Helicopter UH-1H 66-00993

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 66-00993
The Army purchased this helicopter 1266
Total flight hours at this point: 00001022
Date: 12/08/68
Accident case number: 681208141
Unit: A/101 AVN
The station for this helicopter was Camp Eagle in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing 115862
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.

Crew Members:
AC O2 THOMPSON RW
P W1 THOMAS AD

Accident Summary:

 ON THE MORNING OF ^8 DEC 68 A/C NO. 66-993^, BELONGING TO ^A COMPANY, 101ST AVN BN^ (AH) WAS INVOLVED IN AN AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT. AFTER COMPLETING GROUND RUN-UP AND RECEIVING TOWER CLEARANCE FOR DEPARTURE THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER, ^RICHARD W. THOMPSON, 1LT, 05340104^, PICKED THE AIRCRAFT UP TO A HIGH HOVER, MADE A 180 TURN TO THE RIGHT TO THE DEPARTURE HEADING. HE THEN MOVED THE AIRCRAFT TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID OVERFLYING AIRCRAFT SITTING BEHIND HIM. HE STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD TO BEGIN TAKE-OFF. AT THIS TIME THE CREW HEARD A SERIES OF LOUD EXPLOSIONS COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND A WITNESS REPORTED SEEING FLAMES SHOOT OUT FROM THE ENGINE EXHAUST. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER THEN ATTEMPTED TO SET THE AIRCRAFT DOWN. HE STATED THAT AS HE NEARED THE GROUND, IT APPEARED HE WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE AIRCRAFT ON HIS LEFT SIDE. HE ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE AIRCRAFT TO THE RIGHT TO OBTAIN GREATER SEPARATION. AT THIS POINT THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN HARD, COLLAPSING THE FORE AND AFT CROSS TUBES ON THE RIGHT SIDE, DAMAGING THE RIGHT SKID CAUSING STRUCTURAL AND OTHER DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT.\\

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Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 66-00993
The Army purchased this helicopter 1266
Total flight hours at this point: 00001571
Date: 08/15/69
Incident number: 69081555.KIA
Unit: 174 AHC
South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: BS622352
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Also: OPERA (Operations Report. )
Loss to Inventory

Crew Members:
CE SP4 DELVALLE SANCHEZ ALEJO KIA
G PFC GRAHAM JOHNNIE JR KIA
AC WO1 SHIELDS ROBERT HAZEN II KIA
P WO1 BOZINSKI JOHN MICHAEL KIA

Passengers:
 SP4 LENTZ DAVID BURNETT, AR, PX, KIA;


War Story:
Aircraft was trail in flight of four with mission of putting Infantry in to take out .51 cal that had been firing up aircraft going in and out of San Juan Hill. Gun could not be knocked out by artillery or air strike and decision was to put infantry in to take out the gun, because it was constantly being moved. The .51 cal hosed aircraft. Mast was hit causing main rotor separation and tailboom was severed. Aircraft was on final to LZ at 200 feet, came apart hit the ground exploded on hill top and then rolled on fire down to the bottom of a ravine. Crew of four and six 11th BDE infantry killed. from Mike Sloniker 10 Dec 9

This record was last updated on 05/25/98

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The following is crew member information for this incident:

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Name: WO1 Robert Hazen Shields II
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 08/15/69 while performing the duty of Aircraft Commander.
Age at death: 26.2
Date of Birth: 06/19/43
Home City: Kensington, MD
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 174 AHC
Major organization: Americal Division
Flight class: 69-1
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 19W-047
Short Summary: With WO1 John M. Bozinski, SP4 Alejo Del Valle, and PFC Johnnie Graham, Jr.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-00993
SSN: 220422876 Service number: W3164199
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 100B = Utility/Observation Helicopter Pilot
Primary cause: Hostile Fire
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: aircraft commander
Started Tour: 04/09/69
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Location: Quang Ngai Province I Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
married male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: unknown
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 12/10/95

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Name: WO1 John Michael Bozinski
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 08/15/69 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 22.1
Date of Birth: 07/14/47
Home City: Superior, WI
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 174 AHC
Major organization: Americal Division
Flight class: 69-13
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 19W-043
Short Summary: With WO1 Robert H. Shields, SP4 Alejo del Valle, and PFC Johnnie Graham, Jr.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-00993
SSN: 399441620
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 100B = Utility/Observation Helicopter Pilot
Primary cause: Hostile Fire
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: pilot
Started Tour: 07/01/69
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
Length of service: 01
Location: Quang Ngai Province I Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Lutheran (Missouri Synod)
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 07/19/92

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Name: SP4 David Burnett Lentz
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 08/15/69 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Date of Birth: 11/24/48
Home City: North Bend, OR
Service: component of the U.S. Army.
Major organization: 11th Light Infantry Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 19W-045
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-00993
SSN: 543581350
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 11B20 = Infantryman
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: passenger
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Quang Ngai Province I Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Protestant - no denominational preference
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 05/25/98

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Name: SP4 Raymond George Masse
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 08/15/69 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Date of Birth: 05/15/48
Home City: West Springfield, MA
Service: component of the U.S. Army.
Major organization: 11th Light Infantry Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 19W-046
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-00993
SSN: 026345150
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 11B20 = Infantryman
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: passenger
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Quang Ngai Province I Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Roman Catholic
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 05/25/98

