Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 68-17257
The Army purchased this helicopter 0869
Total flight hours at this point: 00000359
Date: 07/24/1971 MIA-POW file reference number: 1762
Incident number: 71072439.KIA
Unit: A/3/17 CAV
Cambodia
UTM grid coordinates: XU730333 (To see this location on a map, go to https://legallandconverter.com/p50.html and search on Grid Reference 48PXU730333)
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: 1762 ()
Loss to Inventory
Crew Members:
P WILTROUT TIMOTHY G RES
OB SGT ANTUNANO GREGORY ALFRED BNR
G SP4 DALTON RANDALL DAVID RR
REFNO Synopsis:
ANTUNANO, GREGORY ALFRED
Name: Gregory Alfred Antunano
Rank/Branch: E5/US Army
Unit: Troop A, 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry (Air Cavalry), 12th Aviation Group
Date of Birth: 18 May 1949
Home City of Record: San Francisco CA
Date of Loss: 24 July 1971
Country of Loss: Cambodia
Loss Coordinates: 120327N 1063522E (XU730333)
Status (in 1973): Killed/Body Not Recovered
Category: 2
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: OH6A
Other Personnel in Incident: Randall D. Dalton (missing); Timothy G. Wiltrout
(rescued)
REMARKS:
SYNOPSIS: The 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry was part of the 12th Aviation Group
during its service in Vietnam. It was responsible for air cavalry support in
the western part of III Corps Tactical Zone. In late 1970 it was placed under
the operational control of the 1st Cavalry Division to form a highly successful
ad hoc air cavalry brigade.
On July 24, 1971, WO1 Timothy G. Wiltrout, pilot; Sgt. Gregory A. Antunano,
observer; and SP4 Randall D. Dalton, door gunner; were crew members on an OH6A
"Loach" observation helicopter (serial #17-257) which was shot down by enemy
fire while on a reconnaissance mission in Cambodia. The aircraft went down
about 5 miles inside Cambodia, in Kracheh Province, just a few miles southeast
of the city of Snuol.
When rescuers arrived at the crash site, they found the pilot outside the
downed aircraft. He suffered a broken leg in the incident, but was otherwise
unhurt. The other two crew members were still strapped in their seats inside
the wreckage. Both were taken out of the helicopter and at that time, SP4
Dalton was still alive. Sgt. Antunano was believed to be dead.
A short time later, SP4 Dalton stopped breathing. Efforts to revive him were
unsuccessful. The medic checked both Dalton and Antunano several times, and
told other rescuers that they were dead.
As enemy soldiers began moving into the area, search and rescue aircraft
evacuated the rescue team and Wiltrout, the pilot. Because of enemy presence,
no attempt was made to extract the two bodies. They were left lying near the
downed helicopter.
The following day, several SAR aircraft returned to the location in an attempt
to recover Antunano and Dalton, but noted that the aircraft had been stripped
and moved several feet. Personal effects of the crew, such as their helmets,
weapons and the aircraft radio had also been removed. Sgt. Antunano and SP4
Dalton's bodies were gone. A search of the area from the air did not reveal
fresh graves or any sign of the two men.
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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