Two men killed in Lakeville helicopter crash were veterans

The two men who died in a helicopter crash west of Airlake Airport in Lakeville on Saturday were identified as military veterans who were part of a group that performed flight demonstrations to the public.

Dave Schmitz, 81, of Spooner, Wis., and Robert “Bob” Drallmeier, 66, of Glenwood City, Wis., were the only ones on the helicopter when it crashed over the weekend, according to family and friends. Barry Hammarback, who partnered with the two men, said they participated in public demonstrations with a Vietnam War-era Huey helicopter for 11 years through their organization Combat Helicopters LLC.

Schmitz, who also owned the Schmitz Economart grocery store in Spooner, Wis., co-founded the helicopter company with Hammarback as a way to show support for veterans, Hammarback said.

Schmitz acted as a pilot for the group, while Drallmeier was crew chief. The team performed in front of thousands of veterans and others over the years, and collected awards at the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh air show, Hammarback said.

“It was just a tight family,” Hammarback said. “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.”

On Saturday, Schmitz and Drallmeier, who haven’t been publicly identified by authorities, were flying in a Robinson R66, a five-seat, single-engine helicopter used mostly for tours and corporate transport, when it crashed at about 2:45 p.m., according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Hammarback said Combat Helicopters performed at a veterans event near Jordan on Saturday. Afterwards, Schmitz and Drallmeier departed in the R66 and planned to make a stop at Airlake Airport to wait for rain to pass. But on the way, it appears the helicopter suffered an engine failure, Hammarback said.

The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the pilot and a passenger died in the crash “under unknown circumstances.” The FAA and NTSB will lead the investigation into the cause and nature of the crash.

Schmitz, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps in the Vietnam War, was a father of three, Hammarback said. Drallmeier was an Army veteran and a father of three, according to a statement from his family.

“[Drallmeier] is survived by his wife, Nancy; two daughters, Erika and Crystal; and his son, Tim; as well as 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren,” Drallmeier’s family said. “His love for flying and his passion for Hueys could only compare to his love of his family. He will be greatly missed by all that knew and loved him!”