I Was the Scheduled Pilot — Peter Eldridge on the May 10, 1972 Crash
I was the pilot of that helicopter for three hours prior to that flight and was prepared to board the chopper to take the troops to Vung Tau. I had just finished briefing the passengers and was boarding the Hook to fly the troops to their well-deserved rest at Vung Tau.
I had already flown three hours in 157 that morning for Lt. Sam Harrell, as his wife had just delivered his second child — a son. As I went to board the Hook to take off, Sam drove up in the jeep I had brought to him that morning, to bring the birth certificate to S-1 and to buy presents for his wife, newborn, and two-year-old daughter. I offered to take the flight for him if he needed more time, but he said he was taking an upgrade check to become an aircraft commander.
I grabbed the gifts from him and mailed them from the Bien Hoa Post Office and went back to my staff job at Bn. HQ. The safety officer came into the office, looking for me, and told me I was assigned as an accident investigator for an aircraft crash — and then told me it was 157. I was shocked, as I knew all the crew and had briefed them all.
After Vietnam I stayed with the National Guard and ended with 4,000+ hours in my logbook in Chinooks and more in other types, serving until 2006. I always felt that God put me in that place and moment to find the fault that caused the crash. I brought peace to some of those families by finding the cause, and assured at least two family members that their son or relative did not die in captivity.
I am here if you need a friend, and highly respect your devotion to duty and your service to my comrades and their families.