Helicopter UH-1C 66-15129

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-15129
The Army purchased this helicopter 0567
Total flight hours at this point: 00000174
Date: 03/23/68
Unit: 61 AHC
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
This was a Recon mission for Armed Escort , Other Aircraft.
While in Target Area this helicopter was Attacking at 0400 feet and 090 knots.
South Vietnam
Helicopter took 2 hits from:
Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. (7.62MM)
Systems damaged were: UNK
The helicopter Continued Flight.
The aircraft continued and accomplished all mission objectives.
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: UH1P3, 08302 ()

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-15129
The Army purchased this helicopter 0567
Total flight hours at this point: 00000911
Date: 10/28/69
Incident number: 691028231ACD Accident case number: 691028231 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 57 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Kontum in South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: ZB034214
Number killed in accident = 4 . . Injured = 2 . . Passengers = 5
costing 404415
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Army Aviation Safety Center database. Also: OPERA (Operations Report. )
Loss to Inventory

Crew Members:
AC WO1 WHITTINGTON JOHN HEZEKIAH KIA
P W1 MORRIS TL

Passengers:
W1 JC BOSWELL, FCO, G; SP5 BEST GARY ALLEN, AR, PX, KIA; SP5 TORGERSON BARRENT OTTO, AR, PX, KIA; SP5 NEELEY DONALD LEE, AR, PX, KIA; SP4 GAMBLE CHARLES F JR, AR, PX, KIA;

Accident Summary:

AIRCRAFT DEPARTED TO THE WEST OF DAK TO ACTIVE. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER WAS PILOTING THE GUNSHIP. THE AIRCRAFT COMMENCED TO FLY A STANDARD TYPE TRAFFIC PATTERN, ALTHOUGH HIS ALTITUDE DID NOT EXCEED 150 FEET, DUE TO ARTILLARY BEING FIRED TO THE NORTHEAST, OUT OF DAK TO. UPON TAKE OFF HE TURNED 90 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT AND FLEW APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET, AND THEN ENTERED DOWNWIND, TURNING ONCE MORE 90 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT. NEAR THE EASTERN END OF THE AIRSTRIP, THE PILOT THEN COMMENCED A 180 DEGREE RIGHT HAND TURN FOR THE PURPOSE OF LOW LEVELING, PARALLEL AND TO THE NORTH OF THE AIRSTRIP. HIS AIRSPEED AT THIS TIME WAS BETWEEN 60 TO 70 KMOTS. THE PILOT APPLITED SLIGHT FORWARD CYCLIC FOR THE PURPOSE OF INCREASING AIRSPEED. THE PILOT OBTAINED HIS HEADING SHORTLY BEFORE REACHING HIS DESIRED ALTITUDE. APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET AGL, THE PILOT INCREASED HIS PITCH. AT THIS TIME THE AIRCRAFT REMAINED AT TEN FEET FOR FOUR TO FIVE SECONDS. HE AIRSPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 60 TO 70 KNOTS. AT THIS POINT THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO FALL THROUGH TO THE GROUND RESULTING FROM (1) UNLOADING OF MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM AND/OR (2) ENGINE MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE AND/OR (3) APPLICATION OF INSUFFICIENT PITCH. THE PILOT APPLIED INCREASED PITCH AND SLIGHT AFT CYCLIC. THE AIRCRAFT, NEVER THE LESS, MADE CONTACT WITH THE GROUND, NOSE SLIGHTLY HIGH. SKID MARKS INDICATE THAT THE AIRCRAFT SLID FOR APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET. AS THE AIRCRAFT SLID IT BEGAN TO ROCK FORWARD. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER THOUGHT THE AIRCRAFT WOULD FLIP AND CONSEQUENTLY PULLED IN FULL COLLECTIVE AND MAXIMUM AFT CYCLIC ABRUPTLY. THIS RESULTED IN THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES FLEXING, STRIKING THE TAIL BOOM, AND SEVERING THE VERTICAL STABLISZER PORTION OF THE TAIL BOOM AT STATION 304, JUST AFT OF THE SYNCHRONIZED ELEVATOR. AT THIS TIME THE AIRCRAFT CAME BACK UP IN THE AIR APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER HAD CONSEQUENTLY LOST HIS ANTI-TORQUE CONTROL AND THE AIRCRAFT SPUN THREE COMPLETE REVOLUTIONS IN THE AIR, IMPACTING WITH THE GROUND 310 FEET FROM LAST CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT MADE CONTACT WITH THE GROUND ON THE LEFT SIDE. IT IMMEDIATELY BURST INTO FLAMES.\\

