unit history information
for 361 AWC
For date 690617
361 AWC was a US Army unit
Primary service involved, US Army
Incident reference: 69061666.KIA This information is available on CD-ROM.
Kontum Province, II Corps, South Vietnam
Location, Dak to
Description: The 361st Escort Company's unit history Reflections section states that WO1 Mark Clotfelter, aircraft commander, and WO1 Michael Mahowald, co-pilot/gunner, were covering a resupply convoy between Dak to and the besiegned Ben Het when the latter was in its worst straits. For WO Clotfelter, it was the third time he had been shot down in a Cobra. For WO Mahowald, it was his first tactical operation in Vietnam. Heeding the request of the convoy commander, the two man took their aircraft down low to check out the terrain along the road in front of the convoy in an area known as 'Ambush Alley.' As they neared tree-top level, small arms fire was heard and their aircraft crashed burning on an enemy bunker complex. Strangely enough, in giving their lives, they killed two NVA by landing on top of them in their burning aircraft. WO Clotfelter was one of the finest training aviators the unit has ever had. He put his best out to aid the other aviators in learning about Panther ways to perform missions. In the end he gave all he could to perform the mission. WO Mahowald was a new but obviously fine man killed in a battle which claimed many American and ARVN forces.
Comments: WO1 CLOTFELTER MARK DENNIS; AC; KIA;
WO1 MAHOWALD MICHAEL ALLEN; co-pilot; KIA;
The source for this information was 1969 Annual Sup Unit Hist by CPT Manns provided by Bettie Lou Jordan 1998
Additional information is available on CD-ROM.
Please send additions or corrections to: Gary Roush Email address: webmaster@vhpa.org
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Date posted on this site:
05/13/2023