Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-15227
Date: 08/08/1968
Incident number: 68080888.KIA
Unit: D/101 AWC 101 ABN
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was LOSS TO INVENTORY
This was a Recon mission for Armed Escort , Other Aircraft.
While Enroute this helicopter was at Level Flight at 0050 feet and 085 knots.
South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: YC369977 (To see this location on a map, go to https://legallandconverter.com/p50.html and search on Grid Reference 48QYC369977)
Helicopter took 1 hits from:
Explosive Weapon; Non-Artillery launched or static weapons containing explosive charges.
causing a Fire.
Systems damaged were: PERSONNEL
Casualties = 04 DOI . .
The helicopter Crashed. Aircraft Destroyed.
Both mission and flight capability were terminated.
Burned
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, UH1P3, 22103, LNNF, JSIDR, CRAFX, CASRP (Operations
Report. Lindenmuth New Format Data Base. Joint Services Incident Damage Report. Crash Facts
Message. Casualty Report. )
Summary: Hit in fuel cell by an RPG and crashed inverted.
Loss to Inventory
Crew Members:
P CPT HIGBEE GARY LEE KIA
P WO1 OVAITT RICHARD ARTHUR KIA
CE SP5 BARTLETT CHARLES DENNIS KIA
G SP4 LEACH DICKIE LYNN KIA
War Story:
I was an eye witness to the death of Capt. Gary L. Higbee, WO1 Richard Ovaitt, SP/5 Charles Bartlett and SP/4 Dickie Leach on August 8, 1968; UH-1C tail number 66-15227. I was a door gunner in the other Charlie model in the light fire team. We were actully going out to cover (escort) a slick which was sent in to pick up a captured NVA Lt.. The RPG hit the aircraft in the fuel cell and the aircraft went upside down, it went below the trees and I do not know if it impacted in that position. We were orbiting on the west side of the A Shau Valley. From: Scott DeArman, Doorgunner with the "Black Angels" 'D' Co. 101st AHB.; AW 101st ABN. DIV.
This record was last updated on 12/28/2003
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Date posted on this site: 08/17/2025
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