diff --git a/src/directives/sf-array.directive.js b/src/directives/sf-array.directive.js
index cee5fe3d4..21e416dde 100644
--- a/src/directives/sf-array.directive.js
+++ b/src/directives/sf-array.directive.js
@@ -186,10 +186,6 @@ export default function(sfSelect, sfPath, schemaForm) {
           model.splice(index, 1);
         }
 
-        if(item.$$hashKey) {
-          scope.destroyed = item.$$hashKey;
-        }
-
         return model;
       };
 
diff --git a/src/directives/sf-array.directive.spec.js b/src/directives/sf-array.directive.spec.js
index bd9ac27d5..5c91a805d 100644
--- a/src/directives/sf-array.directive.spec.js
+++ b/src/directives/sf-array.directive.spec.js
@@ -24,9 +24,14 @@ describe('sf-array.directive.js', function() {
             "type": "array",
             "description": "foobar",
             "items": {
-              "title": "Name",
-              "type": "string",
-              "default": 6,
+              "type": "object",
+              "properties": {
+                "name": {
+                  "title": "Name",
+                  "type": "string",
+                  "default": 6,
+                },
+              },
             },
           },
         },
@@ -65,4 +70,34 @@ describe('sf-array.directive.js', function() {
       // tmpl.$valid.should.be.true;
     });
   });
+
+  it('should not delete innocent items on delete', function(done) {
+    tmpl = angular.element('<form name="testform" sf-schema="schema" sf-form="form" sf-model="model" json="{{model | json}}"></form>');
+
+    inject(function($compile, $rootScope) {
+      var scope = $rootScope.$new();
+      scope.model = { names: [{ name: "0"}, {name: "1"}, {name: "2"}, {name: "3"}]};
+
+      scope.schema = exampleSchema;
+
+      scope.form = [ "*" ];
+
+      $compile(tmpl)(scope);
+      runSync(scope, tmpl);
+
+      tmpl.find('div.help-block').text().should.equal('foobar');
+
+      var close = tmpl.find('button.close');
+      close.eq(1).click();
+
+      $rootScope.$apply();
+
+      setTimeout(function() {
+        scope.model.names[0].name.should.equal("0");
+        scope.model.names[1].name.should.equal("2");
+        scope.model.names[2].name.should.equal("3");
+        done();
+      }, 0)
+    });
+  });
 });
diff --git a/src/directives/sf-field.directive.js b/src/directives/sf-field.directive.js
index e327627c8..6aae444c7 100644
--- a/src/directives/sf-field.directive.js
+++ b/src/directives/sf-field.directive.js
@@ -308,44 +308,48 @@ export default function($parse, $compile, $interpolate, sfErrorMessage, sfPath,
 
             // If the entire schema form is destroyed we don't touch the model
             if (!scope.externalDestructionInProgress) {
-              let destroyStrategy = form.destroyStrategy ||
+              var destroyStrategy = form.destroyStrategy ||
                                     (scope.options && scope.options.destroyStrategy) || 'remove';
               // No key no model, and we might have strategy 'retain'
               if (key && destroyStrategy !== 'retain') {
-                // Get the object that has the property we wan't to clear.
-                let obj = scope.model;
-                if (key.length > 1) {
-                  obj = sfSelect(key.slice(0, key.length - 1), obj);
-                }
-
-                if(obj && scope.destroyed && obj.$$hashKey && obj.$$hashKey !== scope.destroyed) {
-                  return;
-                }
-
-                // We can get undefined here if the form hasn't been filled out entirely
-                if (obj === undefined) {
-                  return;
-                }
 
                 // Type can also be a list in JSON Schema
-                let type = (form.schema && form.schema.type) || '';
+                var type = (form.schema && form.schema.type) || '';
 
                 // Empty means '',{} and [] for appropriate types and undefined for the rest
-                // console.log('destroy', destroyStrategy, key, type, obj);
-                if (destroyStrategy === 'empty' && type.indexOf('string') !== -1) {
-                  obj[key.slice(-1)] = '';
-                }
-                else if (destroyStrategy === 'empty' && type.indexOf('object') !== -1) {
-                  obj[key.slice(-1)] = {};
-                }
-                else if (destroyStrategy === 'empty' && type.indexOf('array') !== -1) {
-                  obj[key.slice(-1)] = [];
-                }
-                else if (destroyStrategy === 'null') {
-                  obj[key.slice(-1)] = null;
+                let value;
+                if (destroyStrategy === 'empty') {
+                  value = type.indexOf('string') !== -1 ? '' :
+                    type.indexOf('object') !== -1 ? {} :
+                    type.indexOf('array') !== -1 ? [] : undefined;
+                } else if (destroyStrategy === 'null') {
+                  value = null;
                 }
-                else {
-                  delete obj[key.slice(-1)];
+
+                if (value !== undefined) {
+                  sfSelect(key, scope.model, value);
+                } else {
+                  // Get the object parent object
+                  let obj = scope.model;
+                  if (key.length > 1) {
+                    obj = sfSelect(key.slice(0, key.length - 1), obj)
+                  }
+
+                  // parent can be undefined if the form hasn't been filled out
+                  // entirely
+                  if (obj === undefined) {
+                    return;
+                  }
+
+                  // if parent is an array, then we have already been removed.
+                  // set flag to all children (who are about to recieve a $destroy
+                  // event as well) that we have already been destroyed
+                  if (angular.isArray(obj)) {
+                    scope.externalDestructionInProgress = true;
+                    return;
+                  }
+
+                  delete obj[key[key.length-1]];
                 }
               }
             }