BackThis report chronicles the third attempt by a Joint U.S. - VN team to investigate the crash site and recover remains. Reports from the two previous attempts are included as separate documents.
These documents were provided to the patrol leader of Party Line One, Bill McBride, by the father of one of the Marines who was killed on that patrol, John B. Nahan III.
The map included in this gallery shows the specific locations referenced in these three reports.
The report that follows is provided in its original Government Message Format with minor changes to increase the readability. A Glossary of terminology appearing in this report will be added later. For additional information or questions, please contact Bill McBride at: billm@wmcbride.appliedphysics.swri.edu
U N C L A S S I F I E D
IMMEDIATE PRIORITY
O P 071223Z JUN 94 PSN 774330P24
FM CDR JTF-FA HONOLULU HI
INFO WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASH DC
SECDEF WASHINGTON DC//USDP:RSA/t
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHINGTON DC//EAP/VLC//
JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J5//
DIA WASHINGTON DC
CIA WASHINGTON DC//OEA/SEA/IB/DDO/EA/ICOG//
US C INCPAC HONOLULU H I / / J3 / J3 OM/ /
USCINCPAC LO WASHINGTON DC
CDRUSACILHI HICKAM AFB HI//TAPC-PED-H//
RUEHBT/CJTFFA DET ONE BANGKOK TH
ZEN/CJTFFA DET TWO HANOI
***THIS IS A 6 PART MSG COLLATED BY MDU***
UNCLAS //N05000//
AMPN/SUBJ: DETAILED SEARCH AND RECOVERY REPORT OF CASE 0784//
REF/A/MSG/CJTFFA DET ONE BANGKOK TH/280147ZMAY94//
REF/B/MSG/CJTFFA DET ONE BANGKOK TH/240354ZJUL93//
RMKS /1 . SUMMARY:
A. CASE 0784: FROM 25 APR TO 4 MAY 94, RECOVERY ELEMENT FIVE (RE5)
CONDUCTED A JOINT EXCAVATION OF A CRASH SITE NEAR AKA VILLAGE,
A-LUOI DISTRICT, THUA THIEN-HUE PROVINCE. THIS CASE INVOLVES THE 3
AUG 67 LOSS OF ONE CREWMEMBER AND THREE PASSENGERS OF A CH-46A
HELICOPTER THAT RECEIVED HOSTILE FIRE, CRASHED AND BURNED. THE CRASH
SITE IS LOCATED AT GRID COORDINATE 48QYC5450082000. THE GRID
COORDINATE WAS VERIFIED USING THE TRIMBLE TRIMPACK RECEIVER FOR THE
GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS), TRACKING FIVE SATELLITES. THE
PROJECT AREA IS LOCATED ON A VERY STEEP HILL NEAR THE A-SHAU VALLEY
WITH A TOTAL SITE AREA MEASURING 70 X 38 METERS. THE AREAS
CONSIDERED MOST SENSITIVE FOR THE PRESENCE OF HUMAN REMAINS WERE
EXCAVATED WELL INTO CULTURALLY STERILE SOIL CONDITIONS. RE5 RECOVERED
HUMAN REMAINS FROM THREE SITE LOCATIONS, TO INCLUDE ONE SHAFT OF A
LEG BONE AND SIX TEETH (NONE WITH RESTORATIONS). NO PERSONAL EFFECTS
WERE FOUND. SMALL AMOUNTS OF INCIDENT RELATED EQUIPMENT WERE FOUND.
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U N C L A S S I F I E D
l
MATERIAL EVIDENCE RECOVERED INCLUDED 3 FLIGHT SUIT ZIPPER PULL TABS
AND A PORTION OF A SOCK. SURVIVOR STATEMENTS AND MATERIAL EVIDENCE
RECOVERED INDICATE THAT ALL FOUR INDIVIDUALS WERE IN THE AIRCRAFT AT
THE TIME OF IMPACT. ALL REMAINS ARE IN THE POSSESSION OF THE VNOSMP
AND SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR THE JOINT FORENSIC REVIEW. THE PROJECT
AREA WAS CLOSED BY THE CILHI TEAM LEADER AND ARCHAEOLOGIST ON 4 MAY
94. B. UNITED STATES TEAM MEMBERS:
CPT xxxx TEAM LEADER
DR.xxxx ARCHAEOLOGIST
SSG xxxx TEAM NCOIC
SFC xxxx FIELD MEDICAL TECHNICIAN
MSGTxxxx LIFE SUPPORT WRECKAGE ANALYST
SSG xxxx EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE TECHNICIAN
CTI2 xxxx LINGUIST/ANALYST
SPC xxxx LINGUIST/ANALYST
SPC xxxx MORTUARY AFFAIRS SPECIALIST
PFC xxxx MORTUARY AFFAIRS SPECIALIST
PFCxxxx MORTUARY AFFAIRS SPECIALIST
SPC xxxx PHOTOGRAPHER
B. SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM TEAM MEMBERS:
LE KY VNOSMP TEAM LEADER
NGUYEN THANH HA VNOSMP ASSISTANT TEAM LEADER
DUONG VAN HAO VNOSMP TEAM MEMBER
HA VAN TRAN VNOSMP TEAM MEMBER
PHAN THANH NHA VNOSMP TEAM MEMBER
C. THUA THIEN-HUE PROVINCE TASK TEAM:
NGUYEN VAN HUNG
NGUYEN XUAN B I NH
NGUYEN XUAN H I EN
TRAN VAN DU
TRAN VAN THANH
NGUYEN VAN THANG
D. A LUOI DISTRICT TASK TEAM:
NGUYEN VAN MINH
LE VAN VO
LE HOA B I NH
TRUONG QUANG EM
E. AKA VILLAGE REPRESENTATIVES:
QUYNH NUL
QUYNH MI
QUYNH NAO
2. BACKGROUND:
A. ON 03 AUG 67 A HELICOPTER CREWMAN AND THREE MEMBERS OF A MARINE
RECON TEAM WERE BEING EXTRACTED BY CH-46A HELICOPTER #151923. THE
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U N C L A S S I F I E D
RESCUE HELICOPTER CAME UNDER FIRE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS HIT BY AN
EXPLOSIVE ROUND AND CRASHED. IT ROLLED DOWN THE SIDE OF A HILL.
