hit tail boom & it folded. memo
Aircraft: UH-1C tail number 66-00594
Call sign: Croc 9
Service number: W3154606
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 062B = Helicopter Pilot, Utility and Light Cargo Single Rotor
Primary cause: 23mm Anti-Air
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: pilot
Started Tour: 12/08/1966
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
Length of service: 01
Location: Kontum Province II Corps.
Additional information about this casualty:
Hewitt got the 23MM gun with his rockets near Dak To. He lived 3 days and died from burns. Bob Taylor 119 AHC.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - died of wounds
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Religion: Roman Catholic
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
~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-00594
The Army purchased this helicopter 0966
Total flight hours at this point: 00000733
Date: 11/10/1967
Incident number: 67111090.KIA
Unit: 119 AHC
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was LOSS TO INVENTORY
This was a Recon mission for Armed Escort , Other Aircraft.
While in Operations Area this helicopter was at Level Flight at 0300 feet and 080 knots.
South Vietnam
Count of hits was not possible because the helicopter burned or exploded.
Explosive Weapon; Non-Artillery launched or static weapons containing explosive charges. (20MM)
The helicopter was hit in the Aft area causing a Fire.
Systems damaged were: PERSONNEL
Casualties = 03 INJ, 01 KIA . .
The helicopter Crashed. Aircraft Destroyed.
Both mission and flight capability were terminated.
Burned
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: OPERA, LNOF, 74058, STMNT, CASRP, JSIDR, FM232 (Operations Report. Lindenmuth Old Format Data Base. Joint Services Incident Damage Report. Casualty Report. )
Loss to Inventory
Crew Members:
P WO1 CHASE RAYMOND HOWARD JR KIA
P WO1 HEWITT RALEIGH L II KIA
CE E5 TOMPKINS REX E RES
G SP4 WILCOX RES
War Story:
I'm Rex E. Tompkins I was the crew chief on 594 on 10 Nov. 67. The crew for that day was Mr. Hewitt- AC, Mr Chase- Peter Pilot, Sp5 Tompkins- CE. Sp4 Wilcox- Gunner. We had been working for FOB II for a few days and where on stand-by at DakTo at this time. We had been released by FOB II duties and told to work a mission for the 4th ID. Mr. Bud Brown was the lead ship that day in our two ship team. After take off we head to the AO south of DakTo runway and Brigade Hq. The CA was being put in and came under fire by a large caliber gun ( I have been told it was a 37mm or a 22mm) we rolled in under the CA to engage the gun. Mr. Hewitt call out he had it and engage with the rockets. The next thing I know we started spinning and are on fire as we spin. I'm forced out of the aircraft by the G-forces and I'm handing on to my gun bungee cord, I start hitting the trees and it goes blank till the next thing I know I'm at the aircraft trying to get in. I know someone is still in it as I can hear someone screaming but I just can't get in due to the fire and the rounds starting to burn off the screaming stops. I start looking around and see my gunner working his way down the hill. I get to him and he said he is going down the hill to get help. He works his way down to a bomb crater and puts out his flight jacket orange side out. One of are slicks comes in and pulls him out on a 100ft rope, and I think I better get down to the bomb crater and get pulled out to. That is what I did. A dust off came in and put someone on the ground and found Mr. Hewitt and pulled him out. They could not fine Mr. Chase at that time. On 10 Nov. 67 Mr. Hewitt getting ready for his R&R after that he would come back and clear post and go state side. It my have been his last day flying before going on R&R, it should not have been his last day as it turned out. Mr. Chase was one of, if not the youngest pilots to die in combat in Vietnam. This was a very sad day for the families of Mr.Hewitt and Mr. Chase and brotherhood that is the 119th AHC Rex E. Tompkins CROC 594 Chase and Hewitt's aircraft was flying slightly below, crossing in front of the 1st platoon as we were bring additional members of 173rd airborne in on a hilltop (875?). Observed ground fire strike the aircraft. Called and told him he was on fire and to get the aircraft on the ground. Aircraft continued a left turn, tail boom separated, and the aircraft spun three times and slammed into the ground. There was an immediate large explosion and fire. After completing the troop insertion, I was given permission to return to the crash site to look for survivors. I was covered by the one remaining gunship, but due to ground fire, we could only get as close as the other side of a low ridge. Within a matter of minutes a crew member, (door gunner?) popped into the open waving the orange inside of his flight jacket. We dropped a rope with a loop in it and pulled him out. We flew him to an open area and got him into our aircraft. He told us he and the other crew member had been thrown clear on impact, but were both seriously injured by secondary explosions trying to extract the pilots. He also told us one pilot was killed on impact, but one had been alive. We notified dustoff, who in turn flew in, put a crew member on the ground and recovered the other crew member and one very badly burned pilot who died four days later. Three or four days later, I inserted and extracted a graves registration team into the crash site. I asked the team afterward if they recovered any remains from the pile of metal and ashes. They told me they recovered some bone fragments and teeth, but nothing more. from John A. Carrigan, 119 AHC, Jun 67-68, 717-790-9409, 2 July 2000.
