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| RVNAF 2nd Air Division 62md Tactical Wing 219th Helicopter Squadron Former Assignments USMC |
Pilot 1st Lt. Bao Tung Nguyen (MIA / KIA, BR) Vietnam Pilot 1st Lt. The Long Phan (MIA / KIA, BR) Vietnam Gunner Sgt Van Lanh Bui (MIA / KIA, BR) Vietnam Passenger Major Larry Alan Thorne / Lauri Allan Törni HQ, SOG (MIA / KIA, BR) Viipuri, Finland Crashed October 18, 1965 at 21:48 Aircraft History Built by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation. Constructors Number 58-1370. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as HUS-1 Seahorse bureau number 148790. Assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC). During October 1962, redesignated as UH-34D. Afterwards, transfered to the Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF) as H-34 Kingbee. Assigned to the 2nd Air Division, 62nd Tactical Wing, 219th Helicopter Squadron. without markings for special operations missions. Mission History On October 18, 1965 liftoff from Forward Operating Base 1 (FOB-1) at Kham Duc in Quảng Tín Province (Quảng Nam Province) in the South Central Highlands Region of Vietnam piloted by piloted by Bao T. Nguyen and The L. Phan with door gunner Sgt Van Lanh Bui on a mission to insert the first Studies and Observations Group (SOG) "Shining Brass" mission inside Laos including SGM Petry, SFC Card, and SFC Smith. Also aboard was observer U.S. Army Major Larry Alan Thorne. When this helicopter failed to return, Thorne was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Search On October 19, 1965 a rescue team reached the crash site but did not find the remains of the crew and passenger. It was presumed dead. Wreckage In fact, this helicopter crashed in bad weather at 21:48 into a jungle covered hillside in Vietnam. On impact, the helicopter burned and everyone aboard died on impact. Recovery of Remains During 1999, a Joint Task Force-Full Accounting (JTF-FA) team including American and Vietnamese personnel with representatives from Finland excavated the crash site and found the engine, fragments of wreckage and remains plus miscellaneous equipment. Afterwards, the remains were transported to the Central Identification Laboratory (CILHI) where they were identified at Thorne based on material evidence, forensics and dental. On December 2, 2002 the Department of Defense (DoD) announced the identification of Thorne. Memorial Everyone aboard was officially declared dead the day of the crash. According to U.S. Army policy, Thorne was officially declared dead a year and a day later on October 19, 1966. For his actions, he was recommended for the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). During 1966, a memorial service was held for Thorne at the J.F. Kennedy Center for Special Warfare Chapel at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Thorne was promoted to the rank of Major, posthumously. He is memorialized at (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing. After his remains were identified, a rosette was added next to his name. Thorne is also memorialized on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on panel 2E, line 126. On June 26, 2003 the entire crew was buried in a group burial at Arlington National Cemetery at section 60 site 8136. References This helicopter was officially written off October 17, 1965 [sic, crashed October 18, 1965] Navy Serial Number Search Results - HUS-1 Seahorse 148790 "148790 (MSN 581370) w/o Oct 17, 1965, Southeast Asia." Sikorsky HUS-1 / UH-34D Seahorse C/N 58-1370 Durham Herald-Sun "End Written To The Saga of Finnish 'Green Beret'" November 18, 1966 page 26 VHAF H-34 & King Bee 219th via Wayback Machine June 18, 2014 Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Bao T. Nguyen (group burial photo) FindAGrave - 1LT Bao Tung Nguyen (group burial photo) Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - The L Phan (group burial photo) FindAGrave- The Long Phan (group burial photo) Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Van L. Bui (group burial photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Van Lanh Bui (group burial photo) U.S. Department of Justice Petition For Naturalization - Lauri Allan Torni DPAA Personnel Profile - Major Larry Alan Thorne Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Larry A. Thorne (group burial photo) FindAGrave - MAJ Larry Alan Thorne (courts of the missing photo, photo, news) FindAGrave - MAJ Larry Alan Thorne Törni (National Vietnam Veterans Memorial photo) FindAGrave - Maj. Larry Alan Thorne Törni (Arlington National Cemetery grave photo) The Green Berets (1965) Soldier Under Three Flags: Exploits of Special Forces' Captain Larry A. Thorne (1998) Born a Soldier: The Times and Life of Larry A Thorne (2008) Thanks to Healing Through History for bureau number Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated October 5, 2025 |
 H-34  MIA 4 Missing Resolved |
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