EFFORTS WERE MADE TO REMOVE THE DEAD BODIES, BUT BECAUSE OF THE
PROXIMITY OF THE ENEMY THE SURVIVORS WERE EXTRACTED AND THE BODIES
WERE LEFT AT THE CRASH SITE.
B. THE INVESTIGATIVE ELEMENT (IE ) IN JUL 93 DURING THE 24TH JFA
(SEE REF B) INTERVIEWED TWO WITNESSES ABOUT A CRASH SITE OF A
TWINROTOR HELICOPTER NEAR AKA VILIAGE. A DATAPLATE WAS TURNED OVER
THAT CORRELATED BY TYPE AND VEHICLE NUMBER TO THIS CASE. A SURVEY WAS
CONDUCTED OF THE CRASH SITE. A WITNESS SHOWED THE IE TEAM A BONE
WHICH WAS ALLEGED TO BE FOUND EARLIER AT THE SITE. THE BONE HAD TO
BE REBURIED AT THE INSISTENCE OF THE WITNESS. A PARTIAL PIECE OF
PROBABLE FLIGHT SUIT WAIST STRIP WAS FOUND AND RETAINED BY THE
INVESTIGATIVE ELEMENT.
C. ANOTHER SURVEY OF THE CRASH SITE WAS DONE IN DEC 93. THE WRECKAGE
AT THE SITE CORRELATED TO THIS CASE. THE LOCATION CORRELATES WITH
THE LAST KNOWN LOCATION. NO REMAINS OR PERSONAL EFFECTS WERE FOUND.
THE SITE WAS RECOMMENDED FOR EXCAVATION.
3. PROJECT LOCATION:
A. AKA VILLAGE
A LUOI DISTRICT
THUA TH I EN - HUE PROVINCE
SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
B. A MILITARY GRID REFERENCE SYSTEM GRID COORDINATE WAS OBTAINED FOR
NUMEROUS LOCATIONS AS PART OF THE MAPPING OF THE PROJECT AREA AND
IMMEDIATE VICINITY. MAP EDITION: 3-TPC (29 ETB); SERIES L7014; SHEET
6441II, A SAP, VIETNAM AND LAOS; SCALE 1:50,000; DATA TO 1970. EACH
GRID COORDINATE WAS VERIFIED USING THE TRIMBLE TRIMPACK RECEIVER FOR
THE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM, (GPS) TRACKING FOUR OR FIVE
SATELLITES. THE FOUR MAJOR REFERENCE POINTS FOR THE PROJECT AREA ARE:
1). LZ: 48QYC5425382639
2). DATUM POINT, UPPER SLOPE: 48QYI'5441882633
3). DATUM POINT, LOWER SLOPE: 48QYC5431382637
4). FRONT HELICOPTER ASSEMBLAGE: 4 ,QYC5 4 2 8 8 8 2 6 5 3 .
4. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT AREA:
A. ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING: THE PROJECT AREA IS IN THE NORTHERN
PORTION OF THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS OF VIETNAM. THE DISTANCE BETWEEN
THE EASTERN COAST AND THIS MOUNTAINOUS BORDER WITH LAOS IS ONLY
BETWEEN 50 TO 60 KILOMETERS. IN THAT DISTANCE ARE A HIGH MOUNTAIN
RANGE POSITIONED NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST (THE NORTHERN TRUONG
SON RANGE), PARALLEL DEEP VALLEYS BETWEEN THE SLOPES, A ZONE OF
rMPN/SUBJ: DETAILED SEARCH AND RECOVERY REPORT OF CASE 0784//
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U N C L A S S I F I E D
ALLUVIAL PLAINS AND HILLS, AND THE LOW-LYING COASTAL FLOOD-PLAIN.
THE SLOPES OF THE TRUONG SON NEAR THE PROJECT AREA THAT FACE TOWARDS
LAOS ARE BROAD AND HAVE A GRADUAL DECLINE. THE SLOPES FACING EAST
DROP PRECIPITOUSLY, WITH A PARALLEL ALIGNED VALLEY AT THEIR
BASE. THE PROJECT AREA IS ONE OF SEVERAL ADJACENT STEEP SLOPES AT
THE BASE OF WHICH ARE DEEPLY CUT STREAMS. THESE DRAINAGES FLOW INTO
A MODERATELY SIZED VALLEY THAT IS ALIGNED WEST TO EAST. THERE IS BUT
ONE MOUNTAIN PASS BETWEEN THIS VALLEY AND THE MAJOR VALLEY IN THE
REGION. ALL OF THE DRAINAGES NEAR THE PROJECT AREA FLOW TOWARDS THE
RAO LAO (A SAP) RIVER, WHICH FLOWS NORTHWEST INTO LAOS. THIS VALLEY,
45 KILOMETERS LONG AND ONE TO TWO KILOMETERS WIDE, HAS A DEEP
ALL W IAL PLAIN AND CONTINUAL WATER SUPPLY. IT IS A GOOD AREA FOR WET
RICE, IRRIGATION AGRICULTURE, AND SEVERAL CASH CROPS. IT CAN SUPPORT
SEVERAL MODERATE SIZED COMMUNITIES OF ETHNIC MINORITIES. THE SHORT
DISTANCE BETWEEN THIS VALLEY AND THE ANCIENT CITY OF HUE IS A LONG
CIRCUITOUS TRIP OVER WINDING ROADS. THIS RELATIVELY ISOLATED VALLEY
IS CALLED THE A SHAU, AN AREA OF INTENSIVE MILITARY ACTIVITY DURING
THE WAR IN VIETNAM.
