Antonio Lopez Alho, Sergeant, USAF

October 25, 1946 – March 26, 1969

SERVICE OVERVIEW

Name	Antonio Lopez Alho
From	New Haven County, Connecticut
Born	October 25, 1946
Death	March 26, 1969
War	Vietnam War
Branch	US Air Force
Rank	Sergeant
Specialty	Air Crewman
Group	7th Air Force, 14th Special Operations Wing, 20th Special Operations Squadron
Cause	Hostile Died of Wounds, Air Loss Crash – Land, Helicopter – Crew
Awarded	★ Air Medal★ Purple Heart

Antonio Lopez Alho was born on October 25, 1946. According to our records Connecticut was his home or enlistment state and New Haven County included within the archival record. We have Naugatuck listed as the city.

He had enlisted in the Air Force. Entered via Regular Military. Served during the Vietnam War. He began his tour on August 1, 1968. He had the rank of Sergeant. Occupation or specialty was Air Crewman. Service number was 11797861. Served with 7th Air Force, 14th Special Operations Wing, 20th Special Operations Squadron.

Alho experienced a traumatic event which resulted in loss of life on March 26, 1969. Recorded circumstances attributed to: “Hostile Died of Wounds, Air Loss Crash – Land, Helicopter – Crew”. Incident location: South Vietnam, Khanh Hoa province.

Antonio Lopez Alho was born in Westerly, Washington County, Rhode Island. He was later living in Naugatuck, New Haven county, Connecticut.

On March 26, 1969 the UH-1 #63-13158 of the 20th SOS went down. While hostile fire was the suspected cause, the only certainties are that the aircraft was flying at about 4,000 feet when a severe vibration began. The pilot began an auto-rotation to earth, but control was lost during the descent. The main rotor came apart, severing the tail boom.

We identified 7 casualties in our archive that might be related to the #63-13158 incident on March 26, 1969.

◼Antonio L Alho :: Air Crewman

◼Walter C Booth :: Aircraft Maintenance

◼Jesse C Bowman :: Aerial Gunner

◼Frank A Di Figlia :: Helicopter Pilot

◼Robert W Fields :: Physician, Medical

◼Donald G Lepard :: Pilot, Commanding

◼Joseph B Levesque :: Pilot, Commanding

Antonio Lopez Alho is buried or memorialized at Saint James Cemetery, Naugatuck, New Haven County, Connecticut.

Antonio is honored on the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Washington DC. Name inscribed at VVM Wall, Panel 28w, Line 42.

COMMENDATIONS

★ Air Medal★ Purple Heart★ National Defense Service Medal★ Vietnam Campaign Medal★ Vietnam Service Medal★ Air Force Presidential Unit Citation★ Vietnam Gallantry Cross★ Air Force Good Conduct Medal