Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-15158
This record was last updated on 01/18/2011
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Date posted on this site:
11/13/2023
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The Army purchased this helicopter 0667
Total flight hours at this point: 00001071
Date: 04/25/1970
Incident number: 70042555.KIA
Unit: 189 AHC
South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: YB887433 (To see this location on a map, go to https://legallandconverter.com/p50.html and search on Grid Reference 48PYB887433)
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Also: OPERA (Operations Report. )
Loss to Inventory
Crew Members:
G PFC ADKINS NORMAN DALE KIA
CE SP4 SMITH GUS JR KIA
P CPT MCKIBBEN WILLIAM RUSSELL KIA
AC WO1 PIERCE ROBERT LIVINGSTON KIA
War Story:
My friend, Norman Dale Adkins, PFC, was a door gunner on Avenger 158, UH-1C tail number 66-15158. He had only been in country for a month when on April 25, 1970, he and the rest of the aircraft's crew were shot down near Dak Seang. Norm was listed as MIA until his body was recovered in July or August 1970. According to General Orders Number 7389 dated July 21, 1970, Norm was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously). The DFC citation states in part, "... His ship received heavy automatic weapons fire during its first two gun runs, but he was able to supress it with deadly minigun and rocket fire..."
From: Thom Cerny