B. GEOMORPHOLOGY:
1). GEOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT: THE TECTONIC MOVEMENTS OF THE SOUTHEAST
ASIAN CRUSTAL PLATE DURING THE MESOZOIC ERA RESULTED IN THE ERUPTION
(OROGENY) OF THE TRUONG SON RANGE OF MOUNTAINS. ONGOING TECTONIC
EFFECTS INCLUDE THE REAPPEARANCE OF LARGE TECTONIC RUPTURES, THE
RAISING OF THE HIGHEST MOUNTAINS IN VIETNAM (I.E., FANSIPAN,
ELEVATION 3134 METERS), DEPRESSIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE UPLIFTING
(SUCH AS THE BASE OF THE PROJECT AREA AND THE NEARBY A SHAU ), AND
THE EXTENSIVE LAVA BASALT FLOWS OF THE EASTERN NAM BO (WEST AND NORTH
OF HO CHI MINH CITY), THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, QUANG TRI, NGHE TINH,
AND OTHER AREAS DURING THE EARLY CENOZOIC (RECENT) ERA. THESE
GEOLOGICAL CHANGES ARE COUNTERACTED BY A PROCESS OF EROSION AND
COVERING OF THE LAVA FLOWS WITH ALLWIAL SEDIMENTS ALONG THE
EASTERN COAST, OUT TO THE EDGE OF THE CONTINENTAL SHELF. THESE
PROCESSES OF EROSION AND SEDIMENTATION ARE ACCELERATED BY THE
TROPICAL CONDITIONS OF COASTAL VIETNAM, PARTICULARLY HIGH
TEMPERATURE WITH HIGH HUMIDITY, AND THE LONG MONSOON SEASONS.
2). THE NORTHERN TRUONG SON RANGE: THE RANGE THAT INCLUDES THE A
SHAU VALLEY COMPRISES THE WESTERN FRONTIER WITH LAOS IN THE NARROW
CENTRAL AREA OF VIETNAM. IT RUNS FROM THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE CA RIVER
NEAR VINH (HA TINH PROVINCE), TO THE HAI VAN PASS NEAR DANANG. ON
THE WESTERN SIDE THE SLOPES FACE TOWARDS THE MEKONG RIVER VALLEY.
THE EASTERN FLANK FALLS ABRUPTLY TO THE COASTAL PLAINS. THE MOUNTAIN
RANGE RUNS CONTINUOUSLY, VARYING IN ELEVATION FROM 500 METERS
IN THE VALLEYS TO JUST OVER 1700 METERS NEAR THE PROJECT AREA. THE
HIGHER SLOPES RECEIVE A VERY HIGH RAINFALL, WITH SUBSTANTIAL RUNOFF
INTO THE DEEP VALLEYS. ALL MOUNTAIN AREAS EXCEPT FOR THE HUMAN
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U N C L A S S I F I E D
MODIFIED MOUNTAIN VALLEYS WOULD HAVE A NATURAL RAIN FOREST
ECOSYSTEM. THE PROJECT AREA IS ON A HILLOCK THAT HAS RECENTLY BEEN
DEFORESTED, BUT REMAINS NEARLY ENCIRCLED BY THIS COMPLEX DENSE
JUNGLE RAIN FOREST.
3). REGIONAL BORDERS: THERE ARE TWO AREAS WHERE THE MOUNTAINS IN
THIS NARROW AREA OF VIETNAM COME CLOSE TO THE SEA. BY BEING BARRIERS
TO HUMAN TRAVEL THESE MID- LEVEL MOUNTAIN CLUSTERS MARK OFF THE
REGION THAT INCLUDES THE PROJECT AREA. THE HOANH SON RANGE
(GEOLOGICALLY, A BRANCH OF THE TRUONG SON) POINTS TO THE SEA AT A
MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF 1,044 METERS. THIS GENERALLY DEFORESTED AREA
CONSTITUTES A MAJOR BARRIER BETWEEN THE PLAINS OF SOUTHERN NGHE TINH
AND NORTHERN QUANG BINH PROVINCES. THE OTHER AREA OF MOUNTAINS
CLOSE TO THE SEA IS JUST OUTSIDE OF THE PORT OF DANANG. THESE
MOUNTAINS, RANGING 500 TO NEARLY 1000 METERS ABOVE SEA LEVEL, ARE A
GEOLOGICAL EXTENSION OF THE MOUNTAINS ALONG THE LAO BORDER. THEY
ESSENTIALLY BLOCK OFF DANANG TOWARDS THE NORTH AND WEST. ACCESS TO
DANANG FROM HUE, AN AERIAL DISTANCE OF ABOUT EIGHTY KILOMETERS (50
MILES), IS BY A HIGHWAY THAT WINDS THROUGH AND OVER SEVERAL MOUNTAIN
PASSES BEFORE DROPPING RAPIDLY DOWNSLOPE TO REACH THE CITY. THE
MOUNTAINS THAT INCLUDE THE PROJECT AREA ARE CONTINUOUS WITH THOSE
THAT BLOCK OFF DANANG.