*~~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~8
Notes from The Wall:
Remembered by his friends.
Posted by: Bob Kilpatrick
Email:
Relationship: served in 119th.
Wednesday, July 9, 2003
I wish I could find the words that are right. I thought about it all through the night. Something for you from me, something for all to see. I came to touch your name on The Wall, to remember your life, remember it all.
I was just a little girl when I watched them let that flag unfurl. They blew a bugle, it made me cry, why did God allow you to die? I'm older now and I understand, you gave your life 'cause you loved this land.
You were my brother, my protector too. I will always, always love you.
Written June 1989 and left at The Wall
Posted by: Jayne Hewitt Baldwin
Email: [email protected]
Relationship: He is my brother
Saturday, August 21, 2004
God Bless You, Brother.
Posted by: Jayne
Email:
Relationship: He is my brother
Sunday, August 22, 2004
Susan Morton
[email protected]
family friend
1443 Rosewood Court New Brighton MN 55112 USA
I will honor you , Raleigh, when I visit the Wall on Saturday.
Judy & Ted...I still picture Raleigh in his uniform standing next to Glenn in your wedding picture. Two wonderful guys will someday greet us at Heaven's gate. I just want you to know that Raleigh's smile is a vivid memory. I will honor him with tears in my eyes as I stand before his name inscribed on the Wall. He is not forgotten.
Nov 2, 2010
John LaDue
[email protected]
Friend
Carbondale, Pa
Raleigh and I were flight school classmates. I hadn't heard that he had been killed until I happened to see his name on this website. My sincere condolences to his family.
Feb 15, 2007
Manuel Pino Bco 2/8th 1st Cav 68-69
[email protected]
Fellow Vietnam Army Vet
119th AHC 17 CAG
Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings, Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds and done a hundred things. You have not dreamed of wheeled and soared and swung, high in the sunlit silence, hov'ring there, I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung my eager craft through footless halls of air. Up, up the long delirious, burning blue I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace, where never lark, or even eagle flew, and, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod the high untrespassed sanctity of space, put out my hand and touched the face of God. By John G. Magee, Jr.
Dec 30, 2006
Robert Tripp
[email protected]
a friend never met
Ridgeway, Ontario Canada
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13
Sunday, March 13, 2005
Richard Oass
[email protected]
High School friend
1727 22nd St.
Kenosha, Wi 53140 usa
You are not forgotten
We came home about the sametime, you stayed young & i grew old. Now I've got daughters & grandsons - but part of me is still with you. Semper Fidelis, Dick (USMC)
Sunday, July 07, 2002
Date of birth: 11/25/1945
MILITARY DATA
Service: Army of the United States
Grade at loss: W1
Rank: Warrant Officer
ID No: W3154606
MOS: 062B: Helicopter Pilot, Utility and Light Cargo Single Rotor
Length Service: 01
Unit: 119TH AHC, 52ND AVN BN, 17TH AVN GROUP, 1ST AVIATION BDE, USARV
CASUALTY DATA
Start Tour: 12/08/1966
Incident Date: 11/10/1967
Casualty Date: 11/14/1967
Age at Loss: 21 (based on date declared dead)
Location: Kontum Province, South Vietnam
Remains: Body recovered
Casualty Type: Hostile, died of wounds
Casualty Reason: Helicopter - Pilot
Casualty Detail: Air loss or crash over land
ON THE WALL Panel 29E Line 095
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
Name: WO1 Raleigh L. Hewitt II
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 11/10/1967 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Died 4 days later on 11/14/1967.
