Flight of Heroes: The Search for the Lost Crew of '69-15619'

In the waning days of the Vietnam War, a brave crew embarked on a mission that would become an enduring mystery. On January 8, 1973, Warrant Officer Richard Knutson, Warrant Officer Mickey A. Wilson, Specialist 5 William S. Stinson, Specialist 5 Manuel A. Lauterio, Staff Sergeant Elbert W. Bush, and Major William L. Deane took off in a UH1H helicopter, Serial #69-15619, on a mission that was meant to support the American Senior Advisor to the Vietnamese Airborne Division. Little did they know that this would be the last flight they would ever take.

As they departed from a landing zone in the Quang Tri and Thua Thien Provinces, they vanished into the unknown. No radio contact, no communication, just silence. The minutes ticked by, and fear gripped the hearts of those waiting anxiously for their return.

The helicopter's intended route would have seen it heading northwest toward Quang Tri, but it never made it there. Instead, it veered off course into enemy-held territory. Witnesses on the ground reported seeing the UH1H circling with door guns firing, while the terrifying sound of enemy automatic weapons filled the air. Then, the unthinkable happened – a missile struck the helicopter, hitting the tail boom with deadly precision.

Aerial searches in the following days failed to locate any sign of the aircraft or its valiant crew. It was as if they had vanished into thin air. The families of these brave men clung to hope, believing that their loved ones would be released with the other prisoners of war as the conflict came to an end. But hope was often met with disappointment.

In 1996, the families were handed a heart-wrenching revelation. They were given teeth and bone fragments, purportedly from their loved ones, and told that this was all that remained of them - yet no DNA analysis was ever performed. The case was closed, and the families were left with unanswered questions and aching hearts.

Now, in a world that has changed so much since those dark days, the families of Warrant Officer Richard Knutson, Warrant Officer Mickey A. Wilson, Specialist 5 William S. Stinson, Specialist 5 Manuel A. Lauterio, Staff Sergeant Elbert W. Bush, and Major William L. Deane are not giving up. They refuse to accept fragments as closure. They refuse to let their loved ones be forgotten.

Tours of Duty is standing with the Wilson and Deane families as they embark on a new search, driven by real evidence of the possible location of their cherished heroes. These men made the ultimate sacrifice, and their families have endured decades of uncertainty and heartache.

We need your help to support this search and recovery mission. The brave crew of that UH1H helicopter deserve to be found and brought home, and their families deserve closure. Your contribution can make a difference – a difference that will honor their sacrifice and bring peace to the hearts of those who have waited for far too long.

Join us in this noble mission to bring our heroes home. Help us ensure that the names of Warrant Officer Richard Knutson, Warrant Officer Mickey A. Wilson, Specialist 5 William S. Stinson, Specialist 5 Manuel A. Lauterio, Staff Sergeant Elbert W. Bush, and Major William L. Dean are etched in the annals of history as brave souls who were never forgotten.

Donate today, and together, we will write the final chapter of this compelling story – a chapter of hope, closure, and honor.