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Home > Fact Sheets > Mission Chronology and Maps
MISSION CHRONOLOGY AND MAPS
This page attempts to piece together the sequence of events on A1C Pitsenbarger's final mission. Using times recorded in official documents as a starting point, we've attempted to reconstruct the mission as accurately as possible; however, there are inconsistencies that don't fit into the likely event sequence. One problem is with the eyewitness account provided by Army Sgt. Navarro stating the time of A1C Pitsenbarger's death at 1930 hours (7:30 p.m.) and that he was on the ground for only 90 minutes. This implies A1C Pitsenbarger was lowered to the ground from his helicopter at 1800 hours. The official mission report filed by the Rescue Crew Commander Capt. Bachman states the helicopters arrived on scene about 1530 hours, which would imply that it took 2 hours and 30 minutes to rescue the first three casualties. This is unlikely. Eyewitness accounts also imply A1C Pitsenbarger was killed just before sunset which was at about 1820 hours at 10° 44' N 107° 19' E (latitude and longitude of rescue location recorded in the official mission narrative). If this was the case, and it seems likely, then A1C Pitsenbarger was actually killed at about 1800 hours and was lowered to the ground about 1640 hours -- about 1 hour into the mission. In any case, the relative timing between events is fairly accurate. A1C Pitsenbarger showed extraordinary bravery during this mission.
- 1507 - Initial notification of casualties needing pickup.
- 1512 - Two HH-43F helicopters depart Bien Hoa Airbase for the rescue area.
- 1535 - Helicopters arrive in rescue area. (see top map at left)
- 1545 - First casualty picked up by Pedro 97
- [1600] - Second casualty picked up by Pedro 73
- [1615] - Third Casualty picked up by Pedro 97
- [1625] - Both HH-43's fly to Binh Ba to drop off casualties
- [1635] - Pedro 97 remains at Binh Ba to refuel while Pedro 73 returns to rescue area to get more casualties.
- [1640] - A1C Pitsenbarger lowered to the ground to help expedite casualty evacuation.
- [1645] - Fourth Casualty picked up by Pedro 73
- [1650] - Pedro 73 flies to Binh Ba, drops off casualty and refuels
- [1655] - Pedro 97 picks up fifth casualty.
- [1705] - Pedro 97 picks up sixth and seventh casualties.
- [1710] - Pedro 97 flies to Binh Ba to drop off casualties. Pedro 73 returns to rescue area.
- [1720] - Pedro 73 hit and severely damaged by ground fire.
- [1725] - Pedro 73 attempts emergency landing at a plantation (see top map at left) and on a road (see bottom map), but gets the helicopter under control and flies to Binh Ba.
- [1730] - Pedro 73 makes an emergency landing at Binh Ba. Pedro 97 standing by.
- [1810] - A1C Pitsenbarger killed by sniper fire. Pedro 97 joined by Pedro 46 in holding orbit west of rescue area.
- [1815] - Pedro 46 refuels at Binh Ba
- 1820 - Sunset
- [1830] - Pedro 46 returns to holding orbit and Pedro 97 refuels at Binh Ba
- [1930] - Pedro 46 & 97 depart rescue area and return to home stations.
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