Age at death: 22.0
Date of Birth: 11/25/1945
Home City: Kenosha, WI
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 119 AHC, 17 CAG
Major organization: other
Flight class: 66-17
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 29E-095
Short Summary: Gunship escorting slicks when 23mm opened up. He said "I got it" & rolled in with 36 rockets. 23mm hit tail boom & it folded. memo
Aircraft: UH-1C tail number 66-00594
Call sign: Croc 9
Service number: W3154606
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 062B = Helicopter Pilot, Utility and Light Cargo Single Rotor
Primary cause: 23mm Anti-Air
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: pilot
Started Tour: 12/08/1966
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
Length of service: 01
Location: Kontum Province II Corps.
Additional information about this casualty:
Hewitt got the 23MM gun with his rockets near Dak To. He lived 3 days and died from burns. Bob Taylor 119 AHC.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - died of wounds
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Religion: Roman Catholic
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
~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-00594
The Army purchased this helicopter 0966
Total flight hours at this point: 00000733
Date: 11/10/1967
Incident number: 67111090.KIA
Unit: 119 AHC
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was LOSS TO INVENTORY
This was a Recon mission for Armed Escort , Other Aircraft.
While in Operations Area this helicopter was at Level Flight at 0300 feet and 080 knots.
South Vietnam
Count of hits was not possible because the helicopter burned or exploded.
Explosive Weapon; Non-Artillery launched or static weapons containing explosive charges. (20MM)
The helicopter was hit in the Aft area causing a Fire.
Systems damaged were: PERSONNEL
Casualties = 03 INJ, 01 KIA . .
The helicopter Crashed. Aircraft Destroyed.
Both mission and flight capability were terminated.
Burned
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: OPERA, LNOF, 74058, STMNT, CASRP, JSIDR, FM232 (Operations Report. Lindenmuth Old Format Data Base. Joint Services Incident Damage Report. Casualty Report. )
Loss to Inventory
Crew Members:
P WO1 CHASE RAYMOND HOWARD JR KIA
P WO1 HEWITT RALEIGH L II KIA
CE E5 TOMPKINS REX E RES
G SP4 WILCOX RES
War Story:
I'm Rex E. Tompkins I was the crew chief on 594 on 10 Nov. 67. The crew for that day was Mr. Hewitt- AC, Mr Chase- Peter Pilot, Sp5 Tompkins- CE. Sp4 Wilcox- Gunner. We had been working for FOB II for a few days and where on stand-by at DakTo at this time. We had been released by FOB II duties and told to work a mission for the 4th ID. Mr. Bud Brown was the lead ship that day in our two ship team. After take off we head to the AO south of DakTo runway and Brigade Hq. The CA was being put in and came under fire by a large caliber gun ( I have been told it was a 37mm or a 22mm) we rolled in under the CA to engage the gun. Mr. Hewitt call out he had it and engage with the rockets. The next thing I know we started spinning and are on fire as we spin. I'm forced out of the aircraft by the G-forces and I'm handing on to my gun bungee cord, I start hitting the trees and it goes blank till the next thing I know I'm at the aircraft trying to get in. I know someone is still in it as I can hear someone screaming but I just can't get in due to the fire and the rounds starting to burn off the screaming stops. I start looking around and see my gunner working his way down the hill. I get to him and he said he is going down the hill to get help. He works his way down to a bomb crater and puts out his flight jacket orange side out. One of are slicks comes in and pulls him out on a 100ft rope, and I think I better get down to the bomb crater and get pulled out to. That is what I did. A dust off came in and put someone on the ground and found Mr. Hewitt and pulled him out. They could not fine Mr. Chase at that time. On 10 Nov. 67 Mr. Hewitt getting ready for his R&R after that he would come back and clear post and go state side. It my have been his last day flying before going on R&R, it should not have been his last day as it turned out. Mr. Chase was one of, if not the youngest pilots to die in combat in Vietnam. This was a very sad day for the families of Mr.Hewitt and Mr. Chase and brotherhood that is the 119th AHC Rex E. Tompkins CROC 594 Chase and Hewitt's aircraft was flying slightly below, crossing in front of the 1st platoon as we were bring additional members of 173rd airborne in on a hilltop (875?). Observed ground fire strike the aircraft. Called and told him he was on fire and to get the aircraft on the ground. Aircraft continued a left turn, tail boom separated, and the aircraft spun three times and slammed into the ground. There was an immediate large explosion and fire. After completing the troop insertion, I was given permission to return to the crash site to look for survivors. I was covered by the one remaining gunship, but due to ground fire, we could only get as close as the other side of a low ridge. Within a matter of minutes a crew member, (door gunner?) popped into the open waving the orange inside of his flight jacket. We dropped a rope with a loop in it and pulled him out. We flew him to an open area and got him into our aircraft. He told us he and the other crew member had been thrown clear on impact, but were both seriously injured by secondary explosions trying to extract the pilots. He also told us one pilot was killed on impact, but one had been alive. We notified dustoff, who in turn flew in, put a crew member on the ground and recovered the other crew member and one very badly burned pilot who died four days later. Three or four days later, I inserted and extracted a graves registration team into the crash site. I asked the team afterward if they recovered any remains from the pile of metal and ashes. They told me they recovered some bone fragments and teeth, but nothing more. from John A. Carrigan, 119 AHC, Jun 67-68, 717-790-9409, 2 July 2000.
