Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 67-16417
This record was last updated on 08/07/2019
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Date posted on this site:
11/13/2023
Copyright © 1998 - 2023 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association
The Army purchased this helicopter 1168
Total flight hours at this point: 00002298
Date: 06/28/1971
Incident number: 71062810.KIA
Unit: 196 BDE
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was LOSS TO INVENTORY
This was a Recon mission for Unarmed Recon
While Enroute this helicopter was Unknown at UNK feet and UNK knots.
South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: AT859544 (To see this location on a map, go to https://legallandconverter.com/p50.html and search on Grid Reference 49PAT859544)
Helicopter took 1 hits from:
Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. (7.62MM)
Systems damaged were: PERSONNEL
Casualties = 02 KIA . .
The helicopter Crashed. Aircraft Destroyed.
Both mission and flight capability were terminated.
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, LNNF, CASRP (Operations Report. Lindenmuth New
Format Data Base. Casualty Report. )
Loss to Inventory
Crew Members:
P WO1 DELAPLAINE DONALD LYNN KIA
G SP5 COOK CHARLES WILLIAM KIA
War Story:
When I was the S-3 of the 3/21 we often had a LOH for day Recon. I flew numerous missions with both Delaplaine and Kane. I held both men in high esteem then and time has not changed my opinion.
I was in the rear processing to return to CONUS when I heard the news about Mr. Delaplaine and SP/5 Cook. Mr. Kane may have been the one who relayed the following to me prior to my departure:
During a recon flight Delaplaine and Cook under fire from a group female VC in the Arizona Territory. The enemy’s fire damaged the aircraft and wounded Delaplaine who crashed the LOH in the middle of the VC. The impact or rotor blades decapitated one or more of the VC.
The story goes that the Blues found Delaplaine with his .45 on his lap and a cigarette in one of his hands. If memory serves SP/5 Cook was still in the AC. At some point Cook had removed his crash helmet because he was not wearing it when the VC shot him.
That’s the way I remember the story.
From: Col. James F. Humphries (Retired)
I was a Medic with F-troop 17th ACAV, 196th LIB and was present at the crash site of the above OH-6A. In fact I was the one who informed my Plt. leader of the area I believed the ship was shot down at. We were providing security at an artillery base nearby and while I was manning the .50cal, I noticed them heading straight out and then vering left of our position. After a minute or two, I heard what I thought was automatic gunfire and assumed the observer may have opened fire at something but then heard nothing else and ignored it. After awhile we heard quite a large number of fixed and rotary wing aircraft approaching our area and after they flew over I asked my Plt. Leader what was that was all about. he informed me that they were searching for the aircraft that left our areas they had lost contact. If my memory is correct I thought it had brought a General over to the artillery base. I informed my Lt. that I had seen the aircraft after it took of then explained what I heard. They notified the search crafts and very shortly they found the sight. We were called to the area to provide some security for the Blues and to remove the wounded. Upon my arrival we did see at least 3 female bodies with at least two decapitated. Upon approaching the aircraft I visualized the AC and while unable to see exactly what killed him, I immediately new he was dead. However, the crew member was still alive, suffering a head wound. If my memory serves me right, he was found under the aircraft. We transported him to my track and I treated him. We then moved to a clearing and then he was transported by Dustoff to the hospital. I never knew if he survived and I was saddened to read he did not survive his injuries. To this day I still bear the guilt of not notifying my LT. as soon as I heard the gunfire. Perhaps, we may have been able to save him.
From: Paul Doc Ferguson, F-Troop 17th ACAV, 198th LIB