Eyewitness Account of General Hochmuth Crash

Statement of Major John A. Chancey, 077369, USMC
On 14 November 1967, I was assigned to fly admin chase for a VMO-3 UH-1E. My mission number was #58, and was authorized by MAG-36 Frag Order number 14-21. My event number was Swift 4-1. I was briefed by the HMM-364 Operations Duty Officer (ODO) on assigned frequencies, call signs and the nature of the mission, and was instructed to stand by until further notice. I received my aircraft assignment, preflighted it, warmed up the engine and returned to the Ready Room to await further word. At approximately 0915 I received instructions from the ODO to launch and chase the UH-1E (Scarface 1-0) on a road recon down highway #1 to the 124 radial at 13 miles (124/13) from Phu Bai TACAN. I turned up on the assigned frequency and contacted Scarface 1-0. We joined up and proceeded to a bridge site at 124/13 miles from Phu Bai, where the UH-1E landed but did not shut down. After about 5 minutes on the ground, during which time I stayed at 1500 feet, the UH-1E lifted and we returned to Phu Bai, landed and refueled. The UH-1E advised me that we had a VIP pickup at the 3rd MARDIV CG pad at 1045 and that we would turn up at 1040. I then proceeded to the HMM-364 flight line across the runway and shut down. I then changed aircraft because of an inoperative FM radio, preflighted again and turned up at 1040. I have no knowledge of the actions of the UH-1E pilots during this time because of our separate locations.