Pacific Stars and Stripes information
for B/7/17 CAV
17 CAG
For date 700410
B/7/17 CAV was a US Army unit
17 CAG was a US Army unit
Primary service involved, US Army
Kontum Province, II Corps, South Vietnam
Location, Dak To
Description: The following is an edited version of an article titled "A Big 'Whooey' as Shot-Up Huey Lands"
Saigon (Special) - Cool thinking and some old-fashioned "seat of the pants" flying saved a 17th Combat Aviation Group Huey helicopter from destruction after it was heavily damaged by enemy ground fire, U.S. spokesmen reported. The dramatic incident began over the dense forests of Vietnam's Central Highlands when the chopper, carrying crew and four passengers including two colonels, swept over a ridgeline southwest of Dak To. "We were waiting to observe results of an artillery barrage when we started receiving .30 caliber fire," said WO Ronald Stokes of B Troop, 7th Sq., 17th Air Cav. "Suddenly I was facing an instrument panel full of blinking lights and a dropping oil pressure gauge," he added. The helicopter shuddered under the impact of a second long burst of fire and Stokes felt the controls go stiff as the hydraulic system lost its vital fluids. With the runway in sight, Stokes was concentrating on his descent when he found he no longer hand control of the tail rotor. "My pedals weren't functioning properly and I couldn't keep the ship from angling off to the left," Stokes recalled. "Finally, as I reduced the main rotor's pitch, the nose spun to the right." Instead of fighting the spin itself, Stokes concentrated on keeping the helicopter level and let it glide down onto the runway. The Huey, laden with 1,200 pounds of fuel, came to a safe stop and the passengers and crew scrambled out unharmed.
Comments: WO Stokes, Ronald; B/7/17th Cav pilot; ;
The source for this information was 7004pss.avn supplied by Les Hines 02/02/2000
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Last updated
02/03/2000
Date posted on this site:
05/13/2023