Pacific Stars and Stripes information
For date 680227
Primary service involved, US Army
Tay Ninh Province, III Corps, South Vietnam
Location, Tay Ninh
Description: The following is an edited version of an article titled "Battered Copter Makes It."
Tay Ninh (IO) - During a courier flight from Dau Tieng to Tay Ninh, the skill and cool nerves of the pilot, 1LT Frank R. Adams, of Columbia, Mo., resulted in the safe landing of a U.S. helicopter damaged by enemy ground fire. The helicopter an OH23, was transporting two passengers when hit by automatic weapons fire by an unknown number of Viet Cong. The aircraft was hit by four rounds; one pierced the tail boom, one struck the radio antenna, one impacted in the engine, and one penetrated the plexiglass bubble, struck the control panel; and fragmented wounding both the pilot and 1LT Roy T. Johan of Boston. The helicopter began losing power, and Adams, though wounded in the arms, legs and face, the bleeding badly, managed to maintain control of the faltering aircraft and set it down safely in a rice paddy almost a mile from where it was hit. As the chopper landed, 2LT Dale Eckerty of Broadlands, Ill., grabbed his M16 and took up a security position in front of the aircraft. Johan, despite his wounds, moved out to the rear to provide protection there. Adams remained in the pilot's seat, radioed for assistance, and stayed there directing the rescue operations. A short time later a rescue chopper from Tay Ninh appeared and the two wounded men were flown in Dau Tieng, where they were treated.
Comments: 1LT Adams, Frank R.; pilot; ;
The source for this information was 6802pss.avn supplied by Les Hines
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Last updated
02/21/2000
Date posted on this site:
05/13/2023