Bob,

Unfortunatly we will never know the real cause for the loss of 3 good men at least not in this life. I do know that they went nose down very fast with no attempt to flare before entering the trees. I did see alot of smoke comming from the engine compartment. The mission was an emergency pickup of an A-Team, they had called in with the message of "Preacher Preacher" meaning Charlie was hot on their tail. With that in mind I'm sure the Guns were at full load both fuel and armmo. If the engine was week and causing problems that may account for the nose down attitude. Our flight altitude was no more than 60 or so feet above the trees, pretty much SOP when heading west for a pickup. That does not allow much time for any corrective action.

After impact the ship blew within 2 minutes. We were hovering directly over it when it went off looking for a place to drop the ropes. You could feel the concussion in the air. Dobbs reacted with full pitch and must have shoved the cyclic through the insturment panel. I had one foot out on the skid and was holding on to my 60 at the time. That is the only time I almost fell out during my entire tour. Never did wear a Monkey Belt. If it wasen't for the hand on the 60 I would have been a gonner. I know it was instinct on his part but I told him we were OK and we would already be dead if it was going to hurt us.

Tom Gator 851.