HH-53J #73-1647 Clark AB, PI 17 October 1984 In October 1984, MH-53 Pave Low crews and aircraft of the 20th SOS deployed to the Republic of the Philippines for Exercise "Cope Thunder 85-1".
The deployment ended tragically during the exercise when a MH-53 Pave Low, serial number 73-1647, impacted a ridgeline in Crow Valley, near Clark AB, Philippines, during a night TF mission in a heavy rain squall, crashed and was destroyed killing its crew.
Dead in the crash were:
Major James S. Prowell Captain Michael W. Skeen Technical Sergeant Thomas "Rocky" M. Ortiz, Jr Technical Sergeant Wayne A. Johnson Staff Sergeant Robert G. Barker Sergeant Max B. "Paco" Lincks, Jr. |