Beech C-12A Huron - crash Iran - 31 Jan 1979

[Leendert]

Looking for more info about the crash of a USAF C-12A Huron (73-1211) on 31 Jan 1979 near Natanz, Iran.
Other than some crash websites stating the number of casualties (5 killed, 2 injured) no more details seem to be available online.

If anything to do with the mission of USAF Gen. Robert 'Dutch' Huyser in that turbulent month Jan 1979 there, then interested to hear so.

Thanks for help.

Regards,
Leendert

[dp_burke]

I searched in Newspapers.com but I don't have their publisher+ sub so I coul donly gather a name of

WO Daniel L Bader from Florida was on board.

Which lead me to this
https://www.vhpa.org/DAT/datR/G61925.HTM

Names also
CW3 Stephen Lee Reynolds
Terance L. Compton

lead me back to look here

https://aad.archives.gov/

And the database

File unit: [File from the U.S. Army] Casualty Information System, 1/1/1961 - 12/1981
in the Series: Records of Deceased, Wounded, Ill, or Injured Army Personnel, Including Dependents and Civilian Employees, created 1/1/1961 - 12/1981, documenting the period 1/1/1961 - 12/1981 - Record Group 407

The three names above are all recorded as West Germany for country of casuatly.

US Army dead on that date are:
GERMANY, WEST 254860719 BADER, DANIEL LEROY CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER, W3 NON-HOSTILE DEAD: Died of Wounds/Injury 01/31/1979 VERMONT OR SOUTH CAROLINA

GERMANY, WEST 261721470 COMPTON, TERRANCE LEE CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER, W3 NON-HOSTILE DEAD: Died of Wounds/Injury 01/31/1979 IDAHO OR FLORIDA

GERMANY, WEST 228508486 MORTON, RICHARD JR SERGEANT FIRST CLASS NON-HOSTILE DEAD: Died of Wounds/Injury 01/31/1979 PUERTO RICO OR VIRGINIA

GERMANY, WEST 240807552 REYNOLDS, STEPHEN LEE CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER, W3 NON-HOSTILE DEAD: Died of Wounds/Injury 01/31/1979 OREGON OR NORTH CAROLINA

these are not likely related to this event and I'm not sure about Morton either. Some

UNITED STATES AND TERRITORY 545545172 BANK CARL CONRAD BRIGADIER GENERAL NON-HOSTILE DEAD: Died of Illness/Disease 01/31/1979 CA-Fort Ord

UNITED STATES AND TERRITORY 561783473 CARTER DEAN LEE SPECIALIST 4 NON-HOSTILE DEAD: Died of Wounds/Injury 01/31/1979 COLORADO OR CALIFORNIA


UNITED STATES AND TERRITORY 373424292 STEWART EDWARD L SERGEANT FIRST CLASS NON-HOSTILE DEAD: Died of Illness/Disease 01/31/1979 PA-Indiantown Gap

[Leendert]

Dennis,
Thanks for these names. Will try to find more when time permits.



For now three names can be confirmed: see https://www.vhpa.org/DAT/datR/G61925.HTM


Regards,
Leendert

[Leendert]

Dennis,
Must have been the early hour that I had overlooked the link in my post (vhpa.org) even when you had given already.....

Regards,
Leendert

[AndyMa]

Probably not significant, but I believe the aircraft was being operated by the US Mission in Dhahran at the time of the crash.

[Leendert]

The aad.archives lists Bader, Compton and Reynolds as passengers. Bader was with the Technical Assistance Field Team (TAFT), US Army Support Activity (Iran), likely at Isfahan.
Plane was en route from Isfahan to Teheran.



Newspaper reporting Bader's death says that pilot and co-pilot (both USAF?) were also killed, while "two captains" had survived.



Regards,
Leendert

[Leendert]

Pilot of C-12 Huron was Capt. Nicholas O. Weigel from Branson, Missouri.

Regards,
Leendert

[Leendert]

Also found co-pilot now: Capt. Leslie A. Schreiner from Douglass, Kansas.

Regards,
Leendert

[RSwank]

Three newspaper stories at the time:

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7311...sas-city-star/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7311...wichita-eagle/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/73110358/the-item/

[Leendert]

Thanks for clippings. Mrs. Pete Schreiner's comments in The Wichita Eagle stating 'They're not wanted over there' proved to be quite prophetic from an Iranian point of view...

Regards,
Leendert