Pacific Stars and Stripes information
for HMM-262
HMM-163
For date 680210
HMM-262 was a US Marine Corps unit
HMM-163 was a US Marine Corps unit
Primary service involved, US Marine Corps
Quang Tri Province, I Corps, South Vietnam
Location, Khe Sanh
Description: The following is an edited version of an article titled "Air Crew Flees Burning Chopper."
Quang Tri (ISO) -An air rescue helicopter crew found things more than a little warm when their aircraft burst into flames during action near Khe Sanh. A CH-46 Sea Knight of HMM-262 was diverted to pick up wounded Marines near Hill 881 while on a resupply mission in the area. The pilot, Capt. R.A. Ropelewski and co-pilot Capt. S.R. Stegich, 25, of Little Falls, N.Y., found they would have to try landing on the slope of a hill. "The slope was so steep that we couldn't land. We had to back into the hill and hover above the ground," said Stegich. As the Ch-46 was backing into the hill, an engine was struck by an enemy round and the entire rear section of the aircraft burst into flames. The flames and smoke were so intense that the crew chief and gunner were forced to jump out of the helicopter. Meanwhile, Ropelewski tried to land and finally brought the helicopter down as the base of the hill. Both pilot and co-pilot jumped to safety as the copter was engulfed in flames and smoke. Stegich tells what happened after getting out of the burning helicopter, "I ran back to the helicopter, looking for the gunner. I though he was still in there. I stayed about a minute and came back out. Right after that we were picked up and taken back to Hill 881 by another HMM-262 helicopter. The crew chief and gunner, who sustained minor injuries were picked up by a helicopter of HMM-163 and evacuated to Dong Ha.
Comments: CPT Ropelewski, R.A.; HMM-262 pilot; ;
CPT Stegich, S.R.; HMM-262 pilot; ;
The source for this information was 6802pss.avn supplied by Les Hines
Additional information is available on CD-ROM.
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Last updated
02/21/2000
Date posted on this site:
08/17/2025