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Name: CPL Terry Keith McDonell (posthumously promoted)
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 08/15/69 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Date of Birth: 11/05/45
Home City: Sapulpa, OK
Service: component of the U.S. Army.
Major organization: 11th Light Infantry Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 19W-046
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-00993
SSN: 444445325
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 11B10 = Infantryman
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: passenger
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
Location: Quang Ngai Province I Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Baptist - other groups
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 05/25/98

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Name: SP4 Ronnie Lee Robertson
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 08/15/69 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Date of Birth: 08/16/48
Home City: Old Fort, NC
Service: component of the U.S. Army.
Major organization: 11th Light Infantry Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 19W-047
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-00993
SSN: 245805164
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 11B20 = Infantryman
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: passenger
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Quang Ngai Province I Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Baptist - other groups
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 05/25/98

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Name: CPL John Gerdes Smith (posthumously promoted)
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 08/15/69 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Date of Birth: 08/03/49
Home City: Hico, WV
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Major organization: 11th Light Infantry Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 19W-047
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-00993
SSN: 236788911
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 11B10 = Infantryman
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: passenger
Started Tour: 05/14/69
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
Location: Quang Ngai Province I Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Methodist (Evangelical United Brethren)
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 07/29/96

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Name: CPL William Harold Somerville (posthumously promoted)
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 08/15/69 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Date of Birth: 04/08/49
Home City: Charlestown, IN
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Major organization: 11th Light Infantry Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 19W-048
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-00993
SSN: 314524020
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 11B10 = Infantryman
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: passenger
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
Location: Quang Ngai Province I Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
married male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Protestant - no denominational preference
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 05/25/98

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Name: SP4 Sanchez Alejo Del Valle
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 08/15/69 while performing the duty of Crew Chief.
Age at death: 20.8
Date of Birth: 11/02/48
Home City: Bayamon, PR
Service: component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 174 AHC
Major organization: Americal Division
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 19W-044
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-00993
SSN: 583073001
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 67N20 = UH-1 Helicopter Repairer
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: crew chief
Started Tour: 01/10/69
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Quang Ngai Province I Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
married male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Roman Catholic
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 06/25/94

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Name: PFC Johnnie Graham, Jr.
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 08/15/69 while performing the duty of Gunner.
Age at death: 19.7
Date of Birth: 12/03/49
Home City: New York, NY
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 174 AHC
Major organization: Americal Division
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 19W-044
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-00993
SSN: 088423428
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 67A1F = Aircraft Maintenance Apprentice
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: door gunner
Started Tour: 03/30/68
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 02
Location: Quang Ngai Province I Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Negro
Relgion: Baptist - other groups
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 06/25/94

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The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 66-00993
It is provided here as an ESTIMATE of the history of this helicopter and is not intended to be the final authority.
This helicopter was purchased by the US Army in 1266.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
6612  37   37 1649   ARMY AVN DIV     6TH ARMY   DUGWAY PG        TEVALCOM      
6701  22   59 1649   ARMY AVN DIV     6TH ARMY   DUGWAY PG        TEVALCOM      
6702  20   79 1649   ARMY AVN DIV     6TH ARMY   DUGWAY PG        TEVALCOM      
6703  20   99 1715   POST SUPPLY      6TH ARMY   FORT ORD         6TH ARMY    
6704   4  103 1715   ARMY AVN DIV     6TH ARMY   DUGWAY PG        TEVALCOM      
6705  16  119 1715   ARMY AVN DIV     6TH ARMY   DUGWAY PG        TEVALCOM      
6706  15  134 1715   USARV FLT DET    VIETNAM                     RVN     
6707  18  152 1715   USARV FLT DET    VIETNAM                     RVN     
6708  22  174 1715   BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM     
6709  13  187 1715   BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM     
6710  62  249 1714   BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM     
6711  20  269 1714   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY  
6712   3  272 WAB3A0 CO A 101 AVN BN  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6801   0  272 WAB3A0 CO A 101 AVN BN  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6802 121  393 WAB3A0 CO A 101 AVN BN  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6803  35  428 3241   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY  
6804   0  428 3241   BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM     
6805  46  474 3241   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY  
6806  91  565 3241   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY  
6807  94  659 3241   OPM SEA NITEOPS  1ST ARMY   FORT BELVOIR     AMC          
6808  59  718 WAB3A0 CO A 101 AVN BN  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6809 101  819 WAB3A0 CO A 101 AVN BN  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6810 100  919 WAB3A0 CO A 101 AVN BN  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6811 103 1022 WAB3A0 CO A 101 AVN BN  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6812   0 1022 WC5GAA 610 TRANS CO     VIETNAM                     RVN     
6901   0 1022 WC5GAA 610 TRANS CO     VIETNAM                     RVN     
6902   8 1030 WC5GAA 610 TRANS CO     VIETNAM                     RVN     
6903 143 1173 WC42AA 174 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6904 112 1285 WC42AA 174 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6905  58 1343 WC42AA 174 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6906  90 1433 WC42AA 174 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6907 138 1571 WC42AA 174 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     

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Please send additions or corrections to:

Gary Roush
43 Overbrook Road
Painted Post, NY 14870

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Send comments and questions to the VHPA at ( [email protected] )

Printed from databases on: 01/25/99

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