Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-00695
Date: 11/08/1967 MIA-POW file reference number: 0899
Incident number: 67110842.KIA
Unit: 189 AVN
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was LOSS TO INVENTORY
This was a Recon mission for Armed Escort , Other Aircraft.
While on Landing Zone this helicopter was in Orbit at 0050 feet and 080 knots.
Classified
UTM grid coordinates: YB800300 (To see this location on a map, go to https://legallandconverter.com/p50.html and search on Grid Reference 48PYB800300)
Count of hits was not possible because the helicopter burned or exploded.
Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. (7.62MM)
The helicopter was hit in the Engine Compartment
Systems damaged were: ENGINE, PERSONNEL
Casualties = 03 INJ, 01 MIA . .
The helicopter Crashed. Aircraft Destroyed.
Both mission and flight capability were terminated.
Down in Trees
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense
Intelligence Agency Reference Notes. Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database.
Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: 0899, LNOF,
74043, STMNT, JSIDR, FM232 (Lindenmuth Old Format Data Base. Joint Services Incident Damage
Report. )
Loss to Inventory
Crew Members:
CE SSG ADAMS JOHN ROBERT BNR
AC W1 MCKENNA WILLIAM J JR RES
P W1 WEEKS RES
G SP4 BEGAY RES
REFNO Synopsis:
Other Personnel In Incident: WO McKenna (pilot); SP4 Begay (crewmember); WO Weaks (copilot) - all rescued
Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 15 June 1990 from one or more of the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews.
SYNOPSIS: SP5 John Adams was crewchief aboard a UH1C gunship flying cover on a Special Forces insertion mission west of Dak Tho, Republic of Vietnam on November 8, 1967. While circling the inserted troops, the helicopter began to lose power and attempted to land.
Failing to find a suitable landing zone, McKenna allowed the aircraft to settle tail first into the trees. At the helicopter struck the trees, the tail boom snapped off, spun and came to rest on an upslope, caving in the front of the aircraft. McKenna and Begay exited the right side of the chopper, while Weaks and Adams exited the left. Begay had suffered a broken leg, Weaks had injured his right foot, and Adams was broken his arm and appeared to be in shock.
The four had barely exited the helicopter when they began to receive small arms fire. McKenna radioed for help, and he, Begay and Weaks made their way to an extraction point, with Begay dragging Adams. Begay, because of his own injuries, was unable to carry Adams far, and left him in a slumped-over position against
some bushes. Begay later stated that Adams' condition had worsened.
While awaiting extraction, McKenna returned to the crash site to see if he could help Adams. He saw two Viet Cong, one of whom appeared to be shooting at Adams. McKenna shot at the Viet Cong, then fell down the slope to the creekbed from which he was extracted. Adams was last seen slumped over just outside the left cargo door of the crashed aircraft.
Subsequent rescue efforts were frustrated by enemy fire, and the company commander ordered all rescue attempts terminated. Following termination of rescue efforts, the downed aircraft was destroyed to prevent capture of weapons and equipment.
John Adams survived the crash of his helicopter, and with the presence of enemy forces, stands a good chance of being captured. His helicopter contained equipment the Army did not want in the hands of the enemy. Twelve 500 lb. bombs, six CBU-2's, 1600 rounds of 20 mm fire, additional bombs and napalm were dropped on the crash site to prevent capture.
This record was last updated on 05/25/1998
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Date posted on this site: 11/13/2023
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