unit history information
for 361 AWC
MACV SOG CCC
57 AHC
For date 691115
361 AWC was a US Army unit
MACV SOG CCC was a US Army unit
57 AHC was a US Army unit
Primary service involved, US Army
Kontum Province, II Corps, South Vietnam
Location, Kontum
Description: The 361st Escort Company's unit history states that WO Jim Meyer personnally destroyed a 50 cal position by diving from high above the primary fire team of gunships and placing his rocket fire onto its' position which was a mere 200 meters from the RT that was to be extracted. Later, WO Meyer and his wingman, WO Alan Dean volunteered to aid in a search for the crew of a Vietnamese troop-carrying helicopter which went down just to the north of the extraction right near a well-used enemy road. All the helicopters and fixed wing observation aircraft received highly intense fire from what was reported later to be known 50 cal AA positions within effective firing range of the maneuvering aircraft. Nevertheless, WO Meyer and his fire team voluntarily went down to suppress the enemy AA weapons in the vicinity of the downed helicopter to enable another volunteer from the 57th AHC to look around the LZ in his UH-1H. They went down despite the intensive fire and found no sign of life in the area. No sign of the downed crew has ever been seen dispite these attempts.
The history states that since the CCC missions are mainly oriented around small team reconnaissance, there are very few confirmed kills by the Panthers. Undoubtedly there have been many due to the extremely high number of troops in contact missions flown in this extremely dangerous enemy controlled territory. On most days, same kind of enemy fire will be received by Pather aircraft and returned many time over. For their extraordinary achievements, voluntary factions and gallantry in covering CCC missions, both the 361st and the 57th Aviation Companies have been recommended for Presidential Unit Citations.
Comments: WO1 Meyer, Jim; team leader; ;
WO1 Dean, Alan; wingman; ;
The source for this information was 1969 Annual Sup Unit Hist by CPT Manns provided by Bettie Lou Jordan 1998
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