Burnham, Donald Dawson, LTC

Then Capt. Donald Burnham was trained with Flight class: 65-5 , declared dead 1978. On 2 February 1968, he was the pilot of a UH-1H helicopter (#66-16442) that departed Camp Evans, Quang Tri, Republic of Vietnam for Chu Lai, Republic of Vietnam. His tour began on 21 March 1967. During a ground radar controlled approach to Da Nang Airbase, the controller lost radio contact with the helicopter and subsequently lost radar contact. The last positive position of the aircraft was 12 miles north of Da Nang. After attempts to contact Captain Burnham by radio failed, ramp checks were conducted by another pilot from his unit. Search of the area to the north of Da Nang failed to locate the missing aircraft. Loss of aircraft may possibly have been due to weather conditions.

On May 28, 1968, a crashed and burned UH-1H helicopter (tail #6442) was located in the appropriate vicinity and a search party recovered an ID tag belonging to SFC Pringle, several weapons, and some human bones. (Source: http://www.vhpa.org/KIA/incident/680202171ACD.HTM)

Crew Lost: (MIA)
Lt. Col Donald D. Burnham (P)
SSgt. Kenneth J. Patton (CE)
Passengers: (MIA)
SFC Charles L. Adkins
SFC Joseph D. Puggi
SGM Joe H. Pringle

Memorial markers were placed in Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia and in Webb Cemetery, Webb, Alabama.

see Notes