*~~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~8
Notes from The Wall:
Remembered by his friends.
Posted by: Bob Kilpatrick
Email:
Relationship: served in 119th.
Wednesday, July 9, 2003
I wish I could find the words that are right. I thought about it all through the night. Something for you from me, something for all to see. I came to touch your name on The Wall, to remember your life, remember it all.
I was just a little girl when I watched them let that flag unfurl. They blew a bugle, it made me cry, why did God allow you to die? I'm older now and I understand, you gave your life 'cause you loved this land.
You were my brother, my protector too. I will always, always love you.
Written June 1989 and left at The Wall
Posted by: Jayne Hewitt Baldwin
Email: [email protected]
Relationship: He is my brother
Saturday, August 21, 2004
God Bless You, Brother.
Posted by: Jayne
Email:
Relationship: He is my brother
Sunday, August 22, 2004
Susan Morton
[email protected]
family friend
1443 Rosewood Court New Brighton MN 55112 USA
I will honor you , Raleigh, when I visit the Wall on Saturday.
Judy & Ted...I still picture Raleigh in his uniform standing next to Glenn in your wedding picture. Two wonderful guys will someday greet us at Heaven's gate. I just want you to know that Raleigh's smile is a vivid memory. I will honor him with tears in my eyes as I stand before his name inscribed on the Wall. He is not forgotten.
Nov 2, 2010
John LaDue
[email protected]
Friend
Carbondale, Pa
Raleigh and I were flight school classmates. I hadn't heard that he had been killed until I happened to see his name on this website. My sincere condolences to his family.
Feb 15, 2007
Manuel Pino Bco 2/8th 1st Cav 68-69
[email protected]
Fellow Vietnam Army Vet
119th AHC 17 CAG
Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings, Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds and done a hundred things. You have not dreamed of wheeled and soared and swung, high in the sunlit silence, hov'ring there, I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung my eager craft through footless halls of air. Up, up the long delirious, burning blue I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace, where never lark, or even eagle flew, and, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod the high untrespassed sanctity of space, put out my hand and touched the face of God. By John G. Magee, Jr.
Dec 30, 2006
Robert Tripp
[email protected]
a friend never met
Ridgeway, Ontario Canada
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13
Sunday, March 13, 2005
Richard Oass
[email protected]
High School friend
1727 22nd St.
Kenosha, Wi 53140 usa
You are not forgotten
We came home about the sametime, you stayed young & i grew old. Now I've got daughters & grandsons - but part of me is still with you. Semper Fidelis, Dick (USMC)
Sunday, July 07, 2002
Home of Record: Kenosha, WI
Date of birth: 11/25/1945
MILITARY DATA
Service: Army of the United States
Grade at loss: W1
Rank: Warrant Officer
ID No: W3154606
MOS: 062B: Helicopter Pilot, Utility and Light Cargo Single Rotor
Length Service: 01
Unit: 119TH AHC, 52ND AVN BN, 17TH AVN GROUP, 1ST AVIATION BDE, USARV
CASUALTY DATA
Start Tour: 12/08/1966
Incident Date: 11/10/1967
Casualty Date: 11/14/1967
Age at Loss: 21 (based on date declared dead)
Location: Kontum Province, South Vietnam
Remains: Body recovered
Casualty Type: Hostile, died of wounds
Casualty Reason: Helicopter - Pilot
Casualty Detail: Air loss or crash over land
ON THE WALL Panel 29E Line 095
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
Name: WO1 Raleigh L. Hewitt II
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 11/10/1967 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Died 4 days later on 11/14/1967.
