Army Reporter information
for 2 BDE 101 ABN
For date 710315
2 BDE 101 ABN was a US Army unit
Primary service involved, US Army
South Vietnam
Location, FSB Brick
Description: 15Mar71- Last mission is rough one
FSB BRICK - CWO Charles Turner, pilot for Brandy Aviation of the 2nd Bde., 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile), has flown his last mission in Vietnam, and it was filled with enough excitement to last most people an entire tour. While flying a light observation helicopter (LOH) in support of ground elements of Co. B, 2nd Bn., 501st Inf., he acted as security for a grounded helicopter, inflicted suppressive fire on enemy ground forces, evacuated wounded and returned to the scene of the battle to protect a second medical evacuation helicopter. During a patrol mission near here, about 15 miles south-southeast of Hue, elements of Co. B came under intense enemy small arms and rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) fire in a heavily booby-trapped area. During the first few seconds of contact, the friendly unit received several casualties. Within minutes a medevac helicopter was on the scene. The enemy immediately concentrated his fire on the life-saving aircraft. One RPG round flew over the tope of the bird. Several small arms rounds smashed into the metal skin of the aircraft. Still the helicopter hovered precariously above the ground, the jungle penetrator dangling to the wounded man 50 feet below. The casualty was strapped to the penetrator's tripod seat and hoisted to the safety of the aircraft, while Turner suppressed enemy fire with his machine guns. As enemy fire became more intense, the medevac pilot decided to set the bird on the ground to save his aircraft and his passenger. Turner came to their aid with his minigun blazing. He pummeled the area around the medevac helicopter and landed his LOH next to the medevac ship. While his gunner continued suppressive fire with his M60 machine gun, Turner retrieved the wounded man from the medevac helicopter and flew back to the 85th Evacuation Hospital where the patient was given lifesaving treatment.
Comments: CWO Turner, Charles; pilot; ;
The source for this information was 7103AR.AVN supplied by Les Hines
Additional information is available on CD-ROM.
Please send additions or corrections to: Gary Roush Email address: webmaster@vhpa.org
Return to panel index
Return to Helicopter Pilot KIA index
Return to VHPA Home Page
Copyright © 1998 - 2023 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association
Last updated
04/12/2005
Date posted on this site:
05/13/2023