Information on U.S. Army helicopter AH-1G tail number 67-15612
The Army purchased this helicopter 0568
Total flight hours at this point: 00000947
Date: 04/23/1970 MIA-POW file reference number: 1603
Incident number: 70042310.KIA
Unit: F/8 CAV
This was a Combat Loss caused by unknown by Missing in Flight with the mission function of Armed Helicopter (having primary weapon subsystems installed and utilized to provide direct fire support)
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was LOSS TO INVENTORY
for Close Air Support
Unknown this helicopter was Unknown at UNK feet and UNK knots.
South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: ZC113153 (To see this location on a map, go to https://legallandconverter.com/p50.html and search on Grid Reference 48PZC113153)
Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size.
Systems damaged were: PERSONNEL
Casualties = 02 MIA . .
Unknown impact on flight.
Unknown as to mission impact.
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated:
Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center AVDAC database. Defense Intelligence Agency
Reference Notes. Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Survivability/Vulnerability
Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: 1603, CRAFX, FM385 (Crash Facts Message.
)
Loss to Inventory and Helicopter was not recovered
Crew Members:
P CW3 EADS DENNIS KEITH BNR
P CPT MURPHY LARRON DAVID BNR
REFNO Synopsis:
SYNOPSIS: On April 23, 1970, Capt. Larron D. Murphy, aircraft commander; and WO
Dennis K. Eads, pilot; were flying an AH-1G (serial #67-15612) in the wingman
position in a flight of four aircraft conducting an emergency night mission to
extract a long-range reconnaissance patrol (LRRP). The aircraft crashed in the
vicinity while en route to recover the patrol.
The two UH-1H helicopters on the flight aborted the mission because of adverse
weather conditions. However, the two AH-1G aircraft continued in order to
provide fire support for the patrol to allow them to break contact with the
enemy. The aircraft flew north until they were sighted by the patrol. The lead
ship made several radio contacts with Capt. Murphy. The last transmission
instructed him to turn to a heading of 90 degrees.
About 30 seconds later, Capt. Murphy called, "20, this is 28. I'm crashing."
This is the last contact or communication with Capt. Murphy. Members of the
patrol reported that they had observed a very bright flash to the southwest,
which was presumed to have been one of the aircraft. The remaining helicopter
returned to Chu Lai, unable to search for the downed aircraft because of the
inclement weather.
The following morning, members of the patrol were flown to inspect the crash
site where they conducted a detailed search of the area, but there was no trace
of either the downed aircraft or the crew. The presumed site of the crash was
about 10 miles southwest of the city of An Hoa in Quang Nam Province, South
Vietnam.
War Story:
We never planned to extract because of the weather. We were just going to give the LRRPS cover fire. CPT Murphy went inadvertent IFR and crashed. I went back to Chu Lai. Bob Drury, Blue Ghost 20, July 1997.
This record was last updated on 03/03/2011
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Date posted on this site: 11/13/2023
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