David Bruce Peterson

  Research Notes:

1. death in South Vietnam - from Merry Keith database death: 21 Mar 1969

2. Burial

++ not listed on ancestry.com - veteran graves [ 24 May 2009 ] ----------------- BUT on findagrave


[ 23 May 2009 ]

++ not listed at www.cem.va.gov US Dept of Veteran Affairs - National Gravesite Locator (veteran national cemeteries, private cemeteries with government grave markers


3.

(A). Ancestry.com US military Casulaties - US serviceman who died in South East Asia; Military Region 2 - Kontum

- Captain, US Air Force pilot; crashed over land;
- casualty type: - hostile; killed
- married - record shows spouse
- home residence - Bellflower, CA (suburb,

between Los Angeles - Long Beach)


(B). US National Archives www.aad/archives.gov/aad/series-list.jsp?=TS16 [23 Aug 2009]

- above web page goes "Time span 1965-1975", then scroll to Defence Casualty Analysis System File, then to Vietnam Conflict Extract Data file, then to the search screen

- service number: OF114638
- home record: Bellflower, Los Angeles, CA
- casualty city: Kontum - Vietnam Conflict Military Zone 2 (M2)
- Hostile Death, Killed in Action; Aircraft Crash - Crew; body remains recovered

The Coffelt Database updated Dec 2005: http://www.archives.gov/research/military/vietnam-war/electronic-records.html#coff

- Unit Information: US Army; actual date of Death as 21 Mar 1969; Major Command - 1st Avn Bde (1st Aviation Breg; Company - 225 Aviation Co; Rank - Captain; Service Occupation - Fixed Wing Aviator (ARMY); Fixed Wing Pilot; Air crash - land; Tour date - 17 Apr 1968

(C) Fold3, 16 Dec 2016; very little information, other than casualities


4. Vietnam Veterans Memorial, www.thewall-usa.com; Virtural Wall, www.virtualwall.org

- Panel 28W - Line 1
- tour of duty started 17 April 1968

- "...his aircraft...was shot down during a photo recon run over the Plei Trap Valley in western Pleiku Province. His observer, SP5 Norman N McCauley, survived the incident." (Vitural Wall)

- Memorials added to www.thewall-usa.com

from: HAGLUND, 206 4TH ST NW PO BOX 116, PENNOCK, MN 56279 USA
I knew you with the 225th Aviation Company at Phu Hiep from July 68 til March 21, 1969. I flew night re-con missions with you during that time. I also worked in the Operations office and got first news of your plane getting shot down that day. You were a good man and a brave pilot, it was an honor to have served with you. I have thought about you many times, you have not been forgotten. Rest in pease CAPTIAN PETERSON.
Tuesday, October 14, 2003

from: Jerry Basham, High school classmate and chum, Lincoln, Ne 68506 USA
You were one of the "solid" ones in school, Dave. I remember you seeming to have a lot more internal direction than most of us back then had. It seems fitting that you turned out to be an American Hero. it really does.
Sunday, February 26, 2006

from: Rod Anderson randerson@pie.midco.net <mailto:randerson@pie.midco.net> Flight School classmate, 1009 S Garfield Ave Pierre, SD 57501 US
Remembering a fellow Mohawk pilot
Dave got to Nam one month before me. I flew with the 245th at Marble Mountain and remember David visiting our base and at one time I had a photo of him visiting with some of our pilots. I went home in May 69 remembering that Dave should have gone home in April, one month before me.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006

from: Paul Peterson, His Uncle, Tucson, AZ85730 [ Paul was the youngest son of Lester and Mable Peterson ]
I have never forgoten your sacrifice. I remember that day I heard you were killed, All I could say was what a loss, to be wasted on such a war. You did what all american heros do. you did your Job, and gave the ultimate sacrifice for your country. I was not to proud of our politicians, But I will always tell I die be proud of you. Uncle Paul
Monday, May 29, 2006




- memorial posted 20 July 2007 by his niece, Kellisa Stanley on www.virtualwall.org:
20 Jul 2007
We never met, but I still know you. Through pictures, stories, and the words 'what might have been,' I can remember you too, Uncle.
Your mother was never the same. Your memory poured out of her soul constantly, like a faucet that couldn't be turned off. Her eyes, her fists, her breath were saturated with you. My, how she loved you. It was your face she saw the night she finally let go.
Sorry we couldn't save you, David. Sorry that you were given every opportunity but that to live.
We love you. You are remembered always.
From his niece.

--- email k_stanley10@yahoo.com [ email sent 24 May 2009 --- her reply 12 May 2010 ]

I am David's step-niece. He was the only child of my paternal grandfather's second wife, Ardis. I have felt compelled to carry on their family history after my grandfather's passing in 2005.
Sincerely,
Kellisa Stanley
- she had contacted me about 6-8 months after May, indicating she is still interested in pursueing genealogy, but haven't heard back [ 29 Jun 2011 ]

++ the above is confusing - I have no other indication that Lester Norris Peterson had been married before he married Ardis (in 1940)
- Laura Reed's database on rootsweb review [ 29 June 2011 ] doesn't list someone with the surname 'Stanley' under the various "living" people

...

5. Ancestry.com: Public Member Tree, 'Peterson Family Tree' owner 'Ppattibloom', last used in Feb 2012
Combined Peterson Docken FT; [Ppattibloom] ;; last access, 15 Sep 2023;
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/34324462/person/18625658725/facts
- I'm not sure if the owner of the FT is related ?


