Helicopter BELL 17006


Information on Air America helicopter BELL tail number 17006
Date: 04/07/1973
Incident number: 73040710.KIA
Unit: AIR AMERICA VIETNAM
South Vietnam
Casualties = 03 KIA . .
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: War Story as related by a witness. Also: Air America KIA related documents ()
Summary: Shot down by SA-7 missile.
Loss to Inventory

Crew Members:
P CPT CLARK TERRY D KIA
P CPT OSTERMAN CHARLES L KIA
C ROSALES VALERIANO P KIA
CE SP4 P FOLEY


War Story:
On 4-7-73 we had been temporarily stationed at Da Nang for the previous week. We were to change crews on two aircraft the next morning. We had the aircraft ready for an ICCS mission to Lao Bao which is in the valley just south of the DMZ. The C-46 was very late getting there with our replacement crews and the ICCS mission was late leaving, so it was decided we would run the mission and worry about getting back to Saigon later. We had taken off from Da Nang with 12 to 15 people (comprised of ICCS people and North Vietnamese military as high the rank as General) on two aircraft heading to Lao Bao. About 15 minutes out....the inbound crews contacted us on the radio.....they said to return to Da Nang and they would fly the mission. Our two aircraft met the C-46 (#984), switched crews and we were off for Saigon as original plans. About 20 minutes after we left Da Nang, we heard the crews transmitting 'on guard'.........sounded like they were in the valley and there many SA-7s coming at them from their rear.......17006(Clark/Osterman) had taken a direct hit, 71-20117 (DeVoll/Hotchkiss) was damaged and landing in the valley. It sounded obvious to everyone, although cleared with NVA, that this was set-up.....and North Vietnamese Generals on board must have been expendable. DeVoll or Hotchkiss would be the best info for what went on the ground.....but as far as I know, after negotiations 71-20117 was flown out later that day with survivors. From Dennis Ragan, drragan@msn.com

The crew chief flying with Terry Clark the day of the accident was Sp4 Phillip Foley. He compressed several vertebrates and was sent to Japan for recovery. He later returned and flew with me as a door gunner.

From: Mike Askew

This record was last updated on 03/18/2009


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Date posted on this site: 10/25/2024


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