219th Helicopter Squadron
Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF)

Background
The 219th Helicopter Squadron was part of 62nd Tactical Wing, 1st Air Division, Air Command in the Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF). Equipped with H-34 Kingbee helicopters and UH-1 helicopters.

Wartime History
During the Vietnam War, the The 219th Helicopter Squadron flew missions in support of U.S. special forces including insertion and recovery of U.S. Military Command in South Vietnam (MACV) Studies and Observations Group (SOG) teams, MACV-SOG.

On October 18, 1965 liftoff of H-34 Kingbee piloted by 1st Lt. Bao Tung Nguyen off from Forward Operating Base 1 (FOB-1) on a "Shining Brass" mission inside Laos. Also aboard was observer U.S. Army Major Larry Alan Thorne. Returning in bad weather, at 21:48 crashed in Vietnam.

References
VHAF H-34 & King Bee 219th via Wayback Machine June 18, 2014

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