The a/c was YL 42 and Bill Willey was the crew chief.  I believe that Ron Fix was the pilot of the other a/c but that might be wrong.  I have heard that a well known Marine officer directed the a/c into the wrong area where Carley was killed.  The story that I heard indicated that this particular ground officer later wrote a book where he acknowledged his error.  Is there any truth to this story.  It is also my understanding that Mike was killed during the approach and the survivors boarded the chase aircraft.  The recon team in the area then recovered the Lieutenant's body.

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While I'm not 100% positive, I believe the HAC with Mike Carley was Jim Hippert.

Joel Vignere

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Regarding the events surrounding my father's death, I'd direct you to several wonderful sources; Bill Willey and Ron Fix being two of them. But the others (I know of) are Deac Warner, and a man I've never met who was Captain of the helicopter that day (and who was badly wounded in the incident) named Jim Hippert. All these men are in the directory, I believe, and thus are available for phone calls.

 Hope this helps.

Yours,

Michael John Carley (Jr.)