JIM RAY CAVENDER
Chief Warrant Officer-3, Aviator
281st Assault Helicopter Company
From: Santa Paula, California
Born: December 28, 1948
Tour of duty began in October, 1969
Lost on November 4th, 1969, in Khanh Hoa Province, South Vietnam,
while serving as the pilot on missing helicopter 67-19512;
the cause of loss remains unknown, but not due to hostile action.
Status changed from MIA to Presumed Dead on September 25, 1978.
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In November 4, 1969,
WO1 Jim R. Cavender, pilot, WO Terry L.
Alford, aircraft commander, SP4 John A. Ware, crew chief
and SP4 James R. Klimo, door gunner, were flying a series of
combat support missions in a UH1H helicopter (serial #67-19512)
in South Vietnam.
The Crew was returning to their base at Nha
Trang from Duc Lap at about 1920 hours when they made their last
known radio contact with the 48th Aviation Company Operations at
Ninh Hoa. Either the pilot or aircraft commander gave their
approximate location as Duc My Pass, and stated that they were in
the clouds and instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). Shortly
afterwards, the controller at Ninh Hoa heard a radio transmission
that the aircraft was in trouble. The pilot reported,
inexplicably, that the helicopter was flying upside down.
No evidence exists that the helicopter received ground fire.
Search efforts were conducted for six consecutive days, but
nothing was found.
Jim, and the crew of 512, are held in the memory of the Intruders of the 281st AHC.
For detailed information concerning the loss of 512, including a map of the flight path, see CW3 Terry Alford's webpage on this website.
A MAN IS NOT DEAD UNTIL HE IS FORGOTTEN
ONCE AN INTRUDER....ALWAYS AN INTRUDER