Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-16076
The Army purchased this helicopter 0769
Total flight hours at this point: 00001025
Date: 03/31/1970
Incident number: 70033111.KIA
Unit: 335 AHC
South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: XS479112 (To see this location on a map, go to https://legallandconverter.com/p50.html and search on Grid Reference 48PXS479112)
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:
AC WO1 MILLER PHILLIP C JR RES
CE SP4 SHELDON KIMBALL HAYES KIA
G SP4 CRABTREE KEVIN R RES
P WO1 LEONARD NEIL J RES
War Story:
I was viewing infomation on 68-16076. First --the Peter pilot was WO1 Neil Leonard did live in conneticut. I picked up two of the survivors just after it crashed and burned. It was the lead ship of a flight of ten slicks. the last pick-up out of the PZ. When 076 started a right pedal turn to see if all the ships were ready to go, (it was hit by an RPG) it exploded and was immediately engulfed in a ball of flames, rolled over and beat itself to death. I was flying the trail ship and saw the eight slicks between us scatter in all directions as they evacuated the PZ. No one could survive that,I thought, but I had to be sure that we didn't leave anyone behind. I hovered forward and flared the aircraft as we passed very close to the burning aircraft, close enough to look into the cockpit. I was shocked to see both pilots seats empty. I hovered and looked for the pilots. Our Falcon Gunships were very busy suppressing the treelines. Finally we spotted one flight suit. The Browish color was noticably different fron the color of the Viet's fatigues. I think our crew chief (on the side of the aircraft that was away from the tree line) jumped from the aircraft and raced to the survivor to help him to our ship. we spotted another flight suit and before I knew it I was the only one in our ship. The crew minus me helped the two survivors on board we did not see any others and the Falcons escorted us out of danger. We took WO1's Phil Miller and Niel Leonard to Binh Thuiey (sp?) Hospital. While enroute we heard that Frank Pinner"s aircraft had picked up another survivor. The other crewman, Sheldon had been trapped when the aircraft rolled over. I wish we could have saved him. Phil Miller was evacuated stateside. Neil stayed in country and returned to the 335th AHC some time later.
I found out two weeks ago that Neil and Tom Bother (my peter pilot that day) ended up in the Conneticut National Guard. Sure is a small world.
from Dennis DuPuis, Cowboy 21 (1970), Email: dupuisdp@hotmail.com November 2000.
My name is Phillip C. Miller, Jr. I was the AC on UH-1H, 68-16076, on 31 Mar 70, when Spec Kimball Sheldon (Crew Chief) died as a result of hostile action. The CP was WO-1 Neil Leonard. Our Gunner was Spec Kevin Crabtree. We were fully loaded with 10 pax (ARVN infantry) sitting in the PZ, and were struck by an RPG. All 10 ARVN infantry on board were KIA from one or more of the following causes: initial explosion, fire, small arms fire that closely followed the RPG, or struck by the rotor blades as the helicopter lifted approx 10-15 feet, hit on the right rear, then flipped over to come to rest on its left side.
Here’s what happened to each crew member:
AC WO-1 MILLER, PHILLIP C., JR., WIA (Burns, shrapnel)
CE SP4 SHELDON KIMBALL HAYES, KIA (Assumed explosion, burns, small arms)
G CRABTREE, KEVIN, WIA (Burns)
P WO-1 LEONARD, NEIL, WIA (Burns)
Thanks again for all you do to keep the many stories alive, and I’m grateful for your long involvement in VHPA. If you need any further info, please don’t hesitate to call!
From: Phillip C. Miller, Jr.
This record was last updated on 03/03/3008
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Date posted on this site:
11/13/2023
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