unit history information
for A/1 AVN
121 AVN
A/501 AVN
For date 650824
A/1 AVN was a US Army unit
121 AVN was a US Army unit
A/501 AVN was a US Army unit
Primary service involved, US Army
Incident reference: 65082400.BAT This information is available on CD-ROM.
Darlac Province, II Corps, South Vietnam
Location, Ban Me Thuot
A/1 AVN losses were 1 WIAs
Aircraft lost in A/1 AVN were 1 UH-1B
Description: The A Company, 1st Aviation Battalion unit history states elements from their company, the 121st Avn Co, and Company A, 501st from Bien Hoa, performed an airlanded assault in support of the 23rd Inf Div for the purpose of clearing Highway 21 from Ban Me Thuot to Nha Trang. Aircraft staged from Ban Me Thuot (East) Airfield and lifted 1,257 troops of the Marine Task Force (ARVN) in five lifts to an LZ at BQ120165. During the last lift, one UH-1B (A) of Company A experienced a low side governor failure and crashed into the trees in the vicinity of the LZ. The crew was evacuated by UH-1D back to Ban Me Thuot. The aircraft was piloted by WO Phillip D. Pettit who was medically evacuated to the US because of injuries. The aircraft sustained major damage. Close air support during the operation was provided by four USAF A1E's. No hostile fire was received. The Marine Task Force was convoyed out of the operational area at the completion of the operation. During the entire operation, medical evaucation and resupply aircraft were provided by Company A.
The source for this information was STAGECOACH, History of the 155th AML by CPT John A. Geurin
Additional information is available on CD-ROM.
Please send additions or corrections to: Gary Roush Email address: webmaster@vhpa.org
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Date posted on this site:
05/13/2023