Helicopter AH-1G 68-15175


Information on U.S. Army helicopter AH-1G tail number 68-15175
The Army purchased this helicopter 0669
Total flight hours at this point: 00000355
Date: 02/04/1970
Incident number: 70020444.KIA
Unit: D/158 AVN
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was LOSS TO INVENTORY
This was a Recon mission for Armed Escort
Unknown this helicopter was Unknown at UNK feet and UNK knots.
South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: YD056462 (To see this location on a map, go to https://legallandconverter.com/p50.html and search on Grid Reference 48QYD056462)
Explosive Weapon; Non-Artillery launched or static weapons containing explosive charges. (RPG)
Systems damaged were: PERSONNEL
Casualties = 02 DOI . .
The helicopter Crashed. Aircraft Destroyed.
Both mission and flight capability were terminated.
Burned
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: OPERA, CRAFX, CASRP, FM385 (Operations Report. Crash Facts Message. Casualty Report. )
Loss to Inventory

Crew Members:
P CW2 ISHMAEL JOHNNIE LEROY KIA
AC CW2 BULLERDICK GARY ALLEN KIA


War Story:
Ken Mayberry wrote: I got in company about 2nd week in Feb 70 after SERTS. My incountry check ride was given by Bruce Fairly, 2nd Plt IP. We stopped at QT where 2plt was pulling direct support for 1/5Mech. We entered the hootch that doubled for Phoenix Ops North. All the flt crews were quietly standing-listening to the radios. A Redskin Maj (the CO) had the handset and was talking to a Phoenix pilot. All I really remember was the Maj asking if anyone got out alive -a long pause then- "The AC exploded & is burning no one is"--------a looong silence----- then his voice comes back with "I SEE ONE-THERE'S ANOTHER"---then the radio went dead. At this point the Maj was frantically trying to get a response, finally after several "standby's" someone else came up & told him the pilot was inbound to the crash site to pick up the pilots, he thought both pilots got out. Eventually the voice of the first AC came back up & told the Maj both pilots were OK and was inbond for QT. When the 2 Redskins walked into that Ops hootch the Maj grabbed both in a huge bear hug. It was a powerfull moment. I had never seen a Maj cry. I remember feeling very small & insignificant. I knew no one there except Fairly who I had just met. I didn't know who the Redskins were. I had no plt assignment yet. It was my first helicopter flight since stateside. Like a fool, I had longed for action since flight school, I knew I was going to get it and get IT I did! (A few days after this I was assigned to 2plt because one of the Peter Pilots got shot in the knee & they needed a replacement). The above action occured around the Razorback by the Rockpile. The Skins were duking it out with Charlie & were shot down while trying to protect Phoenix birds. The AC exploded and burned but both pilots finally got out & were unhurt. This is what I remember and may be completely off the wall due to time & CRS. But I will always carry with me the image of that Redskin CO hugging his two boys and weeping in happiness that they survived. THAT happened!! I just wish I could remember who he was. No doubt the Ghostriders & Lancers have some Redskin tales too. But this one has been seared into my memory.

Ken Mayberry, "Phoenix 50", C/158 101 ABN, 70-71 Camp Evans, Jan 97.

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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