05 Oct 2001 This is my brother Bill. I was only 13 when he was killed in May of 1970 and miss him terribly. He was a great big brother. Anyone viewing this who may have any information on Bill, it would be much appreciated if you could contact me. I was only 13 when he was killed and would love to know about his life in the service. Cindy Weiss Skinner Cinders13@verizon.net

 

On May 6, 1970, the two aircraft from Companies B and C, 158th Assault Helicopter Battalion (ASHB), were in a flight of several other helicopters, laying a smoke screen on a landing zone near enemy positions in the mountains west of Tun Tavern and LZ Langley in Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam. Aircraft 15663 was crewed by aircraft commander CWO Richard C. Worthington, pilot WO1 Robert L. Kirk, crew chief SP4 William C. Weiss, and gunner SP4 Frank S. Hernandez. On 16707 was aircraft commander CW2 Clifford E. Poe Jr., pilot WO1 Roger B. Baxter, crew chief SP5 Allen G. Kinne, and gunner Allen Nohl. Nohl was a maintenance specialist there for the experience of the assault and was flying in the crew chief's position (left side of the aircraft). He was the only survivor. Both aircraft were smoke ships. Their mission was to provide cover for the lift aircraft by using oil generated smoke and CS gas. The ships were being utilized in Landing Zone Miller (XD 973360). They collided while flying in formation laying the smoke screen for a combat assault. CW2 Poe was leading, with CW2 Worthington echelon right when they collided. CWO Poe made a turn to avoid the CS gas and the rotor blades of his aircraft hit the gas bird about the area of the fuel cell near the crew chief's position. The aircraft exploded in mid-air. CWO Poe's aircraft hit the ground and started to burn. Nohl, the maintenance guy, was ejected from the aircraft before it hit the ground. Nohl found that Poe was conscious and attempted to get him out of the aircraft. The aircraft exploded and Nohl was knocked clear of the blast. Nohl confirmed that CW2 Worthington's helicopter skid had struck the main rotor of his helicopter. He indicated that he had not seen any hostile fire. A search team was sent to the site on the same day (May 6) and found 2 bodies which were identified as the remains of WO Kirk and SP4 Weiss. There were no signs of anyone having left the crash site area. It was believed that there were no other survivors of the crash. The aircraft and personnel involved in this incident were: UH-1H hull number 68-15663 from Bravo Company crewed by CW2 Richard C. Worthington, Bothell, WA, pilot, KIA/BNR WO1 Robert Lee Kirk, Las Vegas, NV, co-pilot, KIA SGT Frank Sanchez Hernandez, Fresno CA, gunner, KIA/BNR SP4 William Conrad Weiss, Jr., Hershey, PA, crew chief, KIA UH-1H hull number 66-16707 from Charlie Company crewed by CW2 Clifford Earl Poe, Jr., Kempner, TX, pilot, KIA WO1 Roger Bruce Baxter, Junction, TX, co-pilot, KIA SP5 Allen Gene Kinne, Mesa, WA, crew chief, KIA Maintenance man, Allen Nohl, Gunner, survivor. The VHPA accident reports are available for both 68-15663 and 66-16707. These pages will open in a new window.

 

At the time of his death, Bill was survived by his parents, sister Cindy, and maternal grandmother, Anna Marie Weiss (2nd wife of John) SP4 William Conrad Weiss, Jr., is buried in Gettysburg National Cemetery, Gettysburg, Adams County, Pennsylvania. His mother, Loyetta Marsina (Buffington) (1925-1995), and father Wiliam Conrad Weiss, Sr., (1913-1999) are buried in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery Annville, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. William Sr., was a veteran of World War II. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Elizabeth (Welter) (1890-1928) and John Weiss (1882-1961), and maternal grandparents, Oscar M Buffington (1895-1964) and Violet Isabelle (Thompson) Buffington (1900-1967). - - The Virtual Wall, December 19, 2018

 

The Mission On May 6, 1970, UH-1H aircraft from the 158th Combat Aviation Battalion were engaged in laying a smoke screen for a combat assault in the mountains west of Tun Tavern and Langley, Quang Tri Province, SVN. The aircraft involved in this incident were UH-1H hull number 68-15663 from Bravo Company crewed by CW2 Richard C. Worthington, pilot, KIA/BNR WO1 Robert Lee Kirk, co-pilot, KIA SGT Frank Sanchez Hernandez, gunner, KIA/BNR SP4 William Conrad Weiss, Jr., crew chief, KIA UH-1H hull number 66-16707 from Charlie Company crewed by CW2 Clifford Earl Poe, Jr., pilot, KIA WO1 Roger Bruce Baxter, co-pilot, KIA SP5 Allen Gene Kinne, crew chief, KIA Gunner, name not available The two aircraft were flying formation with Worthington in the lead and Poe flying echelon right when the collision occurred; both were laying smoke. One crewman from Poe's ship was the only survivor; he fell through through triple canopy jungle after jumping or being thrown out upon collision. The survivor stated that Worthington's helicopter skid had struck the main rotor of his helicopter. A search team was sent to the site on the same day (May 6). The bodies of Kirk and Weiss were recovered from the wreckage of 68-15663 and those of Poe, Baxter, and Kinne from the wreckage of 66-16707. Although there were no signs of anyone having left the crash site area and it was believed that there were no survivors of the crash, the bodies of Worthington and Hernandez were not recovered. The VHPA accident reports are available for both 68-15663 and 66-16707. These pages will open in a new window.

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