HC Deb 27 January 1964 vol 688 c24W
Mr. Warbey

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will make a detailed statement of the circumstances which led to the death of a serving Royal Air Force wing commander while participating in helicopter raids on anti-Government positions in South Vietnam; and what arrangements exist between the British, United States and Vietnamese air forces in this area to obviate incidents of this kind.

Mr. Ridsdale

Wing Commander Lee met his death in a flying accident during a visit to an American military unit in Vietnam to observe helicopter operations. The helicopter, in which he was a passenger, lost its rear rotor, was forced to land in the sea and subsequently sank. The reasons for this technical failure are not yet known. Despite strenuous rescue efforts by other helicopters, only two crew members were saved and Wing Commander Lee and three other occupants were killed. I regret very much this tragic accident.