Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 66-17075
This record was last updated on 09/21/2002
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Date posted on this site:
11/13/2023
Copyright © 1998 - 2023 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association
Date: 05/05/1968
Incident number: 68050522.KIA
Unit: 176 AHC
This was a Combat Loss caused by being shot down by Ground Fire with the mission function of Combat Troop Carrier (missions assigned to an aircraft to deliver troops, supplies or equipment in a combat area in support of tactical field operations)
South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: BT069246 (To see this location on a map, go to https://legallandconverter.com/p50.html and search on Grid Reference 49PBT069246)
Casualties = YES . .
Search and rescue operations were Not Required
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center AVDAC database. Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Also: OPERA (Operations Report. )
Loss to Inventory and Helicopter was not recovered
Crew Members:
AC CW2 BLATTEL DAVID LEE KIA
P 1LT GARDNER SAMUEL RAY KIA
CE PFC MEIER GARY MICHAEL KIA
G SP4 TERRELL GORDON LEE KIA
War Story:
Here is some info from the 198th Inf Bde (Lt) Daily Staff Journal, prepared at LZ Baldy on 5 May 68 that concerns the shootdown of 66-17075:
"Item: 59
Time: 1030
Incident: 1-6, minuteman shot down 0?7248.
Item: 60
Time: 1045
Incident: Firebird shot down 075248
Item:100
Summary: . . .B/1-6 Inf secured area for dustoff of 2 helicopters shot down...."
6 May 68:
"Item: 14
Time: 1100
Incident: B/1-6 BT 0725245 checking area of downed bird. Loc what they think parts of 4 bodies. Also ruck sacks, lighters, wallet, dot tags w/names. A/C burned to ashes."
My comment after reading the log: numerous air strikes, gunship runs, and resupply flights in the area on 5, 6, & 7 May 68 received heavy AWF. A jet in air strike at BT 076 226 on 071025 took 50 cal hits in the wing tank, broke station and returned to Chu Lai.
By 071155 May 68, B/1-6 located enemy 50 cal positions at BT 068 227, BT 070 225, BT 074 226, BT 074 224, and BT 075 225. At 071215 May 68, "1 fired [sic fixed] wing sky raider shot down at vic BT 070225 - pilot bailed out - recovery aid went to loc and picked up pilot vic 171153."
The log also mentions the constant enemy contacts in the area during those hectic days when the NVA/VC chose not to run.
It appears that the log entries and the information in your database are referring to the same incident. At first I was confused by the different grid locations, but they are only about 300 m to 500 m apart.
The infomation came to me from LT David McBeth who was with B/1-6 on the ground at the time. He obtained copies of the logs at the National Archives II earlier this year and sent them to me so I could update our history page information about the 1st Bn 6th Inf participation in Operation WHEELER/WALLOWA.
The Americal ORLL confirms that two helicopters and one fixed wing was shot down in the area near LZ Center. The intensive anti-aircraft fire in the area and later the capture of 12.7 mm AA gun indicated that the GK-31 AA Bn had been attached to or was operating in support of the 3rd NVA Regt.
Hope this informtion is useful to someone.
Wayne R. Johnston
webmaster, 1st Bn 6th Inf site
at