Jim Roberts, Apache Troop 7/1 Cav, was flying as Cw2 Allen's wingman the day of the crash. He wrote: "The executive officer (can't recall his name) wanted some Cobra time so he was with me. I had him in the back seat but I was flying from the front seat." The report on the VHPA web page lists CW2 Allen as the Pilot and Schmidt as the AC, but it should be reversed per Roberts. He further wrote: "Pop-a-top (Allen) had 30 days to go and his front seat (Schmidt) had been there 30 days. I can still see the backseat bouncing out of the fireball. We were 100 miles from Vinh Long, but I would have walked back that day. Good men. It took me two tries to get thru the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C., but the second time I found their names on the Wall. NOTE: VHPA website does confirm elsewhere on the men's pages, the CWO Allen was officially listed as pilot but performing duties of Aircraft Commander and Schmidt was officially "Air Crew" but performing duties of Pilot. It was reported they felt a severe vibration on start up. They shut down, checked, and started again. Helicopter crashed enroute to Area of Operations. No radio message received prior to crash. The two men killed when their cobra crashed and burned were: A Troop, 7th Squadron, 1st Cavalry, 1st Aviation Brigade CWO Keith Dobson Allen, Westfield, Maine (Aircraft Commander) WO Wilfred F. Schmidt, Jr, Silvas, Illinois (Pilot) Chief Warrant Officer Keith Dobson Allen, Jr was born to Geneva McCue Allen (1929-2013) and Keith D Allen (1927-2011). At the time of his death he was survived by his parents, brothers Michael McCue (1950-1983), Clair and sister Mary. He was preceded in death by a brother Larry. CWO Allen was laid to rest in the same cemetery as his family is today, at Marshall Cemetery, Westfield, Maine. His marker photo is not available but it was noted on his marker that he received the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star, and Air Medal, with 26 Oak Leaf Clusters. - - - The Virtual Wall, May 28, 2016

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