Army Reporter information
for A/123 AVN 23 INF

For date 690113


A/123 AVN 23 INF was a US Army unit
Primary service involved, US Army
South Vietnam
Location, Chu Lai
Description: The following is an edited version of an article titled "Aviators stunned, find 'friendly' UFO" dated 13 Jan 1969. Except for a suspected sighting of a flying saucer, an Americal chopper would have been one of those routine hops. WO Joseph E. Clark, a pilot with A/123rd Avn Bn had turned the controls of his co-pilot, WO Roger Loomis, shortly after departing Da Nang. "We were flying over the ocean that morning and had just buzzed past the battleship New Jersey, about five miles south of Hoi An, when I spotted the thing out of the corner of my eye," Clark said, half smiling. There in front of the chopper, and at about half its altitude of 16000 feet, was the strangest aircraft the aviator had ever seen. Without further delay Clark, fighting an impulse to make a 180 degree turn, took control of the helicopter to seek out the unknown. "As we watched, the UFO flew under the chopper. I did my best to keep close without risking a collision, but every time I approached it would move away and change course. After about twenty minutes of playing with the "saucer" I decided to report my sighting for further guidance." With some reluctance, the 11 month Vietnam veteran radioed the artillery warning net (Save-A-Plane) located at division headquarters at Chu Lai. As he had feared, the net came alive with the chortles of disbelieving pilots monitoring the unlikely conversation. "Okay, UFO! Whaddya got up there anyway? I suppose you've seen little green men!" Advised to refrain from further action with what was likely to be a monitoring craft from the New Jersey, the beleaguered pilot turned his craft south and headed for Chu Lai. Naval officials with the Naval Support Activity Detachment (NSAD) at Chu Lai later confirmed the UFO was probably a "DASH" (Drone Anti Submarine Helicopter) radio-controlled from a destroyer providing security for the big battleship.
Comments: WO Clark, Joseph E.; A/123 AVN AC; ; WO Loomis, Roger; A/123 AVN pilot; ;

The source for this information was 6901AR.AVN supplied by Les Hines


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Date posted on this site: 05/13/2023