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Ernest Elbert Bartolina, Jr
Captain
HMM-364, MAG-16, 1ST MAW, III MAF United States Marine Corps Bismarck, North Dakota December 29, 1942 to February 07, 1969 ERNEST E BARTOLINA Jr is on the Wall at Panel W33, Line 75 |
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02 Aug 2003 On 7 Feb 1969 two CH-46A Sea Knights of HMM-364 were conducting medevac missions throughout the day. On their 8th mission, they were called for a mission near An Hoa. SWIFT 1-1 (CH-46A BuNo 153334) was piloted by Captain Ernie Bartolina; his wingman, SWIFT 1-2, was piloted by Lt. Dick Hardin. Although the area was reported as secure, it was not. As Bartolina began his descent into the landing zone his aircraft was hit by enemy ground fire. Both of the CH-46's hydraulic boost systems failed, rendering the big helicopter uncontrollable. Hardin's crew reported that lead suddenly pitched nose-up, rotated a full 360 degrees, and crashed into a rice paddy in an upright position. When Hardin attempted to land next to the downed aircraft, heavy gunfire forced him to abort the attempt. Additional fire support was brought to bear and ground forces attempted to reach the site. An airborne recovery effort was mounted, with 1st Lt Thomas J. Sullivan bringing in a recovery team led by 1st Lt Courtney B. Payne. Although both the insertion aircraft and the ground team came under continuous heavy fire, the Marines succeeded in recovering their dead and injured. Sullivan was awarded the Silver Star and Payne the Bronze Star for their actions during the recovery ... but six men died in the crash:
Captain Bartolina, and the other Purple Foxes who served in Vietnam, are remembered by the women who waited at home, whether mothers, sisters, wives, daughters, or friends. Those women, the continue to support today's Purple Foxes of HMM-364 as they serve our country.
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