Obituary type of newspaper article --- however, there is no citiation and the complete article is not posted

"Viet War claims BHS Grad"
- pilot on a Mohawk reconnaince on a night mission - plane was hit and he ejected; he was been recovered with a cable and winched; he lost consciousness and fell to the ground
- had 27 days remaining on his tour of duty - he had planned to continue with the Army and was scheduled to be posted to a base in Frankfurt
- graduated from high school in 1964 - Bellflower
- joined the army on 15 Nov 1965; completed basic training at Ft Ord, then Officer Candidate School at Ft Sill in Okla with further training in George, Alabama, Azrizona
- husband of the "former Kathleen Blackmore, 9448 Ramona, Bellflower [no record of birth of any child of David Peterson on familysearch, 16 Dec 2016]

Note: http://www.bellfloweralumni.com/thewall.html [accessed in 2013, but no longer active page, 16 Dec 2016]
re; Bellflower High School virtural wall
- same paragraph as the above newspaper article, but adds "his widow is the Kathleen Blackmore, class of 1964"


6. From: 1st Aviation Brigade; 225th Company (Aerial Surveilliance; as of 15 May 1969, name Surveilliance Airplane) - 1969 annual supplement history; http://www.ov-1.com/225th_AVN/225th-history69.html#march <http://www.ov-1.com/225th_AVN/225th-history69.html> (see Grue Family Records and Papers)

- in 1969 the 225th was stationed at the Phu Hiep Army Airfield, RVN (Republic of Vietnam)

21 March 1969: To say March came in like a lion and went out like a lamb for the 225th Blackhawks would be redundant. However the spirits of the men were riding high on the successful accomplishment of the night photo missions and the beginning of round the clock surveillance of the border with SLAR missions. The company also began its 20th month of accident free operation with over 15,000 total flying hours. The end of March was set with the predominate mood of sadness, for the company not only lost an airplane but, much worse, had lost a Blackhawk, Captain David Bruce Peterson.

CPT Peterson was the pilot of Blackhawk 09 on the morning of 21 March 1969, on a photographic mission in the Plie Trap Valley. He was informed that it would be a particularly hazardous mission due to the many reported enemy anti-aircraft and automatic weapons in the area and the low altitude that he was required to maintain. He nevertheless accepted the mission and made ready. Upon entering the target area, his aircraft came under intense enemy fire, receiving approximately 20 hits with 37mm fire and smaller caliber rounds. One of these rounds exploded in the cockpit directly between and below CPT Peterson's legs inflicting serious wounds. Although in extreme pain, and with flames and smoke engulfing the cockpit, he was able to expertly fly the aircraft out of danger of the enemy guns and at the same time give a "Mayday" call announcing their intentions and location. At the last possible moment, he ordered SP5 Norman N. McCauley, his observer, to eject from the aircraft. After McCauley had successfully cleared the aircraft, he also ejected. Upon reaching the ground, he directed rescue helicopters to his position. After seeing his observer lifted to safety by a UH-1 helicopter which came to his assistance. As the crew was attempting to bring him aboard, he apparently lost consciousness from his many wounds and fell back to the ground. Although he was immediately rescued by heroic actions on the part of the helicopter crew and First Aid was administered, he died enroute to the hospital. His selfless actions are credited with saving the life of his observer, for which he received the Distinguished Flying Cross posthumously.

26 Mar 1969: SP5 Norman N. McCauley, the observer who ejected from "Blackhawk 09", arrived back at Phu Hiep and the 225th. Following ejection and successful pickup, SP5 McCauley had been taken to the 71st Evacuation Hospital where he recovered from shrapnel wounds in his right arm.

On 26 March 1969, memorial services were held for CPT David B. Peterson at the Phu Hiep Army Airfield Memorial Chapel. At this time the friends and comrades of CPT Peterson paid tribute to a fine officer and an excellent Army aviator . . . and freedom is a gift from God that commands the highest pric




- Blackhawks, Hawks, Mohawk, Phantom Hawks - after mar 1969 (flies mostly at night to locate enemy)



7. From: Fold3 ; also links to Vietnam virtual wall, with a photo, likely from his high school graduation.

Vietnam War
Branch: Army
Rank: Captain
Company: 225th Aviation Co
Enlistment Type: Regular
Grade: O3
Major Command: 1st Avn Bde
Service: Army
Specialty: Fixed Wing Aviator (ARMY)
Tour Start Date: 17 Apr 1968
Years Served: 3


8, From findagrave post:

He was a 1964 graduate of Bellflower High School in Bellflower and was a varsity football player. He was the husband of the former Kathleen Blackmore of Bellflower.

He joined the Army, November 15, 1965 and had completed basic training at Fort Ord, OCS at Fort Sill, Oklahoma and fixed wing pilot training at Fort Steward, Georgia and Fort Rutger, Alabama. He was an OV-1C Pilot.

He was a two weeks from finishing his tour in Vietnam when he was on a photo recon mission. The aircraft was hit by ground fire and he and his observer both ejected. When he was being recovered from the ground by a rescue helicopter, using a winch and cable, he became unconscious and fell to his death. The observer survived. ^3078,3079

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Military Service, 1968-1969, Kontum area, South Vietnam. ^3078,3080 Killed in Action in Vietnam on 21 March 1969; his aircraft, OV-1C tail number 62-5854, was shot down during a photo recon run over the Plei Trap Valley in western Pleiku Province.
Tour of duty started 17 Apr 1968

David married Kathleen J Blackmore.