operation report information
for HMM-261
For date 660305
HMM-261 was a US Marine Corps unit
South Vietnam
Description: At 0830 HMM-261 and other MAG-36 squadrons began inserting a Marine battalion about three miles SE of the previous day's battle. The NV contested these landings with heavy machine gun fire. Many helicopter were hit and one UH-34 crashed in the LZ. One Marine company was left to secure this helicopter. That night they were attacked by two NVA companies and some especially brave ammo resupply missions were flow to support them. MAG-36 helicopters also inserted a second Marine battalion and an ARVN airborne battalion this day. This would be the last heavy flight in operation UTAH as the NVA withdrew.
Comments: LTC Poerter, Mervin B.; CO HMM-261; ;
MAJ Spurlock, David A.; flight leader HMM-261; ;
CPT Kenny, James P.; flight leader HMM-261; ;
The source for this information was USMC History 1966 P 115
Additional information is available on CD-ROM.
Please send additions or corrections to: Gary Roush Email address: webmaster@vhpa.org
Return to panel index
Return to Helicopter Pilot KIA index
Return to VHPA Home Page
Copyright © 1998 - 2023 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association
Date posted on this site:
05/13/2023