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Gabriel
Jeffries
Jeffries
WO1 · A Co., 229th Assault Helicopter Bn., 11th Aviation Group · 100B · Utility/Observation Helicopter Pilot
KIA · 1971-04-24
In-Country Service
1971-02-24 – 1971-04-24
Home of Record
St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Character of Service
Honorable
Archive Status
Active
Timeline compiled from VHPA incident record 710424101ACD and VVMF Wall of Faces record 25689. Date of arrival in-country is not yet documented. If you served with or knew WO1 Jeffries, please use the contribute form to share what you remember.
1971-02-24
Arrived in-country
WO1 Jeffries began his tour with A Company, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 11th Aviation Group, 1st Cavalry Division, USARV. He would serve exactly two months before his death on April 24, 1971.
1971-04-24
KIA
FSB Fontaine crash
Killed in crash at FSB Fontaine
WO1 Jeffries was serving as co-pilot aboard UH-1H tail number 69-15692, assigned to A Company, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division. The aircraft took off from FSB Fontaine on a personnel/resupply mission. At approximately 100–200 feet above the trees, a loud bang was heard and total engine power was lost. The aircraft struck trees at the edge of a clearing during an attempted autorotation, pitched nose-down, and rolled onto its right side. WO1 Jeffries and the aircraft commander, CPT Martin Fanning, were both killed. Passenger SGT Richard Colburn was also killed. Four crew and passengers survived with injuries. VHPA incident number 710424101ACD.
Did You Know Gabriel, or Serve Alongside Gabriel?
We are actively collecting photographs, letters, and memories for this profile. Submissions are reviewed before publication. If you served with Gabriel — or are a family member with materials — we'd be grateful to hear from you.