Helicopter OH-6A 68-17257


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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