Sause, Bernard Jacob, Jr., ADAN

The USS BON HOMME RICHARD (CVA 31) saw early Vietnam war action. A
World War II Essex-class carrier, she was on station participating in combat
action against the Communists as early as August 1964. Her aircraft carried
the first Walleye missiles when they were introduced in 1967. In November
1970, the BON HOMME RICHARD completed its sixth combat deployment and was
scheduled for decommissioning by mid-1971.

LT Litchfield P. Huie was a pilot assigned to Helicopter Support Squadron 1,
Detachment LIMA onboard the aircraft carrier USS BON HOMME RICHARD in 1967.
On February 27 of that year, Huie launched from the aircraft carrier with
his crew: LTJG Edward N. Letchworth, Airman Ronald L. Zempel, and Airman
Bernard J. Sause, Jr. Airman Zempel was an aircrew survival equipmentman,
and it is assumed that this crew normally conducted pilot rescue operations.

As the UH2B flown by Huie was launched from the carrier, it lifted tail
high, flipped and partially recovered just prior to striking the water. Upon
striking the water the helicopter broke apart on impact. A search helicopter
was immediately over the scene and was later aided by two Navy destroyers.
The search was terminated with negative results.

Huie, Zempel, Sause and Letchworth were declared Killed/Body Not Recovered.
They are listed among the missing because no bodies were found to return
home. Their accident is listed as non-combat related.