Name: Quentin Rippetoe Beecher
Rank/Branch: W2/US Army
Unit: Company B, 227th Aviation Battalion, 11th Aviation Group, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile)
Date of Birth: 14 September 1942
Home City of Record: Terre Haute IN
Date of Loss: 11 June 1967
Country of Loss: South Vietnam - Over Water
Loss Coordinates: 131800N 1094000E (CQ555705)
Status (in 1973): Missing In Action
Category: 5
Acft/Vehicle/Ground: UH1D
Other Personnel In Incident: Ralph E. Uhlmansiek; Thomas Riggs; James R.NelsonDean E. Clinton (all missing)
REMARKS:
SYNOPSIS: The 227th Aviation Battalion (Assault Helicopter), 11th Aviation
Group was organic to the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). From the end of
October 1966 into February 1967, the 1st Cavalry Division battled clearingBinh
Dinh Province in Operations THAYER II and PERSHING, the latter concentratedin
the rich northern coastal plain as well as the Kim Son and Luoi Ci Valleysto
the west. Throughout the rest of 1967 the division combated the North
Vietnamese Army's 610th Division and Viet Cong Units in the II CorpsTactical
Zone. There were over 7100 known enemy casualties in the two operations.
On June 11, 1967, WO1 Thomas F. Riggs, pilot; WO Dean E. Clinton, co-pilot;SP5
James R. Nelson, crew chief; and passengers WO1 Quentin R. Beecher and SP4
Ralph E. Uhlmansiek; departed Landing Zone Uplift, Qui Nhon airfield in the
southern coastal region of Binh Dinh Province, South Vietnam.
The crew and passengers were aboard a UH1D helicopter (serial #63-12958),call
sign "Bamboo Viper 47", on an operations mission in the province. At 1900
hours, Bamboo Viper 47 left the LZ at Qui Nhon. While en route, bad weatherwas
encountered, and the pilot requested assistance in determining his position.
Efforts by Tuy Hoa and Qui Nhon airfields, and airborne search and rescue
control aircraft failed to locate the aircraft to guide it to the airfield.At
2057 hours, the pilot reported that he was out of fuel, and was willing tomake
a water landing. Search and rescue efforts started immediately, andcontinued
until 13 June, but was unsuccessful in locating either the helicopter or its
crew and passengers. All were declared Missing in Action, Category 5 (which
indicates that it is not felt that remains can be recovered).
There are nearly 2500 Americans who remain missing in Southeast Asia.Reports
from refugee and intelligence sources continue to mount that indicate someof
these men are alive, still held in captivity. Experts now believe thathundreds
of Americans are still held.
The case of the downed UH1D seems clear - the crew will probably never be
found. But for many of the others who are missing, endings are not so easyto
write. Many are alive and waiting for the country they proudly served tobring
them home. As long as one American is alive in captivity in the jungles of
Southeast Asia, the war is not over - our flag is still there.