C. SOIL PROFILES:
1). THE LOWER ONE HALF OF THE SITE, BEING VERY STEEP, HAD VERY
LITTLE SURFACE SOIL. THE BASE OF THE SITE, ALONG THE STREAM BANK,
WENT 38 METERS SOUTH FROM THE BOTTOM DATUM POINT. AT METER 38 THE
STREAM CHANNEL SHIFTED ABRUPTLY EAST BECAUSE OF A LARGE OUTCROPPING
OF BEDROCK. THAT OUTCROPPING WAS A RELATIVELY FLAT STONEFACE THAT
PROCEEDED UP THE HILL FOR ABOUT 30 METERS. THERE WERE VINES AND
SMALL GRASSES ON THE BEDROCK, BUT NO DISCERNIBLE SOIL LAYER. BETWEEN
12 AND 26 METERS THERE WERE TWO OTHER SMALLER ROCK OUTCROPPINGS.
BETWEEN AND ON THE ENDS OF THESE OUTCROPPING WERE CREVASSES
WITH SMALL AMOUNTS OF SOIL AND A MAT OF DEAD VEGETATION. FROM THE
NORTHEASTERN LOWER CORNER TO METER 12 AND FROM METERS 26 TO 38 SOUTH
THERE WAS A SURFACE MATTING OF ROOTS, VINES, GRASSES, DEAD PLANTS,
AND A SMALL AMOUNT OF SOIL. NOWHERE ON THE LOWER 30 METERS OF THE
SLOPE WAS THERE ANY SOIL LAYER THAT COULD BE EXCAVATED. JAGGED ROCKS
HELD THE MATTING IN PLACE.
2). THE UPPER SLOPE, WHERE THE INCIDENT OCCURRED, HAD A INCLINE THAT
WAS SUFFICIENT TO ALLOW A MODERATE SOIL BUILDUP. THE DOMINANT
VEGETATION PATTERN HAD BEEN A RAIN FOREST WITH VERY TALL TREES. SOME
STUMPS FROM THAT FOREST WERE STILL PRESENT. THREE DISTINCT SOIL
LAYERS COULD BE SEEN. FIRST IS A THIN SURFACE DEBRIS CONSISTING OF A
DARK GREY HUMUS. THIS SHALLOW LAYER WAS USUALLY NO MORE THAN FIVE
CENTIMETERS THICK. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY 80 TO 100 CENTIMETERS OF A
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U N C L A S S I F I E D
UNIFORM ORANGE CLAY SOIL. THIS SOFT SOIL, WHICH DRAINS WELL,
IS CONSIDERED A YELLOWISH RED, 5YR 5/8 (MOIST), ON A MUNSELL SOIL
COLOR CHART. BELOW THAT LAYER WAS A MIXED ORANGE CLAY AND REDDISH
ROCK AGGREGATE. ITS DEPTH WAS NOT MEASURED, BUT WAS PROBABLY
RELATIVELY SHALLOW BEFORE BEDROCK IS REACHED.
D. THE EXCAVATION WAS CONDUCTED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SUMMER
MONSOON SEASON.
5. FIELD METHODS:
A. SCOPE OF WORK: FIELD WORK WAS CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH A
SCOPE OF WORK (SOW) DEVELOPED BY THE PROJECT ARCHAEOLOGIST. THAT SOW
WAS BASED ON A-REVIEW OF THE CILHI SURVEY REPORT OF THE SITE, AND ON
GROUND INSPECTION AT THE BEGINNING OF FIELD WORK, AND INFORMATION
RECEIVED FROM AVAILABLE WITNESSES. TWO AREAS WERE CONSIDERED TO BE
SENSITIVE FOR THE PRESENCE OF HUMAN REMAINS: UNDERNEATH AND
gAMPN/SUBJ: DETAILED SEARCH AND RECOVERY REPORT OF CASE 0784//
IMMEDIATELY DOWNSLOPE OF THE FRONT ROTOR BLADE ASSEMBLAGE; AND THE
APPROXIMATE DOWNSLOPE LOCATION FOR THE BACK OF THE HELICOPTER (E.G.,
WHERE THE OCCUPANTS WHO DID NOT SURVIVE WOULD HAVE BEEN). A THIRD
AREA THAT MIGHT BE SENSITIVE FOR THE PRESENCE OF REMAINS WAS ALSO
EVALUATED. WITNESSES POINTED OUT AN AREA WHERE SOMEONE
HAD REPORTEDLY TOSSED REMAINS NEAR BIG PIECES OF
WRECKAGE. ALTHOUGH THE ENTIRE SITE WOULD BE SURVEYED,
THE FIRST OBJECTIVE WOULD BE TO TEST AND EXCAVATE THESE
THREE AREAS FOR THE PRESENCE OF REMAINS. IT WAS ALSO
DECIDED THAT FACTORS OF SAFETY FOR AMERICAN TEAM
MEMBERS AND VIETNAMESE LOCAL LABORERS WOULD PRECLUDE
ANY SYSTEMATIC EXCAVATION OF THE STEEPEST PORTION OF
THE SITE.
B. PROJECT AREA CLEARING: THE LOCATION OF THE CRASH
SITE WAS WELL KNOWN TO VNOSMP TEAM MEMBERS. A LARGE
PIECE OF THE FRONT ROTOR BLADE AND ASSOCIATED
ASSEMBLAGE WAS TWO-THIRDS OF THE WAY UP THE STEEP
SLOPE. A SMALL PIECE OF THE REAR ROTOR WAS NINE METERS
AWAY, DOWN SLOPE. SMALL PIECE OF INCIDENT RELATED
MATERIAL COULD BE SEEN AT THE BASE OF THE SLOPE, JUST
ABOVE THE STREAM CHANNEL. THE LARGER TREES HAD
RECENTLY BEEN REMOVED AND BURNED FROM THE UPPER SLOPE.
THE LOWER, STEEPER PART OF THE SLOPE HAD SOME HARDWOOD
TREES AND SEVERAL TALL FERN TREES STILL IN PLACE. MANY
OF THE TREES ON THE LOWER SLOPE WERE CUT AND REMOVED,
EXCEPT FOR THOSE IN A BELT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SLOPE,
DOWN TOWARDS THE STREAM. THIS AREA OF THE SITE WAS TOO
STEEP TO TRAVERSE WITH TREE CUTTING EQUIPMENT.
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GRASSES, VINES, AND SMALL ROOTS WERE CUT AND REMOVED
THROUGHOUT THE LIMITS OF THE PROJECT AREA, EVEN IN
AREAS REQUIRING SAFETY ROPES. THIS LEFT MOST OF THE
SITE WITH A CLEARLY VISIBLE GROUND SURFACE, COVERED
ONLY WITH SMALL PATCHES OF LOW GRASS.