Age at death: 22.0
Date of Birth: 11/25/1945
Home City: Kenosha, WI
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 119 AHC, 17 CAG
Major organization: other
Flight class: 66-17
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 29E-095
Short Summary: Gunship escorting slicks when 23mm opened up. He said "I got it" & rolled in with 36 rockets. 23mm hit tail boom & it folded. memo
Aircraft: UH-1C tail number 66-00594
Call sign: Croc 9
Service number: W3154606
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 062B = Helicopter Pilot, Utility and Light Cargo Single Rotor
Primary cause: 23mm Anti-Air
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: pilot
Started Tour: 12/08/1966
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
Length of service: 01
Location: Kontum Province II Corps.
Additional information about this casualty:
Hewitt got the 23MM gun with his rockets near Dak To. He lived 3 days and died from burns. Bob Taylor 119 AHC.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - died of wounds
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Religion: Roman Catholic
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
~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-00594
The Army purchased this helicopter 0966
Total flight hours at this point: 00000733
Date: 11/10/1967
Incident number: 67111090.KIA
Unit: 119 AHC
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was LOSS TO INVENTORY
This was a Recon mission for Armed Escort , Other Aircraft.
While in Operations Area this helicopter was at Level Flight at 0300 feet and 080 knots.
South Vietnam
Count of hits was not possible because the helicopter burned or exploded.
Explosive Weapon; Non-Artillery launched or static weapons containing explosive charges. (20MM)
The helicopter was hit in the Aft area causing a Fire.
Systems damaged were: PERSONNEL
Casualties = 03 INJ, 01 KIA . .
The helicopter Crashed. Aircraft Destroyed.
Both mission and flight capability were terminated.
Burned
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: OPERA, LNOF, 74058, STMNT, CASRP, JSIDR, FM232 (Operations Report. Lindenmuth Old Format Data Base. Joint Services Incident Damage Report. Casualty Report. )
Loss to Inventory
Crew Members:
P WO1 CHASE RAYMOND HOWARD JR KIA
P WO1 HEWITT RALEIGH L II KIA
CE E5 TOMPKINS REX E RES
G SP4 WILCOX RES
War Story:
I'm Rex E. Tompkins I was the crew chief on 594 on 10 Nov. 67. The crew for that day was Mr. Hewitt- AC, Mr Chase- Peter Pilot, Sp5 Tompkins- CE. Sp4 Wilcox- Gunner. We had been working for FOB II for a few days and where on stand-by at DakTo at this time. We had been released by FOB II duties and told to work a mission for the 4th ID. Mr. Bud Brown was the lead ship that day in our two ship team. After take off we head to the AO south of DakTo runway and Brigade Hq. The CA was being put in and came under fire by a large caliber gun ( I have been told it was a 37mm or a 22mm) we rolled in under the CA to engage the gun. Mr. Hewitt call out he had it and engage with the rockets. The next thing I know we started spinning and are on fire as we spin. I'm forced out of the aircraft by the G-forces and I'm handing on to my gun bungee cord, I start hitting the trees and it goes blank till the next thing I know I'm at the aircraft trying to get in. I know someone is still in it as I can hear someone screaming but I just can't get in due to the fire and the rounds starting to burn off the screaming stops. I start looking around and see my gunner working his way down the hill. I get to him and he said he is going down the hill to get help. He works his way down to a bomb crater and puts out his flight jacket orange side out. One of are slicks comes in and pulls him out on a 100ft rope, and I think I better get down to the bomb crater and get pulled out to. That is what I did. A dust off came in and put someone on the ground and found Mr. Hewitt and pulled him out. They could not fine Mr. Chase at that time. On 10 Nov. 67 Mr. Hewitt getting ready for his R&R after that he would come back and clear post and go state side. It my have been his last day flying before going on R&R, it should not have been his last day as it turned out. Mr. Chase was one of, if not the youngest pilots to die in combat in Vietnam. This was a very sad day for the families of Mr.Hewitt and Mr. Chase and brotherhood