Atlantic Ocean – June 19, 1975
On June 19, 1975, a navy helicopter with four men aboard took off from the destroyer-escort USS Aylwin, (DD-1081), while six miles off the coast of Newport, Rhode Island. Moments after becoming airborne, the helicopter was observed to suddenly drop into the water and sink. Two of the men aboard, Lt. (Jg.) Timothy Stone, 27, and Lt. (Jg.) Philip Hennaford, 33, were rescued a short time later, but two men remained missing.
The missing men were identified as Lt. Cmdr. Harold W. Guinn, Jr., 35, of Virginia Beach, Va., and Petty Officer 2/c Lawrence J. Kamas, 38, of Moyock, New York.
The helicopter, identified only as a “light airborne multi-purpose craft” went down in 100 feet of water about two miles east of the Brenton Reef Light Tower. The helicopter, and the bodies of the two missing men, were recovered.
To see a photograph of Lt. Cmdr. Guinn, go to www.findagrave.com, Memorial #178020310.
Investigators determined that the cause of the accident was due to one of the helicopter’s rotors striking an antenna aboard the ship during take off.
Sources:
Unknown newspaper, “2 Navy Men Saved, 2 Missing, In Crash”, June 20, 1975
Providence Journal Bulletin, “Body Of Helicopter Crash Victim Is Recovered Off Newport”, June 21, 1974, page 5.
Westerly Sun, (R.I.), “Second Body Is Found By Divers”, June 22, 1975, page 1
Providence Journal Bulletin, “Crash Victim’s Body Found Off Newport”, June 22, 1975, page C-9
Providence Evening Bulletin, “Search For 2 Crewmen Missing IN Crash Of Helicopter Continues”, June 30, 1975, page 2
Unknown Newspaper, “Resume Search For Missing Navy Men”, unknown date.
Westerly Sun, (R.I.) “Determine Cause Of Copter Crash”, July 1, 1975, page 2
Providence Evening Bulletin, “Copter Hit Antenna, Navy Says”, July 1, 1975
Providence Evening Bulletin, “Copter Victims Drowned”, July 2, 1975, page A-27
www.findagrave.com. Note: Petty Officer 2/c Kamas was identified in the press as having the middle initial “W”, however, on his grave the middle initial is “J”.