C. SETUP OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL GRID: TWO ARCHAEOLOGICAL
GRIDS WERE SET IN PLACE USING A COMPASS, METRIC TAPES,
AND THE TRIMBLE TRIMPACK RECEIVER. THE SLOPE OF THE
SITE WAS TOO STEEP AT ALL LOCATIONS FOR USE OF AN
OPTICAL TRANSIT.
1). LOWER SLOPE: THE DATUM POINT FOR THE VERY STEEP
LOWER PORTION OF THE SLOPE, NEAR THE STREAM CHANNEL,
WAS AT 48QYC5431382037 (GPS, 27 APRIL 94, 0900,
TRACKING FOUR SATELLITES). THE BASE LINE WENT SOUTH AT
175 DEGREES MAGNETIC FOR 36 METERS ALONG A LINE
APPROXIMATELY SIX METERS UP FROM THE EDGE OF THE
PARALLEL RUNNING STREAM CHANNEL. THE MERIDIAN LINE
WENT WEST AT 265 DEGREES MAGNETIC FOR 12 METERS UP THE
STEEP SLOPE. ALL LOCATIONS HAD A SOUTH AND A WEST
COORDINATE. POSITIONING GRID STAKES BEYOND SIXTEEN
METERS SOUTH WAS ATTEMPTED BUT DISCONTINUED, DUE TO THE
DIFFICULTLY OF PLACING STAKES ACCURATELY WHEN HANGING
FROM SAFETY ROPES.
2). UPPER SLOPE: THE DATUM POINT FOR THE UPPER PORTION
OF THE SITE WAS AT 48QYC5441882633 (GPS, 27 APRIL 94,
0900, TRACKING FOUR SATELLITES. THE BASE LINE WENT
MAGNETIC DUE NORTH FOR SIXTEEN METERS. THE MERIDIAN
LINE WENT MAGNETIC DUE EAST FOR 24 METERS, JUST BEFORE
THE ANGLE OF INCLINE SHARPLY INCREASES. THE PROJECT
AREA WAS EXTENDED SOUTH FOUR METERS AT THE EAST END OF
THE GRID AND EIGHT METERS SOUTH AT THE DATUM POINT.
THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE SLOPE, CONTAINING THE FRONT
SECTION OF HELICOPTER ROTOR, HAD NORTH AND EAST
COORDINATES. THE LOWEST PART OF THE UPPER SLOPE, WHERE
THE REAR ROTOR ASSEMBLAGE HAD BEEN, HAD EITHER NORTH
AND EAST OR SOUTH AND EAST COORDINATES. THE HIGH
PORTION OF THE SLOPE, WHERE AN ISOLATED BONE FRAGMENT
HAD BEEN FOUND, HAD SOUTH AND WEST OR SOUTH AND EAST
COORDINATES.
3). THE DISTANCE FROM THE FRONT ROTOR ASSEMBLAGE AT
N9/E0 OF THE UPPER MERIDIAN LINE, TO THE BOTTOM OF THE
SITE AT THE EDGE OF THE STREAM CHANNEL (S18/W0, LOWER
GRID), WAS 53 METERS. THIS IS THE MEASURED DISTANCE
BETWEEN THE BASE OF THE HILL AND THE CENTRAL UPPER
POINT OF THE SITE, NOT CORRECTED FOR THE STEEP ANGLE OF
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INCLINE. THE TOTAL DISTANCE FROM THE TOP OF THE SITE
TO THE STREAM CHANNEL WAS 70 METERS, NOT ADJUSTED FOR
SLOPE. THE WIDTH OF THE SITE VARIED FROM 24 METERS
ALONG THE UPPER MERIDIAN LINE TO 38 METERS ALONG THE
BASE OF THE STREAM CHANNEL.
D. CLEARING OF PROJECT AREA: THE VEGETATION ON NEARLY
ALL PORTIONS OF THE SITE WERE CLEARED OF TREES, BUSHES,
TREE FERNS, GRASSES, VINES, AND OTHER VISIBLE PLANTS.
THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY FINE CLEARING OF SMALL ROOTS AND
ANY REMAINING VEGETATION THAT BLOCKED A VIEW OF THE
BARE SURFACE OF THE SITE. MAJOR ROCK OUTCROPPING WERE
EXPOSED AND CLEANED AS A MEANS OF EVALUATING WHERE
REMAINS WOULD NOT BE.
E. THE STREAM CHANNEL WAS WALKED BY THE PROJECT
ARCHAEOLOGIST IN A SEARCH FOR ANY SIGNS OF REMAINS OR
INCIDENT RELATED MATERIAL.
F. ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELD WORK, LOWER GRID: FIELDWORK
ALONG AND ABOVE THE STREAM CHANNEL WAS RESTRICTED TO
THE REMOVAL OF THE LARGER VEGETATION, FOLLOWED BY A
VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE BEDROCK OUTCROPPINGS AND A
SCRAPPING OF THE SURFACE MATTING IN A SEARCH FOR
ANYTHING INCIDENT RELATED THAT MIGHT HAVE WASHED DOWN
SLOPE. THE FLAT OUTCROPPING AT THE SOUTH END (AFTER
METER 38) WAS CLEANED AND EXPOSED. THE AREAS BETWEEN
METERS 1 TO 12 AND 26 TO 38 WERE HAND RAKED, ALL RAKED
MATERIAL BEING PUSHED DOWNSLOPE TOWARDS THE BASELINE,
WHERE THE MATERIAL WAS PLACED INTO BUCKETS AND TAKEN TO
SCREENS. ALL OF THE MATTING FOR 16 METERS UPSLOPE WAS
SCREENED. IN ADDITION, THE SMALL ROCK CREVASSES
BENEATH THE MATTING WERE VISUALLY INSPECTED FOR SIGNS
AMPN/SUBJ: DETAILED SEARCH AND RECOVERY REPORT OF CASE 0784//
OF THE INCIDENT. THE AREA OF THE LOWER SLOPE FROM
METERS 12 TO 26 SOUTH WERE CRAWLED OVER IN A SEARCH FOR
ANY SURFACE FINDS, BUT WAS NOT OTHERWISE INVESTIGATED.