that is the 119th AHC Rex E. Tompkins CROC 594 Chase and Hewitt's aircraft was flying slightly below, crossing in front of the 1st platoon as we were bring additional members of 173rd airborne in on a hilltop (875?). Observed ground fire strike the aircraft. Called and told him he was on fire and to get the aircraft on the ground. Aircraft continued a left turn, tail boom separated, and the aircraft spun three times and slammed into the ground. There was an immediate large explosion and fire. After completing the troop insertion, I was given permission to return to the crash site to look for survivors. I was covered by the one remaining gunship, but due to ground fire, we could only get as close as the other side of a low ridge. Within a matter of minutes a crew member, (door gunner?) popped into the open waving the orange inside of his flight jacket. We dropped a rope with a loop in it and pulled him out. We flew him to an open area and got him into our aircraft. He told us he and the other crew member had been thrown clear on impact, but were both seriously injured by secondary explosions trying to extract the pilots. He also told us one pilot was killed on impact, but one had been alive. We notified dustoff, who in turn flew in, put a crew member on the ground and recovered the other crew member and one very badly burned pilot who died four days later. Three or four days later, I inserted and extracted a graves registration team into the crash site. I asked the team afterward if they recovered any remains from the pile of metal and ashes. They told me they recovered some bone fragments and teeth, but nothing more. from John A. Carrigan, 119 AHC, Jun 67-68, 717-790-9409, 2 July 2000.
*~~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~8
Notes from The Wall:
Remembered by his friends.
Posted by: Bob Kilpatrick
Email:
Relationship: served in 119th.
Wednesday, July 9, 2003
I wish I could find the words that are right. I thought about it all through the night. Something for you from me, something for all to see. I came to touch your name on The Wall, to remember your life, remember it all.
I was just a little girl when I watched them let that flag unfurl. They blew a bugle, it made me cry, why did God allow you to die? I'm older now and I understand, you gave your life 'cause you loved this land.
You were my brother, my protector too. I will always, always love you.
Written June 1989 and left at The Wall
Posted by: Jayne Hewitt Baldwin
Email: [email protected]
Relationship: He is my brother
Saturday, August 21, 2004
God Bless You, Brother.
Posted by: Jayne
Email:
Relationship: He is my brother
Sunday, August 22, 2004
Susan Morton
[email protected]
family friend
1443 Rosewood Court New Brighton MN 55112 USA
I will honor you , Raleigh, when I visit the Wall on Saturday.
Judy & Ted...I still picture Raleigh in his uniform standing next to Glenn in your wedding picture. Two wonderful guys will someday greet us at Heaven's gate. I just want you to know that Raleigh's smile is a vivid memory. I will honor him with tears in my eyes as I stand before his name inscribed on the Wall. He is not forgotten.
Nov 2, 2010
John LaDue
[email protected]
Friend
Carbondale, Pa
Raleigh and I were flight school classmates. I hadn't heard that he had been killed until I happened to see his name on this website. My sincere condolences to his family.
Feb 15, 2007
Manuel Pino Bco 2/8th 1st Cav 68-69
[email protected]
Fellow Vietnam Army Vet
119th AHC 17 CAG
Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings, Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds and done a hundred things. You have not dreamed of wheeled and soared and swung, high in the sunlit silence, hov'ring there, I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung my eager craft through footless halls of air. Up, up the long delirious, burning blue I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace, where never lark, or even eagle flew, and, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod the high untrespassed sanctity of space, put out my hand and touched the face of God. By John G. Magee, Jr.
Dec 30, 2006
Robert Tripp
[email protected]
a friend never met
Ridgeway, Ontario Canada
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13
Sunday, March 13, 2005
Richard Oass
[email protected]
High School friend
1727 22nd St.
