Casualty Occurrence: This soldier was killed when the chopper he was a crew-member on crashed in Bien Hoa Province. He was on his 2nd tour in Vietnam, with the first tour serving with the 229th Aviation Battalion.

John Lawrence Dilallo, the son of Kenneth and Yolanda (Pardi) Dilallo, was born on May 25, 1949, in Schenectady, New York. After graduating from Linton High School in 1967, he moved to Los Angeles, California, to attend the Northup Institute of Technology to study airframe and power mechanics. As a federally certified jet mechanic, John graduated. In 1969, John enlisted in the United States Army. He attended aircraft officer training school at Fort Wolters in Texas and Fort Polk in Louisiana for his training. John held the rank of Chief Warrant Officer and served with Company F, 79th ARA, 1st Cavalry Division. On May 29, 1972, he started his second tour of duty in Vietnam. On June 24, 1972, John was killed in a helicopter crash in the South Vietnamese province of Bien Hoa. He is buried in Park View Cemetery, Schenectady, New York. Sources: The Schenectady Gazette, Find A Grave, Ancestry.

Crew Members: P CW2 DILALLO JOHN LAWRENCE KIA. Accident Summary: AT APPROXIMATELY 2230 HOURS, 24 JUNE 1972, ^CW2 JOHN L. DILALLO^ TOOK OFF ON A TEST FLIGHT FROM LONG THANH NORTH ARMY AIRFIELD. JUST BEFORE TAKEOFF, HE STATED TO THE CREW CHIEF THAT HE WANTED TO BE SURE THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS READY FOR THE UPCOMING TRIP TO DA NANG. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED WITHOUT ANY DIFFICULTY APPARENT TO OBSERVERS ON THE GROUND. ABOUT FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER THE PILOT CALLED LONG THANH TO TELL THEM THAT HE HAD A PARTIAL LOSS OF CYCLIC CONTROL AND WAS GOING DOWN. A FEW SECONDS LATER HE REPORTED THAT HE WAS GOING INTO A RIVER AT APPROXIMATELY GRID COORDINATE 0391 WITH 190 KNOTS AND NO CYCLIC CONTROL.

Black Jack" and I were hootch-mates during out first tour with B/229th 1st Cav Killer Spades. We were both Warrant Officer helicopter pilots. Jack was one of the very best best pilots we had. He did whatever was asked of him to the best of his abilities. He was a quiet type of person, with a dry sense of humor and always willing to help his buddies anyway he could. I will never forget Jack and the sacrifices that he gave for his country. SALUTE! Posted by: Texas Tommy Waldrop, We served together. Friday, June 30, 2000.

THE INCIDENT, From the Blue Max Aerial Rocket Artillery Association site: At approximately 2230 hours, 24 June 1972, CW2 John L. Dilallo took off on a test flight in a AH-1G COBRA (hull number 68-15206) from Long Thanh North Army Airfield. Just before takeoff, he stated to the crew chief that he wanted to be sure that the aircraft was ready for the upcoming trip to Da Nang. The aircraft departed without any difficulty apparent to observers on the ground. About fifteen minutes later the pilot called Long Thanh to tell them that he had a partial loss of cyclic control and was going down. A few seconds later he reported that he was going into a river at approximately grid coordinate 0391 with 190 knots and no cyclic control. The COBRA crashed in the Saigon River. CW2 Dilallo's body was recovered on 27 June 1972.

CHARLES C DUMAS JR, HIGH SCHOOL , HOMEROOM, SIDE BY SIDE. po., box, 45, northville, new york, 12134, usa, Mr. Friend, homeroom, classmate. I sat next to John, in homeroom, 64-67. Mr. quiet, but Mr. Friend. I served 69-73, now retired. Found out from homeroom teacher, after I came home, he had, been killed. Felt sick for a while, think of him from time, to time, Linton, High School, homeroom friend. Dec 6, 2006.

Tommy Waldrop, hootch-mates, from July, 70, till May, 71, 1815, Lakemont Drive, Arlington, Texas 76013, USA. I lived and flew, with Jack, for almost, a year, with the Killer Spades, (B/229th, 1st, Cav., Div) in Nam. He was, a quiet, type person, with a dry wit, to him. an excellent pilot, he was chosen to be, our company SIP. and flew, with each pilot, on a periodic, basic, so that we were all, constantly proficient, in our emergency, procedures. He was, an excellent artist and hand painted, many, of the other, pilot's helments. He sported, an Ace & Jack, of Spades, on his helmet, hence, the call sign, "Black Jack." A great individual, he often spoke, of his mother and father and sisters and always, willing to help, his fellow pilots and crew. Jack gave the ultimate sacrifice, his life, in the honor of serving, his country and his fellow Americans. Rest in Peace, Jack. We will NEVER forget you. Saturday, June 19, 1999.

Dennis Ragan, instructor, 1126 Vine St, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965 us, The Best of Four, John was a student of mine at Ft. Wolters, TX. Of the four students I had at the time(Evans, Doane,Barron, and Dilallo).I expected the most out of John.quiet, but I could tell he had studied the most everytime he came to flight line. At pre-flight meetings students could sit where ever they wanted, but for some reason he always sat in same chair to my right front.the northeast corner.? Always a serious student, always asked the right questions. I am sitting here looking at his name in my log book with his name entered from 30 years ago, and it seems like yesterday. I would guess he ended up being an excellent pilot. I am so sorry we lost such a great person. Saturday, October 25, 2003.

Dilallo, John Lawrence (Black Jack), CW2