Original Owner of 5S228

[mygt350]

Have been trying (unsuccessfully) to locate original owner of 5S228. I know dealership it was shipped to but nothing of the original owner. Any way to track this down.
I have owned 5S228 since early 1967. I know owner was in Marines and flew on choppers. His insignia and squadron are still on the rear window...
Martin

[Shelby_r_b]

Really cool stuff! Hope you find him / her.   

Have you reached out to the 65 registrar?

[gt350cs]

Your best bet is Registrar.

[CharlesTurner]

Can you back-track the military unit/squadron from that point in time?  I'm guessing there would be some military records to start with.

[mygt350]

Story was, original owner purchased 5S228 from Adamson Ford in Birmingham Alabama and drove it to his mothers home in Denison or Sherman Texas, A distance of just under 700 miles. Was told he was a member of a Marine Helicopter Squadron and was called to duty to assist rescue of stranded American students in Santo Domingo. The insignia that's still on the rear window says HMM-264 which flew the CH-46 Sea Knight double rotor chopper. Above the HMM-264 lettering on the insignia are the words "Black Knights". HMM-264 was attached to Marine Air Group 26 (MAG-26). That insignia is also on rear window on drivers side.

Excerpt from official Marine records:
On April 28, 1965, HMM-264 conducted the Marine Corps' first night all-helicopter assault into an unsecured landing zone during combat conditions in Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic from the deck of the USS BOXER during Operation Power Pack. Between HMM-264 and the LSTs more than 600 civilians were evacuated from the Embajador Hotel.[1] This event marked the first landing of U.S. Marines on Dominican soil since the early 1930s. It was also the first ship-to-shore heliborne lift over a hostile beach without supporting units ashore. Over the course of the operation, the American embassy was secured and over 1,750 American citizens were evacuated from the war-torn Dominican Republic.

In May 1965, HMM-264 was the first Marine helicopter squadron to surpass 25,000 mishap free flight hours. Over the next several years, the squadron maintained its demonstrated high standard of professional excellence by logging 30,000, 40,000, and 50,000 mishap free flight hour milestones.

Was told original owner left car with his mother to drive around block every so often. Bit later, he told her to trade it in on a new Pontiac. And that's where I found it on the Sherrord Motor Company used car lot in Denison Texas with 1,100 miles on the meter. Unfortunately, Sherrord is no longer in business and all records are lost to history. I was able to locate the HMM-264 Commanding Officer during the early to mid-65 period and was able to obtain a picture of his flight jacket, with the exact same insignia on it...Unfortunately, he did not remember anyone with a noisy new Mustang...

That's where the trail of finding the original owner has ended.