Kenosha, Wi 53140 usa
You are not forgotten
We came home about the sametime, you stayed young & i grew old. Now I've got daughters & grandsons - but part of me is still with you. Semper Fidelis, Dick (USMC)
Sunday, July 07, 2002
Date of birth: 11/25/1945
MILITARY DATA
Service: Army of the United States
Grade at loss: W1
Rank: Warrant Officer
ID No: W3154606
MOS: 062B: Helicopter Pilot, Utility and Light Cargo Single Rotor
Length Service: 01
Unit: 119TH AHC, 52ND AVN BN, 17TH AVN GROUP, 1ST AVIATION BDE, USARV
CASUALTY DATA
Start Tour: 12/08/1966
Incident Date: 11/10/1967
Casualty Date: 11/14/1967
Age at Loss: 21 (based on date declared dead)
Location: Kontum Province, South Vietnam
Remains: Body recovered
Casualty Type: Hostile, died of wounds
Casualty Reason: Helicopter - Pilot
Casualty Detail: Air loss or crash over land
ON THE WALL Panel 29E Line 095
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
Name: WO1 Raleigh L. Hewitt II
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 11/10/1967 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Died 4 days later on 11/14/1967.
Age at death: 22.0
Date of Birth: 11/25/1945
Home City: Kenosha, WI
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 119 AHC, 17 CAG
Major organization: other
Flight class: 66-17
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 29E-095
Short Summary: Gunship escorting slicks when 23mm opened up. He said "I got it" & rolled in with 36 rockets. 23mm hit tail boom & it folded. memo
Aircraft: UH-1C tail number 66-00594
Call sign: Croc 9
Service number: W3154606
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 062B = Helicopter Pilot, Utility and Light Cargo Single Rotor
Primary cause: 23mm Anti-Air
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: pilot
Started Tour: 12/08/1966
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
Length of service: 01
Location: Kontum Province II Corps.
Additional information about this casualty:
Hewitt got the 23MM gun with his rockets near Dak To. He lived 3 days and died from burns. Bob Taylor 119 AHC.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - died of wounds
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Religion: Roman Catholic
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
~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-00594
The Army purchased this helicopter 0966
Total flight hours at this point: 00000733
Date: 11/10/1967
Incident number: 67111090.KIA
Unit: 119 AHC
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was LOSS TO INVENTORY
This was a Recon mission for Armed Escort , Other Aircraft.
While in Operations Area this helicopter was at Level Flight at 0300 feet and 080 knots.
South Vietnam
Count of hits was not possible because the helicopter burned or exploded.
Explosive Weapon; Non-Artillery launched or static weapons containing explosive charges. (20MM)
The helicopter was hit in the Aft area causing a Fire.
Systems damaged were: PERSONNEL
Casualties = 03 INJ, 01 KIA . .
The helicopter Crashed. Aircraft Destroyed.
Both mission and flight capability were terminated.
Burned
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: OPERA, LNOF, 74058, STMNT, CASRP, JSIDR, FM232 (Operations Report. Lindenmuth Old Format Data Base. Joint Services Incident Damage Report. Casualty Report. )
Loss to Inventory
Crew Members:
P WO1 CHASE RAYMOND HOWARD JR KIA
P WO1 HEWITT RALEIGH L II KIA
CE E5 TOMPKINS REX E RES
G SP4 WILCOX RES
War Story:
I'm Rex E. Tompkins I was the crew chief on 594 on 10 Nov. 67. The crew for that day was Mr. Hewitt- AC, Mr Chase- Peter Pilot, Sp5 Tompkins- CE. Sp4 Wilcox- Gunner. We had been working for FOB II for a few days and where on stand-by at DakTo at this time. We had been released by FOB II duties and told to work a mission for the 4th ID. Mr. Bud Brown was the lead ship that day in our two ship team. After take off we head to the AO south of DakTo runway and Brigade Hq. The CA was being put in and came under fire by a large caliber gun ( I have been told it was a 37mm or a 22mm) we rolled in under the CA to engage the gun. Mr. Hewitt call out he had it and engage with the rockets. The next thing I know we started spinning and are on fire as we spin. I'm forced out of the aircraft by the G-forces and I'm handing on to my gun bungee cord, I start hitting the trees and it goes blank till the next thing I know I'm at the aircraft trying to get in. I know someone is still in it as I can hear someone screaming but I just can't get in due to the fire and the rounds starting to burn off the screaming stops. I start looking around and see my gunner working his way down the hill. I get to him and he said he is going down the hill to get help. He works his way down to a bomb crater and puts out his flight jacket orange side out. One of are slicks comes in and pulls him out on a 100ft rope, and I think I better get down to the bomb crater and get pulled out to. That is what I did. A dust off came in and put someone on the ground and found Mr. Hewitt and pulled him out. They could not fine