Information on U.S. Army helicopter AH-1G tail number 67-15573
The Army purchased this helicopter 0468
Total flight hours at this point: 00001786
Date: 07/04/1970
Incident number: 70070404.KIA
Unit: C/3/17 CAV
This was a Combat Loss caused by being shot down by Ground Fire .50 cal to 20 mm in size 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
While On Target this helicopter was Attacking at 0400 feet and UNK knots.
South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: YT749281 (To see this location on a map, go to https://legallandconverter.com/p50.html and search on Grid Reference 48PYT749281)
Count of hits was not possible because the helicopter burned or exploded.
Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. (14.5MM)
Systems damaged were: PERSONNEL, TAIL ROTOR
Casualties = 02 KIA . .
Search and rescue operations were Not Required
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:
Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center AVDAC database. Defense Intelligence Agency
Helicopter Loss database. Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter
database. Also: OPERA, JSIDR, CALTR, FM385, CRAFX, CASRP (Operations Report. Joint Services
Incident Damage Report. Crash Facts Message. Casualty Report. )
Loss to Inventory and Helicopter was recovered
Crew Members:
AC WO1 STEARNS FRANK EDWIN KIA
P WO1 JERNIGAN MARK THOMAS KIA
War Story:
Frank and Mark were flying cover over me east of Xuan Loc along the highway north or Black Horse, while looking for an NVA element that had ambushed a convoy earlier that morning. One call came from the gun that he was rolling in on a target about 300 meters to my right. The aircraft fired about 4 pair of rockets during the dive and at about 500 feet started to pull out. At that point the aircraft stopped the pull out and continued to descend into the target area. As I reached the crash site the aircraft was right side up burning on the NE side of the clearing. We were under heave fire (51 and AK-47) at the time but continued to orbit low level looking for signs of life. Both Frank and Mark were still in their seats. The aircraft had crashed along side the 51 pit they were attacking. I believe that 51 as well as another, that was shooting at the slick trying to keep and eye on me, both hit Frank and Mark. Both pilots bodies were recovered when we were able to get the ground Cav tracks to the site about 20-30 min later.
Larry G. Brown, sw14@viclink.com November 2001. CharlieHorse 19, C/3/17 CAV, 1970
This record was last updated on 04/15/2004
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Date posted on this site: 11/13/2023
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