Information on U.S. Air Force helicopter HH-53C tail number 68-10362
Date: 06/14/1973 MIA-POW file reference number: 1988
Incident number: 73061414.KIA
Unit: 40 ARRS
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was LOSS TO INVENTORY
This was a Rescue and Recovery mission for Search
Unknown this helicopter was Unknown at UNK feet and UNK knots.
Cambodia
UTM grid coordinates: VV024427 (To see this location on a map, go to https://legallandconverter.com/p50.html and search on Grid Reference 48PVV024427)
Systems damaged were: PERSONNEL
Casualties = 03 DOI . .
The helicopter Crashed.
Both mission and flight capability were terminated.
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense
Intelligence Agency Reference Notes. Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database.
Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: 1988, MPC,
90469, CPLL, PACAF (Pacific Air Force. )
Summary: Aircraft had mechanical failure, lost tail rotor and crashed in Tonle Sap Lake 43 KM S-SE of Siem Reap, CB.
Loss to Inventory
Crew Members:
C MSG MCLEOD DAVID VANCE JR BNR
AC 1LT MEADOR FRANCIS ELMORE KIA
P CPT ROVITO GILBERT ALLAN KIA
PJ SGT MORGAN CARL C RES
PJ SGT CALDWELL STEPHEN L RES
REFNO Synopsis:
CASE SYNOPSIS: DAVID VANCE MCLEOD, JR.
==============================================================
Name: David Vance McLeod, Jr.
Rank/Branch: MSGT E7/USAF
Unit:
Date of Birth: 24 September 1945
Home City of Record: Jacksonville FL
Loss Date: 14 June 1973
Country of Loss: Cambodia
Loss Coordinates: 130259N 1040559E
Status (in 1973): None
Category: 3
Acft/Vehicle/Ground: HH53C
Other Personnel In
Incident: Unknown
Remarks:
SYNOPSIS: David V. McLeod was aboard an HH53C helicopter when he
became missing on June 14, 1973 in Northeastern Cambodia. It is not
known what happened to the rest of the crew.
Few American planes were shot down in Cambodia during this time frame.
An F-4 piloted by Douglas Martin and with backseater Samuel James had
been shot down April 18. An F-4 piloted by Samuel Cornelius with back-
seater John Smallwood was shot down June 16. These were the only
Americans missing during the spring and summer of 1973 in Cambodia.
In July 1973, a South Vietnamese agent reported talking to a refugee
who had seen three Americans dressed in flight uniforms in captivity
near Kompong Barey Hamlet in Prey Veng Province. (Remember that all
events described are occurring AFTER the war with Vietnam "ended" and
591 American POWs were released from Vietnam.) The agent was able to
make contact with a Communist cadre who said the three were airmen who
had been downed in July 1973. The cadre went on to say that they were
being taken to Loc Ninh (South Vietnam) to be held for exchange at a
later date. No exchange ever occurred. It is assumed, since these
three aircraft are the only ones missing in Cambodia, that this report
pertains to three of the five Americans involved. Nothing has been
heard of the five since.
War Story:
Jolly Green 64 had just completed aerial refueling and had backed away from the tanker. The aircraft was approximately at 7,000 feet when it pitched-up, lost the rotor and then crashed in Tonle Sap Lake. Three killed and two rescued.
This record was last updated on 01/17/2020
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Date posted on this site: 11/13/2023
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