TO WORK IN SUCH AN AREA WOULD HAVE REQUIRED SAFETY GEAR
BEYOND THE CAPABILITIES OF THE TEAM. THE LIKELIHOOD OF
THERE BEING ANY REMAINS STILL PRESENT ON AND BETWEEN
SUCH STEEP ROCKY SURFACES WAS ALSO CONSIDERED TO BE
EXTREMELY LOW.
G. ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELD WORK, UPPER GRID: SYSTEMATIC
ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATION OCCURRED ON THE UPPER SLOPE.
THREE AREAS WERE CONSIDERED SENSITIVE FOR THE PRESENCE
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OF HUMAN REMAINS: IN AND BELOW THE FORWARD ROTOR
ASSEMBLAGE; AT AND NEAR WHAT HAD BEEN THE LOCATION OF
THE REAR ROTOR ASSEMBLAGE (MOVED AT THE TIME OF THIS
PROJECT); AND A VAGUELY DEFINED GENERAL AREA ON THE
UPPERMOST SOUTH SIDE OF THE SLOPE. PORTIONS OF THESE
THREE AREAS WERE EXCAVATED. THE UPPER SLOPE WAS
INITIALLY PLACED INTO TWO METER WIDE GRID STRIPS
RUNNING FROM N0 TO N16 (THE FORWARD ROTOR ASSEMBLAGE
WAS AT N8). THERE WERE NINE STRIPS PLACED ON THE
SLOPE, FROM E0 TO E18 (E0 TO E2, E2 TO E4, ETC.). EACH
STRIP WAS THEN FURTHER DIVIDED INTO FOUR METER LONG
UNITS. ALL EXCAVATION AT THE SITE WAS DONE TN UNITS OF
EITHER FOUR BY TWO OR TWO BY TWO METERS. TWO
ADDITIONAL AREAS WERE EVENTUALLY PLACED WITHIN THE
EXCAVATION GRID. SIX FOUR BY TWOS WERE PLACED AT THE
BOTTOM OF THE UPPER SLOPE, JUST BEFORE THE ANGLE OF
DECLINE SHARPLY CHANGES. AN ADDITIONAL FOUR SIX BY
FOURS WERE PLACED TO THE WEST OF THE UPPER PART OF THE
GRID, AS CONTINUATION OF THE E2 TO E4 AND E4 TO E6 16
METER STRIPS. ALL SURFACE SOIL AND AN ADDITIONAL 10 TO
30 CM OF ORANGE CLAY WERE REMOVED FROM EACH STRIP AND
TAKEN TO SCREENS. A FURTHER LAYER OF SOIL WAS REMOVED
AND TOSSED ASIDE. EACH STRIP WAS EXCAVATED INTO EITHER
A FLAT PLATFORM OR TWO STEPS. THIS WAS DONE TO
MAINTAIN PROVENANCE CONTROL ON SUCH A STEEP SLOPE. THE
FINAL RESULT WAS A SERIES OF PLATFORMS AND STEPS
EXCAVATED FROM THE E4 TO E6 STRIP DOWN THE SLOPE TO TWO
FOUR BY TWOS FROM E22 TO E24. THE FOUR LOWEST FOUR BY
TWOS WERE EXCAVATED BY AMERICAN TEAM MEMBERS IN SAFETY
HARNESSES ATTACHED TO GUIDE AND SAFETY ROPES. DIRT HAD
TO BE DUG, PLACED IN BUCKETS, AND THEN HANDED TO LOCAL
WORKERS WHO WERE NEXT TO OR HANGING ON TO SAFETY LINES.
TO PROCEED FURTHER DOWN SLOPE WOULD HAVE BEEN TO
ENDANGER WORKERS. A TOTAL OF 23 GRID UNITS OF SIZE
FOUR METERS BY TWO METERS (SOME FURTHER SUBDIVIDED)
WERE SYSTEMATICALLY EXCAVATED ON THE UPPER SLOPE.
H. FINAL PROJECT AREA INSPECTION: ANY SPILLED DIRT
WAS REMOVED FROM THE GRIDS. THE UPPER PART OF THE SITE
WAS SWEPT WITH BROOMS. THE GRIDS WERE CHECKED FOR
ACCURACY. DEPTHS OF EXCAVATION WERE REMEASURED.
SKETCH DATA WAS VERIFIED. THE EXCAVATION UNITS OF THE
UPPER GRID WERE MARKED WITHIN BLUE ENGINEERING TAPE.
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FINAL PHOTOGRAPHS WERE TAKEN OF THE COMPLETED PROJECT
AREA FROM HIGH UP ON THE WEST FACING SLOPE OPPOSITE THE
SITE. THE PROJECT LOCATION WAS CLOSED BY THE TEAM
LEADER ON 4 MAY 1994.
6. ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDINGS:
A. HUMAN REMAINS WERE FOUND AT THREE LOCATIONS AT THE
SITE. THE SHAFT OF A RIGHT TIBIA IN POOR CONDITION WAS
FOUND NEAR AN EXTENDED GRID UNIT OF THE E4 TO E6 STRIP,
THE UPPER PORTION OF THE UPPER SLOPE. THE ENDS OF THE
LONG BONE HAD ERODED AWAY. TWO MOLARS WITH NO
RESTORATIONS WERE FOUND JUST UNDERNEATH THE FRONT ROTOR
BLADE ASSEMBLAGE IN THE CENTER OF THE UPPER SLOPE. THE
REST OF THE REMAINS, ALL DENTAL PORTIONS WITH NO
RESTORATIONS, WERE FOUND WITHIN SIX METERS OF WHERE THE
REAR ROTOR ASSEMBLAGE HAD BEEN, AT THE LOWER PART OF
THE UPPER SLOPE JUST BEFORE THE INCLINE SHARPLY
INCREASES.
