NIPPER, DAVID

Name: David Nipper
Branch/Rank: United States Marine Corps/E3
Unit: D CO 3 REC BN 3 MAR DIV
Date of Birth: 15 September 1940
Home City of Record: ATLANTA GA
Date of Loss: 21 November 1964
Country of Loss: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 134200 North 1091800 East
Status (in 1973): Killed In Action/Body Not Recovered
Category: 5
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground:UH34D
Missions:
Other Personnel in Incident:
Refno:

Source: Compiled by P.O.W. NETWORK from one or more of the following: raw
data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA
families, published sources, interviews and CACCF = Combined Action
Combat Casualty File. Updated 2003 - see source below.  2020

REMARKS:

CACCF/CRASH/NON-AIRCREW

==========================

Date: Mon, 20 Jan 2003 22:09:14 -0500
From: Jerry Ostapowicz <jostapwicz@comcast.net>
USMC/Vietnam Helicopter Pilots
Subject: Info on Nipper, David

INCIDENT DATE 641121 HMM-162 UH-34D 150200+ USS Princeton

Slack Jr., Richard Don CPL HMM-162 Crew 641121
Nipper, David LCPL Pass "D"Co/3rdReconBn 641121

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SLACK RICHARD DON JR : USMC : CPL : EAST WEYMOUTH : MA : 19641121
19430603 : 01E :  073 : BODY RECOVERED

NIPPER DAVID : 1863263 : USMCR : LCPL : E3 : 0311 : 24 : ATLANTA : GA :
19641121 : Air Loss Crash Sea : Passenger ("D"Co/3rdReconBn) : body NOT
recovered : Offshore, South Vietnam : 04 : 19400915 : Cauc :
Protestant/single : 01E : 073

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Comments on Incident:
LOSS COORDINATES: N13 42 00 E109 18 00
Comments on Incident:
I was in the flight the day his bird went down. If my memory serves me Ross
Plasterer was the HAC and possibly Weasel Gentry was the copilot. We were
shuttling bags of flour/rice into country from the Sweet Pea due to the
horrendous flooding from the monsoons and the locals were starving. It was a
bright, hot day and I was either- 2 or-3. I remember the Mayday call and
could see the bird auto rotating, but most distinctly to this day I remember
EVERY FEW FEET A BAG OF FLOUR WAS BEING THROWN OUT
IN AN ATTEMPT TO LIGHTEN THE BIRD!!!!!!!

I have seen that scene over and over and over again. When
Ross tried to gently let the aircraft roll on it's side when the blades hit
the water it violently flipped over to the other side. I hated that sight.
My thoughts have always been of Richard [Slack] who obviously as part of The
Team was going to deliver food to starving people--who all of a sudden found
himself in a personal challenge of survival...and who chose to stand up and
make a difference fully knowing he could and did make the ultimate
sacrifice. Submitted by Capt Ansley Horton

 

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02/2020

https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt0000000KYebEAG

LCPL DAVID NIPPER

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On November 21, 1964, a UH-34D Choctaw (bureau number 150234) carrying four crew members took off from the aircraft carrier USS Princeton (CV 37) on a mission to unload relief supplies at Qui Nhon Airport, South Vietnam. Shortly after takeoff, the helicopter experienced mechanical problems and crashed and sank into the South China Sea. The pilot and copilot escaped uninjured; however, the other two crew members were lost in the crash.

Lance Corporal David Nipper entered the U.S. Marine Corps from Georgia and served in Company D, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division. He was a crew member aboard this helicopter when it crashed and was lost during the incident. Attempts to locate his remains following the crash were unsuccessful. Today, Lance Corporal Nipper is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. 

Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual's case to be in the analytical category of Active Pursuit.

If you are a family member of this serviceman, DPAA can provide you with additional information and analysis of your case. Please contact your casualty office representative.

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