The clip board found in plane belonged to LtCol Kyle Townsend, the commanding officer of VMO3 when the squadron left Camp Pendleton Dec66 until fall of 1967
I was co-pilot on this helicopter s last mission escorting a CH-53 on a resupply flight north of Phu Bai. We were hit by small arms fire and lost all engine oil pressure. Major Kyle Townsend, Commanding Officer of VMO-3 was the pilot and elected to put the aircraft on the ground before the engine seized. Although landing over a mile from where we were hit,we immediately came under small arms and later mortar fire from the VC. After the crew was evacuated, a Sparrowhawk team secured the area and a CH-53 attached the Huey to a sling for transport back to Phu Bai. Approaching the base perimeter and several hundred feet in the air, the Huey began to rotate and the Sea Stallion pilot pickeled his load before he lost control.
The Huey was destroyed and the hulk of the fuselage remained where it fell. This was my second flight in country. VMO-3
I found a leg clipboard with the name Kyle Townsend printed on the side. It was made by the Overland company. If anyone knows Kyle or would like to share stories about him