B. NO PERSONAL EFFECTS OR INCIDENT RELATED PERSONAL
GEAR WERE RECOVERED.
C. THE CRASH SITE WAS SYSTEMATICALLY EXCAVATED TO
CULTURALLY STERILE CONDITIONS, SPECIFICALLY ORANGE
CLAY. THE SOIL HORIZON BEYOND THE SHALLOW TOP SOIL, A
THIN LAYER NO THICKER THAN 30 CENTIMETERS, WAS CLEARLY
UNDISTURBED. THE LIKELIHOOD OF THERE BEING HUMAN
REMAINS BELOW THAT LEVEL IS EXTREMELY LOW.
D. A CENTRAL PORTION OF THE HILLOCK WAS NOT EXCAVATED.
IN THAT AREA THE SLOPE WAS ESTIMATED TO VARY BETWEEN 75
TO 85 DEGREES. ACCESS TO THAT AREA REQUIRED ROPES AND
HARNESSES. THAT AREA WAS ALSO PREDOMINANTLY ROCKY,
WITH VERY SHALLOW SOIL. THE LIKELIHOOD OF REMAINS
STILL BEING PRESENT IN SUCH AN AREA WAS CONSIDERED LOW.
GIVEN THE LOW PROBABILITY OF FINDING REMAINS AND THE
SAFETY PROBLEMS THAT WOULD BE ENCOUNTERED, IT WAS
DECIDED NOT TO ATTEMPT EXCAVATION ON THAT PART OF THE
SLOPE.
E. THIS CRASH SITE ON A MOUNTAIN SLOPE WAS
SYSTEMATICALLY EVALUATED USING CAREFULLY CONTROLLED
PROCEDURES. THE PROCEDURES INCLUDED THE EXCAVATION OF
GRID UNITS IN A VERY STEEP AREA WITH AMERICAN FIELD
WORKERS WEARING HARNESSES TETHERED TO SAFETY LINES.
7. MATERIAL EVIDENCE CASE 0784:
A. AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE OBSERVED AND PHOTOGRAPHED:
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(1). FORWARD ROTOR ASSEMBLY WITH: VERTOL A02RS282-4
(2). AFT ROTOR ASSEMBLY
(3). PILOT/COPILOT ARMOR SEAT ASSEMBLY
B. AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE RECOVERED:
(1). METAL PIECE WITH: A02R2872-2
(2). METAL PIECE WITH: ???R3545-1
(3). DATA PLATE: AS-578B/ARA-25
(4). METAL PIECE WITH: 9907 37R6001 47 P133 SERIAL NO.
AMPN/SUBJ: DETAILED SEARCH AND RECOVERY REPORT OF CASE 0784//
6612 1505
(5). METAL PIECE WITH: 37B202271
C. AIRCREW/PASSENGER RELATED ITEMS:
(1). THREE ZIPPER PULL TABS
(2). THREE BUCKLES
(3). TWO WEB BELT COMPONENTS
(4). PIECE OF POSSIBLE SOCK
(5). PIECE OF POSSIBLE BELT
8. LIFE SUPPORT WRECKAGE ANALYSIS COMMENTS: ALL
AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE OBSERVED AND RECOVERED IS CONSISTENT
WITH A CH-46A HELICOPTER. THE MAJORITY OF THE WRECKAGE
HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE SITE. THE REMAINING ITEMS
INCLUDE TWO ROTOR ASSEMBLIES AND ONE PILOT ARMOR SEAT.
THE FORWARD ROTOR ASSEMBLY WAS SITUATED NEAR THE TOP OF
A HILL IN AN INVERTED POSITION. THE AFT ROTOR ASSEMBLY
WAS LOCATED FURTHER DOWN HILL. THE PILOT ARMOR SEAT
WAS LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL NEAR A STREAM.
THE SEAT WAS PROBABLY MOVED BY LOCAL PERSONNEL
ATTEMPTING TO SCAVENGE METAL. THE AIRCREW/PASSENGER
ITEMS WERE RECOVERED ALONG WITH AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE
INDICATING ALL PERSONNEL ABOARD THE AIRCRAFT MAY NOT
HAVE SURVIVED THE CRASH. THESE ITEMS REQUIRE FURTHER
ANALYSIS.
9: LINGUIST/ANALYST COMMENTS: TWO WITNESSES FROM THE
17TH JFA MR. QUYNH HONG AND MR. VIEN DANG MINH WERE
REINTERVIEWED. THEY PROVIDED NO NEW INFORMATION. THE
VIETNAMESE TEAM LEADER, MR. LE KY, PROVIDED INFORMATION
ON THE STATUS OF A BONE FRAGMENT HELD BY THE WITNESSES.
ON 1 MAY 94 MR. QUYNH HONG RECANTED HIS STATEMENT THAT
THE BONE FRAGMENT HE SHOWED THE JOINT TEAM WAS RELATED
TO THE SITE. MR. KY SAID THAT THE BONE FRAGMENT WAS
THAT OF A NONHUMAN ANIMAL AND HAD BEEN DISPOSED OF. AN
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-
ADDITIONAL WITNESS, MR. A VO NINH (A VOO NINH), 39 YOA,
PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: WHEN HE WAS A
CHILD HIS FATHER HAD SCAVENGED METAL FROM THE CRASHSITE
AND FOUND REMAINS IN THE WRECKAGE. THE REMAINS WERE
THROWN INTO AN AREA WHICH HE POINTED OUT FOR THE JOINT
TEAM. THE GENERAL LOCATION WAS THE UPPER PART OF THE
SITE NEAR THE DATUM POINT. HE HAD NO FURTHER
INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS SITE OR ANY OTHER INCIDENT
INVOLVING AMERICANS.
