A Note from The Virtual Wall According to information available from the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots' Association database, 1LT Rueppel was flying as gunner in an AH-1G Cobra (tail number 67-15478) piloted by Warrant Officer William S. Dalby. The Cobra was lead aircraft in a flight of three; the other two aircraft were an OH-6 and a UH-1H. Shortly after take-off the flight encountered light rain and WO Dalby could see a heavy cloud bank ahead. As the ceiling lowered to 200 feet, Dalby reduced altitude before realizing that the weather ahead was unacceptable. At that point he altered course to the right. After a short time he sighted the river to his right and turned toward it, noting an airspeed on 70 knots and an altitude of 150 feet. Immediately after rolling out of the turn the Cobra hit the top of a tree, plowed through several more, and crashed in the river, where it immediately began to sink. Although the canopy would not jettison, it released itself as the fuselage sunk and WO Dalby was able to escape; he eventually was rescued by ARVN troops. Navy divers located the wreckage and recovered 1LT Rueppel's body. It was determined that he was killed or fatally injured by the tree impacts rather than by the crash itself.

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Last update 08/15/2019.