Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 66-16926
The Army purchased this helicopter 1067
Total flight hours at this point: 00001062
Date: 03/21/1969
Incident number: 69032144.KIA
Unit: HHC/2 BDE 1 CAV
South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: XT254659 (To see this location on a map, go to https://legallandconverter.com/p50.html and search on Grid Reference 48PXT254659)
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:
P WO1 HERSCHBACH DAVID EDWARD KIA
CE SP5 MATTHEWS EARL MARTIN KIA
G PFC DELLAPINA CHRISTOPHER L KIA
AC WO1 CUVILLIER LOUIS M III RES
Passengers and/or other participants:
CPT MENNINGER GEORGE EDWARD, AR, PX, KIA
CPT OBRIEN ROBERT EDWARD, AR, PX, KIA
1LT PRESTON LEONARD LEE JR, AR, PX, KIA
War Story:
The 1st Bn, 8th Cavalry operations log for 21 Mar 69 (TT 3690220006.pdf) contains two entries regarding this loss:
a. At 0925, 2nd Bn, 8th Cav reports their C&C helo down approx 3 KM from the ground CP (no UTM given).
b. At 1010, downed helo "believed" to result in 4xKIA and 2xWIA.
MACV Summary TT 168300010788.pdf p5 mentions the loss and says there were 5xKIA and 2xWIA.
Christopher L. DELLAPINA HHC 2nd Bde 1st Cav Div who died 30 Mar after medevac to Japan. This is the sixth KIA for this incident. The aircraft commander WO1 CUVILLIER LOUIS M III was the only survivor.
From Army Aircraft Combat Loss Message Report: The aircraft was at 1,600 when it received small arms fire, started to burn then exploded as it was landing where it was consumed by fire.
This record was last updated on 09/08/2017
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Date posted on this site: 11/13/2023
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