1st LT. Josef Loyd
Thorne was KIA when the helicopter he was piloting, UH-1B Gunship 63-08632
(Miss Oklahoma), was engaged by a hostel NVA force. His aircraft was
struck by ground fire. WO Daniel Bishop, SP-5
Mills DG, SP-4 Olivar CE and SP/5 Charles
F. Millay were also onboard. The crew was providing close air support for
a combat assault mission north of Qui Nhon at LZ
Alpha. The 145th was assigned to the 52nd AVN BN at the
time of their deaths. Operation Quyet Thang 137, 19 April 1965.
was conducted in support of the 22nd (ARVN) Div. The 119th Avn
Co. joined other elements of the battalion in lifting 320 troops from Phu Cat to LZ Alpha (CR 099410) on the peninsula north of
Qui Nhon. An additional 100 troops were landed at LZ
Bravo (CR 075495). Intense ground fire was received from LZ Alpha, and two
armed UH-1Bs were shot down and exploded on impact. All crew members were
killed. Four other aircraft were also hit with one additional crewman being
killed.
A MAN IS NOT DEAD UNTIL HE IS FORGOTTEN
ONCE AN INTRUDER....ALWAYS AN INTRUDER