Mr. Chase at that time. On 10 Nov. 67 Mr. Hewitt getting ready for his R&R after that he would come back and clear post and go state side. It my have been his last day flying before going on R&R, it should not have been his last day as it turned out. Mr. Chase was one of, if not the youngest pilots to die in combat in Vietnam. This was a very sad day for the families of Mr.Hewitt and Mr. Chase and brotherhood that is the 119th AHC Rex E. Tompkins CROC 594 Chase and Hewitt's aircraft was flying slightly below, crossing in front of the 1st platoon as we were bring additional members of 173rd airborne in on a hilltop (875?). Observed ground fire strike the aircraft. Called and told him he was on fire and to get the aircraft on the ground. Aircraft continued a left turn, tail boom separated, and the aircraft spun three times and slammed into the ground. There was an immediate large explosion and fire. After completing the troop insertion, I was given permission to return to the crash site to look for survivors. I was covered by the one remaining gunship, but due to ground fire, we could only get as close as the other side of a low ridge. Within a matter of minutes a crew member, (door gunner?) popped into the open waving the orange inside of his flight jacket. We dropped a rope with a loop in it and pulled him out. We flew him to an open area and got him into our aircraft. He told us he and the other crew member had been thrown clear on impact, but were both seriously injured by secondary explosions trying to extract the pilots. He also told us one pilot was killed on impact, but one had been alive. We notified dustoff, who in turn flew in, put a crew member on the ground and recovered the other crew member and one very badly burned pilot who died four days later. Three or four days later, I inserted and extracted a graves registration team into the crash site. I asked the team afterward if they recovered any remains from the pile of metal and ashes. They told me they recovered some bone fragments and teeth, but nothing more. from John A. Carrigan, 119 AHC, Jun 67-68, 717-790-9409, 2 July 2000.
*~~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~8
Notes from The Wall:
Remembered by his friends.
Posted by: Bob Kilpatrick
Email:
Relationship: served in 119th.
Wednesday, July 9, 2003
I wish I could find the words that are right. I thought about it all through the night. Something for you from me, something for all to see. I came to touch your name on The Wall, to remember your life, remember it all.
I was just a little girl when I watched them let that flag unfurl. They blew a bugle, it made me cry, why did God allow you to die? I'm older now and I understand, you gave your life 'cause you loved this land.
You were my brother, my protector too. I will always, always love you.
Written June 1989 and left at The Wall
Posted by: Jayne Hewitt Baldwin
Email: [email protected]
Relationship: He is my brother
Saturday, August 21, 2004
God Bless You, Brother.
Posted by: Jayne
Email:
Relationship: He is my brother
Sunday, August 22, 2004
Susan Morton
[email protected]
family friend
1443 Rosewood Court New Brighton MN 55112 USA
I will honor you , Raleigh, when I visit the Wall on Saturday.
Judy & Ted...I still picture Raleigh in his uniform standing next to Glenn in your wedding picture. Two wonderful guys will someday greet us at Heaven's gate. I just want you to know that Raleigh's smile is a vivid memory. I will honor him with tears in my eyes as I stand before his name inscribed on the Wall. He is not forgotten.
Nov 2, 2010
John LaDue
[email protected]
Friend
Carbondale, Pa
Raleigh and I were flight school classmates. I hadn't heard that he had been killed until I happened to see his name on this website. My sincere condolences to his family.
Feb 15, 2007
Manuel Pino Bco 2/8th 1st Cav 68-69
[email protected]
Fellow Vietnam Army Vet
119th AHC 17 CAG
Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings, Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds and done a hundred things. You have not dreamed of wheeled and soared and swung, high in the sunlit silence, hov'ring there, I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung my eager craft through footless halls of air. Up, up the long delirious, burning blue I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace, where never lark, or even eagle flew, and, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod the high untrespassed sanctity of space, put out my hand and touched the face of God. By John G. Magee, Jr.
Dec 30, 2006
Robert Tripp
[email protected]
a friend never met
Ridgeway, Ontario Canada
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13
Sunday, March 13, 2005
Richard Oass
[email protected]
High School friend
1727 22nd St.
Kenosha, Wi 53140 usa
You are not forgotten
We came home about the sametime, you stayed young & i grew old. Now I've got daughters & grandsons - but part of me is still with you. Semper Fidelis, Dick (USMC)
Sunday, July 07, 2002
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