LAKEVILLE, Minn. – Authorities have identified the two men killed in a helicopter crash near Airlake Airport on Saturday afternoon as David Schmitz, 81, of Spooner, and Robert Drallmeier, 66, of Glenwood City.
The crash happened around 2:45 p.m. Saturday when the Robinson R66 helicopter, piloted by Schmitz, went down near the airport. Both men died at the scene.
Schmitz, a Marine Corps veteran who flew helicopters during the Vietnam War, and Drallmeier, an Army veteran, were longtime friends and aviation partners. Together, they co-founded Combat Helicopters LLC, an organization dedicated to performing public demonstrations with a Vietnam War-era Huey helicopter. For more than a decade, they showcased their aircraft at events across the region, honoring and supporting fellow veterans.
Barry Hammarback, a close friend and collaborator, said the two men performed in front of thousands over the years. “It was just a tight family,” he told the Star Tribune. “This is the end of the run for us. I just don’t think we can keep doing what we’ve been doing without those two.”
In addition to his work with Combat Helicopters, Schmitz also co-founded the T6 Thunder Flight Team, which flies military aircraft in parades and events for veterans. He had flown in a veterans event in Jordan earlier on Saturday before the crash.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.
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