War Story:
John Whittington died on 24 Nov 69 but we were shot down on 28 Oct 69. He died from burns that he received on that date. I was the only survivor. The Army listed this as an aircraft accident but, as far as I know, no one ever asked me what happened.
We were at Dak To on a convoy cover mission. Our normal missions were C.C.C. out of Dak To. We were stationed at Kontum.
from Terry L. Morris, Jan 97

This record was last updated on 09/20/98

The following is crew member information for this incident:

Name: SP5 Gary Allen Best
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 10/28/69 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Age at death: 18.8
Date of Birth: 12/25/50
Home City: Decatur, IL
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 1 LOG COM
Major organization: 1st Logistic Command
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 17W-126
Aircraft: UH-1C tail number 66-15129
SSN: 350423916
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 64B20 = Heavy Vehicle Driver
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: passenger
Started Tour: 03/29/69
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Kontum Province II Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
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: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 03/05/94

Name: SP4 Charles F. Gamble, Jr.
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 10/28/69 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Age at death: 20.9
Date of Birth: 11/16/48
Home City: Juneau, AK
Service: component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 1 LOG COM
Major organization: 1st Logistic Command
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 17W-127
Aircraft: UH-1C tail number 66-15129
SSN: 574201220
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 64B20 = Heavy Vehicle Driver
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: passenger
Started Tour: 05/06/69
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
Location: Kontum Province II Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
single male U.S. citizen
Race: American Indian
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: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 03/05/94

Name: SP5 Donald Lee Neeley
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 10/28/69 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Age at death: 20.1
Date of Birth: 09/25/49
Home City: Denver, CO
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 1 LOG COM
Major organization: 1st Logistic Command
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 17W-129
Aircraft: UH-1C tail number 66-15129
SSN: 523686865
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 64B20 = Heavy Vehicle Driver
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: passenger
Started Tour: 02/10/69
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Kontum Province II Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: other religions (Hindu, Thai, etc.)
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 03/05/94

Name: SP5 Barrent Otto Torgerson
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 10/28/69 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Age at death: 21.7
Date of Birth: 02/10/48
Home City: Turtle Lake, WI
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 1 LOG COM
Major organization: 1st Logistic Command
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 17W-129
Aircraft: UH-1C tail number 66-15129
SSN: 393506049
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 64B20 = Heavy Vehicle Driver
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: passenger
Started Tour: 10/20/68
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Kontum Province II Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
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: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 03/05/94

Name: WO1 John Hezekiah Whittington
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 10/28/69 while performing the duty of Aircraft Commander.
Died 27 days later on 11/24/69.
Age at death: 21.3
Date of Birth: 08/13/48
Home City: Baltimore, MD
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 57 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 69-1/68-43
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 16W-119
Short Summary: Shot down at Dak To on 28 Oct 69 while on convoy cover mission. Died from burns a month later.
Aircraft: UH-1C tail number 66-15129
SSN: 214469472 Service number: W3164219
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 100B = Utility/Observation Helicopter Pilot
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: Kontum Province II Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died illness or injuries
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Negro
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: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 01/29/97

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-15129
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 0567.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
6705   0    0 1647   ARMY AVN DIV     6TH ARMY   DUGWAY PG        TEVALCOM
6706   5    5 1776   USARV FLT DET    VIETNAM                     RVN
6707  17   22 1776   USARV FLT DET    VIETNAM                     RVN
6708  14   36 1776   BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM
6709   3   39 1776   BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM
6710   0   39 1776   BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM
6711   0   39 3300   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY
6712  15   54 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN
6801  60  114 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN
6802  37  151 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN
6803  23  174 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN
6804  79  253 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN
6805  88  341 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN
6806  72  413 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN
6807  99  512 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN
6808   0  512 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN
6809  25  537 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN
6810  60  597 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN
6811  51  648 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN
6812  90  738 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN
6901  79  817 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN
6902  51  868 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN
6903  40  908 WCLNAA 79 TRANS CO      VIETNAM                     RVN
6904   0  908 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS      ITR CONUS                   AVCOMITR
6905   0  908 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM
6906   0  908 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN STORAGE NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM
6907   0  908 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN STORAGE NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM
6908   3  911 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM
6909   0  911 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM
6910  36  947 WC5CAA 572ND MI DET     VIETNAM                     RVN

Please send additions or corrections to:

VHPA Head Quarters or Gary Roush or Mike Law

Printed from databases on: 08/27/00