10. EOD TECHNICIAN COMMENTS: EVIDENCE OF ORDNANCE
HAZARD AT THIS SITE WAS LOW. SOME SMALL ARMS ROUNDS
WERE RECOVERED OF SIZES 5.56 MM, 50 CAL, AND 7.62MM.
THE LATTER KIND OF ROUND WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN USED BY
U.S. FORCES. NO METAL DETECTOR SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED OF
THE SITE DUE TO THE STEEPNESS OF THE TERRAIN. DETECTION
OF ORDNANCE AND LARGE PIECES OF WRECKAGE WOULD HAVE
BEEN DIFFICULT OR NEAR IMPOSSIBLE UNDER SUCH
CONDITIONS.
11. MEDICAL TECHNICIAN COMMENTS: BECAUSE OF THE STEEP
SURFACE GRADE THROUGHOUT PARTS OF THE SITE IT WAS
NECESSARY TO CONSTRUCT SAFETY ROPE BARRIERS ABOVE AND
BELOW WORK AREAS. WHEN WORKING ON THE STEEPEST
SURFACES OF THE SITE, A DOUBLE ROPE ANCHORING SYSTEM
WAS CONSTRUCTED BY WHICH TEAM MEMBERS WEARING SWISS
SEATS COULD ATTACH THEIR SAFETY LINES WHILE WORKING. A
SINGLE ROPE HAND HOLD SYSTEM WAS CONSTRUCTED AND USED
IN CONJUNCTION WITH A SERIES OF STEPS THAT WERE CUT
INTO THE HILLSIDE. NO FALL-RELATED INJURIES OCCURRED
THROUGHOUT THE DURATION OF THE EXCAVATION.
A. DURING THE COURSE OF THE EXCAVATION TEMPERATURES
RANGED FROM 75 DEGREES IN THE EARLY MORNING TO DAILY
HIGHS IN EXCESS OF 100 DEGREES BY 1300 HRS. HIGH
TEMPERATURES COUPLED WITH HIGH HUMIDITY POSED POSSIBLE
HEAT INJURIES TO BOTH TEAM MEMBERS AND LOCAL WORKERS.
HOURLY WATER REST BREAKS WERE GIVEN WITH TEN MINUTES
ALLOTTED FOR EARLY MORNING PERIODS, INCREASING TO
TWENTY MINUTES FOR LATE MORNING AND AFTERNOON PERIODS.
CONSUMPTION OF WATER WAS ENCOURAGED EACH REST PERIOD
AND DURING THE WORK HOUR. TEAM MEMBERS DRANK BOTTLED
WATER PURCHASED IN VIETNAM AND LOCAL WORKERS DRANK
WATER TAKEN FROM A CLEAN NEAR-BY STREAM.
B. THE TEAM EXPERIENCED EARLY AFTERNOON SHOWERS DURING
THE MAJORITY OF THE EXCAVATION. AFTERNOON SHOWERS
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CREATED DANGEROUS WORKING CONDITIONS WHEN COUPLED WITH
THE BARE DIRT SITE SURFACE AND THE STEEP ROCKY TERRAIN.
AS A RESULT TEAM MEMBERS KEPT A WATCH ON WEATHER
CONDITIONS THROUGHOUT THE LATE MORNING AND EARLY
AFTERNOON PERIODS TO DETERMINE IF AND WHEN WORK WAS TO
BE STOPPED AND EVERYONE WAS TO LEAVE THE WORK SITE.
C. NO TEAM MEMBERS SUFFERED A WORK RELATED INJURY.
ONE LOCAL WORKER HAD TO BE GIVEN EIGHT SUTURES AFTER
CUTTING HIS ANKLE WITH A MACHETE. THE SUTURES WERE
REMOVED ONE WEEK LATER WITH NO SEQUELAE.
D. DURING THE PROJECT ONE LIVE SNAKE WAS UNCOVERED
DURING EXCAVATION. THE LOCAL WORKERS CONFIRD4ED THAT
THE SNAKE WAS POISONOUS. THE WORKERS LATER KILLED THE
SNAKE AND ATE THE BODY.
12. CONCLUSIONS:
A. THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT THAT THIS IS THE SITE OF THE
CH-46A HELICOPTER ASSOCIATED WITH THE INCIDENT OF CASE
0784.
B. THE REMAINS FOUND SUPPORTS THE CONCLUSION THAT THE
OCCUPANTS OF THE REAR OF THE HELICOPTER PERISHED AT THE
TIME OF THE INCIDENT.
C. MOST OF THE PIECES OF AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN CARTED
AWAY. THE LACK OF ALL BUT TWO LARGE PIECES OF METAL ON
THE SURFACE SUGGEST THAT THE SITE HAS BEEN EXTENSIVELY
PICKED OVER AND SCAVENGED SINCE THE INCIDENT. IT IS
ALSO HIGHLY LIKELY THAT SMALL PERSONAL EFFECTS AND
PORTIONS OF REMAINS WOULD HAVE FALLEN DOWN SLOPE AND
BEEN WASHED DOWN STREAM DURING THE PEAK PERIODS OF
LAMPN/SUBJ DETAILED SEARCH AND RECOVERY REPORT OF CASE 0784//
FLOODING DURING THE RAINY SEASON. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO LOCATE SUCH REMAINS AND PERSONAL
EFFECTS BY ANY KNOWN SEARCH METHOD.
D. THE SITE WAS CLOSED BY THE TEAM LEADER BASED ON THE
RECOMMENDATION OF THE ARCHAEOLOGIST ON 4 APR 94.//
BT
DLVR CDR JTF-FA HONOLULU HI (1) . . . ORIG
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