Brothers (& Sisters) Killed in Action in USMC Helicopters or while assigned to USMC Helicopter or Tiltrotor Squadrons
19530212HMR-161 Korea
Download PDFIncident Date 19530212 HMR-161 HRS-1 BuNo 127798 - Crashed at sea enroute to carrier
Ruggles, Allen Ward Capt Pilot HMR-161 1stMARDIV 1953-02-12
Brand Jr., Joe Lycurgus TSgt Crew Chief HMR-161 1stMAW 1953-02-12
161 HMR SQDN 1 MAW :
MARINES :
HOSTILE, DIED (KIA) :
DATE OF LOSS FEBRUARY 12, 1953 :
CPT - O3 :
038673 :
MOS ----- :
CONCORD, MA :
PLACE OF LOSS - AT SEA 25 MILES S PUSAN:
BORN DECEMBER 13, 1920 :
CAUCASIAN :
KOREAN WAR PROJECT KEY NO 25984 :
DATE OF FINAL STATUS: (FEBRUARY 12, 1953) :
body not recovered
161 HMR SQDN 1 MAW :
MARINES :
HOSTILE, DIED (KIA) :
DATE OF LOSS FEBRUARY 12, 1953 :
GSGT - E7 :
415257 :
MOS ----- :
ORLANDO, FL :
PLACE OF LOSS - AT SEA 25 MILES S PUSAN :
BORN SEPTEMBER 3, 1923 :
CAUCASIAN :
KOREAN WAR PROJECT KEY NO 3054 :
DATE OF FINAL STATUS: (FEBRUARY 12, 1953) :
C1 PER DIOR HELICOPTER CRASH AT SEA :
body not recovered
History and Museums Division, USMC
"HMR-161 had been able to maintain an amazing record of flight safety conducting helicopter operations in a combat zone for 17 months without losing a man. Unfortunately, this record ended on 12 February 1953. Captain Allen W. Ruggles and his crew chief, Technical Sergeant Joseph L. Brand Jr., were about 25 miles south of Pusan on their way to rendezvous with an aircraft carrier that was to take them to Japan, when their helicopter crashed into the water. Mechanical trouble was believed to have been the cause; neither the bodies nor the aircraft were ever recovered."
Submitted by: Alan H Barbour, Historian, Historian, USMC Combat Helicopter Association, 20060110KORWALD Loss Incident Summary
KORWALD Loss Incident Summary
Date of Loss: 530212
Tail Number: 127798
Aircraft Type: HRS-1
Wing or Group: 1st Mar Div
Squadron: HMR-161
Circumstances of Loss: Crashed into water 25 mi S of Pusan during rendezvous with aircraft carrier
Crewmembers Associated With This Loss
Name
(Last, First Middle) Rank Service Status Comments
BRAND, JR., Joe L. TSGT USMC KIA
RUGGLES, Allen W. CAPT USMC KIA (161st MAW, Marine Helicopter Trans Sq)
Korean War Project
ALLEN WARD RUGGLES
161 HMR SQDN 1 MAW
Marines
Hostile, Died (KIA)
Date Of Loss: February 12, 1953
CPT - O3
Service Number: 038673 MOS: -----
Home of Record: CONCORD, MA
Place of Loss: Unknown Location
Born: December 13, 1920
Year of Birth: 1920
Caucasian
Korean War Project Key No: 25984
Date Of Final Status: (February 12, 1953)
Korean War Project
JOE LYCURGUS BRAND JR
161 HMR SQDN 1 MAW
Marines
Hostile, Died (KIA)
Date Of Loss: February 12, 1953
GSGT - E7
Service Number: 415257 MOS: -----
Home of Record: ORLANDO, FL
Place of Loss: Unknown Location
Born: September 3, 1923
Year of Birth: 1923
Caucasian
Korean War Project Key No: 3054
Date Of Final Status: (February 12, 1953)
C1 per DIOR HELICOPTER CRASH AT SEA
