Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-16313
The Army purchased this helicopter 1069
Total flight hours at this point: 00002022
Date: 06/01/1971
Incident number: 71060141.KIA
Unit: 128 AHC
South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: XT547199 (To see this location on a map, go to https://legallandconverter.com/p50.html and search on Grid Reference 48PXT547199)
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:
AC CW2 MICHEHL THOMAS CHARLES KIA
P WO1 GLAWSON GEORGE HOWARD JR KIA
CE SP4 MEDUNA DENNIS LEE KIA
G SP4 WAYT SCOTT WILLIAM KIA
Passengers and/or other participants:
CPT WERMAN EDWARD ALEC, AR, PX, KIA
SGT ISAACS DEAN ROBERT, AR, PX, KIA
PFC STRONG ANDREW CARNEGI III, AR, PX, KIA
War Story:
When I arrived in
my unit in early May of 1971, I was a peter pilot and was flying with a
couple different ACs. After about a week I was paired up with WO Tom
Michehl. Everyone that knew Tom will attest to the fact that he was a very
good pilot and demonstrated the highest degree of professionalism in his
approach to his job. He was, however, a difficult man for a peter pilot to
fly with. He wanted those that flew with him to be as near perfect as
possible and would make the day uncomfortable if you would screwed up during
your time with him. He had rubbed most of the peter pilots the wrong way
and nobody wanted to fly with him because of it. Since I was the new guy in
the company, I got stuck being his peter pilot.....day after day......for a
couple weeks. On the evening of May 31st, I checked the mission board as
always and noted that I was to fly with my platoon leader, Cpt Bill Howell,
the following day. I felt like a heavy burden had been lifted off my
shoulders. I could again have a fun day doing what I loved doing (flying
helicopters) instead of taking a day long endurance test with Tom Michehl. I
learned a lot from Tom and enjoyed his company after work, but I didn't like
flying with him.....I might as well be honest about that. Well anyway, the
next day the aircraft would have WO Glawson as the peter pilot along with Tom
Michehl. From what I have suspected and have come to learn as fact is that
WO Glawson was some aviator that wasn't even in our company, but worked at
some ground job. He needed some flight time to maintain his flight status,
so was assigned to fly with our company that day. I learned that their
aircraft exploded in mid air that day. Nobody knows for certain why.
Those of us that were in the unit had our own theories. I believe it got hit
by an artilery round, but I don't know for sure. The reason it exploded
doesn't matter now. I have always felt that I was the one that should have
been in that right seat that day. I was lucky....that's all. Life or
death in Vietnam often came down to luck. I know this, but it doesn't change
my feeling deep inside that my name should be on the wall in Washington
instead of WO Glawson's. I don't wish to have changed places with
him......I'm very glad that I lived even at the expense of his life. I
don't find that idea a noble one.....but an honest one. I didn't want to
die in Vietnam.......I flew my aircraft in the most responsible way I knew
how so that everybody that flew with me would also go home. I hope they did.
From: Fred Counter (Tomahawk 27)
This record was last updated on 09/08/3005
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Date posted on this site: 11/13/2023
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