Helicopter UH-1H 68-15759


Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-15759
The Army purchased this helicopter 0769
Total flight hours at this point: 00001538
Date: 03/22/1971 MIA-POW file reference number: 1733
Incident number: 71032210.KIA
Unit: 176 AHC
Laos
UTM grid coordinates: XD666365 (To see this location on a map, go to https://legallandconverter.com/p50.html and search on Grid Reference 48QXD666365)
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. Also: 1733 ()
Loss to Inventory

Crew Members:
P WO1 CLEVE REGINALD DAVID BNR
G SP4 HALL WALTER RAY BNR
CE SP4 KNUTSEN DONALD PAUL BNR
P WO1 TRAVER JOHN GROVE III BNR


REFNO Synopsis:
SYNOPSIS: The families of the men aboard the UH1H aircraft lost on March 22, 1971 were given the following account: On March 22, 1971, W1 Reginald Cleve, aircraft commander; W1 John G. Traver, pilot; SP4 Donald P. Knutsen, crew chief; and Walter R. Hall, door gunner, comprised the crew of a UH1H helicopter in a flight of five helicopters conducting an emergency resupply mission when the helicopter burst into flames and crashed. The aircraft was flying at an altitude of about 5000 feet above sea level in Savannakhet Province, Laos, when it was fired upon by a hostile ground force and an explosion occurred in the cargo compartment. The helicopter impacted essentially in one piece and again exploded and continued to burn. No one was observed to exit the aircraft, and it was the opinion of the investigating committee that no one could have survived. No rescue attempts were made due to the heavy concentration of enemy troops and the aircraft fire in the area.

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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