Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1B tail number 63-12948
This record was last updated on 01/14/2011
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Date posted on this site:
11/13/2023
Copyright © 1998 - 2023 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association
The Army purchased this helicopter 1164
Total flight hours at this point: 00000994
Date: 01/23/1967
Incident number: 67012323.KIA
Unit: 120 CAC
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was LOSS TO INVENTORY
for Close Air Support
While in Target Area this helicopter was Attacking at 0025 feet and 080 knots.
South Vietnam
Count of hits was not possible because the helicopter burned or exploded.
The helicopter was hit in the Fuselage
Systems damaged were: PERSONNEL
Casualties = 04 DOI . .
The helicopter Crashed. Aircraft Destroyed.
Both mission and flight capability were terminated.
Exploded
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense
Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis
Center Helicopter database. Also: OPERA, LNOF, 72121, JSIDR, CASRP, CRAFX (Operations Report.
Lindenmuth Old Format Data Base. Joint Services Incident Damage Report. Crash Facts Message.
Casualty Report. )
Loss to Inventory
Crew Members:
P CPT ROGERS GUINN JUNELL KIA
P WO1 FINCHER JULIAN A JR KIA
CE CPL MACIEL PETER JR KIA
G SP4 VITACCO MICHAEL KIA
War Story:
120th Aviation Company UH-1B Razorback gunship (tail number 63-12948) shot down by RPG while on a gun run in the Rung Sat Special Zone, the swamp area southeast of Saigon, on 23 JAN 1967. Pilots WO1 Julian A. Fincher Jr., CPT Guinn J. Rogers. Crew CPL Peter Maciel Jr and SP4 Michael Vitacco. Interestingly, both Maciel and Vitacco had CIBs, which indicates Infantry on a previous tour. Rogers had transferred into the 120th from D Troop, 3d Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 25th Infantry Division.
Rogers was reported Missing Due to Hostile Action on 25 Jan 67, then on the 26th Vitacco was reported Killed Result Hostile Action and and Fincher and Maciel reported Missing Result Hostile Action. On the 27th, the status of Maciel and Rogers was changed from Missing to Dead, and finally on the 30th, Fincher's status was changed to Dead.
Sounds like they were low level on a gun run and took an RPG right up the pipe, exploded in midair, and it took a while to find the pieces (or get the area clear enough of dinks to go in and look for them).
From: Bob Kilpatrick