Shipmates Comments: AWC (Ret.) Bob Hight I was in the plane in front of Ed. I was able to pick up the pilot. I almost got Ed but I'm sure he was dead still strapped in his seat. Ed was a heck of a nice guy. I think he was the first AW I trained to be a first crewman in the SH-3D.
Media Articles: Unknown North Carolina Newspaper Helicopter Crash Fatal to Burke ManAWH2 Edwin Bradley Hennessee, 22,of Route 2, Valdese, Burke Memorial Park Road, was killed in a helicopter crash in Mediterranean on Thursday.
He had been a Navy airman and in service for 28 months.
At the time of the crash, he was part of a helicopter crew flying from the Aircraft Carrier USS Yorktown. His helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff from the carrier and the entire crew was lost. None of the bodies were recovered.
A 1965 graduate of Drexel High School, he had attended North Carolina State University at Raleigh for one year prior to entering service.
He was born in Burke County Nov 8, 1946, the son of P. Edwin and Faye Lowery Hennessee of Route 2, Valdese. He was married to the former Bobbie Jean Wilhite who has been living with her mother in Memphis, Tenn. while he was overseas.
Surviving in addition to his parents and widow are two brothers, Bobby Hennessee and David Hennessee both of the home; his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Dewey Lowery, Davisburg, Mich.
Memorial services will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Pleasant View Baptist Church of which he was a member. Conducting the services will be Rev. William Wease and Rev. Thomas Summey.
The family will be at the residence.
Sossoman Funeral Home is in charge.
