Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 63-12958
The Army purchased this helicopter 0864
Total flight hours at this point: 00001587
Date: 06/11/1967 MIA-POW file reference number: 0731
Incident number: 670611061ACD Accident case number: 670611061 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: B/227 AVN
Over Water
UTM grid coordinates: CQ555705 (To see this location on a map, go to https://legallandconverter.com/p50.html and search on Grid Reference 49PCQ555705)
Number killed in accident = 5 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 2
costing 228554
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Reference Notes. Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Army Aviation Safety Center database.
Loss to Inventory
Crew Members:
P CW3 RIGGS THOMAS FREDERICK BNR
AC CW2 CLINTON DEAN EDDIE BNR
CE SSG NELSON JAMES RAYMOND BNR
G SSG UHLMANSIEK RALPH EDWARD BNR
P CW3 BEECHER QUENTIN RIPPETOE BNR
REFNO Synopsis:
The 227th Aviation Battalion (Assault Helicopter), 11th Aviation Group was organic to the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). From the end of October 1966 into February 1967, the 1st Cavalry Division battled clearing Binh Dinh Province in Operations THAYER II and PERSHING, the latter concentrated in the rich northern coastal plain as well as the Kim Son and Luoi Ci Valleys to the west. Throughout the rest of 1967 the division combated the North Vietnamese Army's 610th Division and Viet Cong Units in the II Corps Tactical Zone. There were over 7100 known enemy casualties in the two operations.
On June 11, 1967, WO1 Thomas F. Riggs, pilot; WO Dean E. Clinton, co-pilot; SP5 James R. Nelson, crew chief; and passengers WO1 Quentin R. Beecher and SP4 Ralph E. Uhlmansiek; departed Landing Zone Uplift, Qui Nhon airfield in the southern coastal region of Binh Dinh Province, South Vietnam.
The crew and passengers were aboard a UH1D helicopter (serial #63-12958), call sign "Bamboo Viper 47", on an operations mission in the province. At 1900 hours, Bamboo Viper 47 left the LZ at Qui Nhon. While en route, bad weather was encountered, and the pilot requested assistance in determining his position.
Efforts by Tuy Hoa and Qui Nhon airfields, and airborne search and rescue control aircraft failed to locate the aircraft to guide it to the airfield. At 2057 hours, the pilot reported that he was out of fuel, and was willing to make a water landing. Search and rescue efforts started immediately, and continued until 13 June, but was unsuccessful in locating either the helicopter or its crew and passengers. All were declared Missing in Action, Category 5 (which indicates that it is not felt that remains can be recovered).
Accident Summary:
Aircraft became lost in weather over the open sea with a short fuel supply. Radar stations were unable to pick up the aircraft due to weather related clutter on the scope. The aircraft apparently ditched at sea. There were no survirors.
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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