{"id":3643,"date":"2016-04-14T04:30:08","date_gmt":"2016-04-13T21:30:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scarngavpicthistory.com\/?page_id=3643"},"modified":"2022-10-23T09:04:44","modified_gmt":"2022-10-23T02:04:44","slug":"cw3-donald-frank-landmesser-8-jun-1945-14-nov-1983","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/scarngavpicthistory.com\/?page_id=3643","title":{"rendered":"CW3 Donald Frank Landmesser – 8 Jun 1945 – 14 Nov 1983"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n    On November 14, 1983 CW3 Donald F. Landmesser and SSG Donald E. Thornton, Jr. died in the line of duty on a cold, wet, dreary wintery Monday afternoon while conducting a maintenance test flight on UH-1H, 65-9975 at 1510 hrs. in a heavily wooded area in lower Richland County.  In-flight breakup occurred causing M\/R system and T\/B separation before high-speed impact into trees.<\/strong><\/p>\n

  \"1983       \"58799456_128516929756\"<\/p>\n

     At the time Don and his wife Gail were expecting his one and only child.   This special baby girl, Casey Nicole Landmesser was born on 7 Jun 1984 but sadly passed away on 12 Jun 1984.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"0001  \"0002  Don graduated from Flight Class 67-7 and very quickly was assigned to the 176th Assault Helicopter Company in the Republic of Viet Nam.  <\/strong><\/p>\n

\"0003  He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for safely landing the number six ship of seven ship lift on 8 Apr 1968.  (Read the award below)  A little over a month later on 12 May 1968 he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for voluntary actions above the call of duty.  (Read the award below)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"0006<\/p>\n

     After separation from the Army, Don joined the South Carolina Army National Guard and subsequently became a UH-1H Instructor Pilot.  <\/strong><\/p>\n