Pacific Stars and Stripes information
For date 700422
Primary service involved, US Army
South Vietnam
Location, Saigon
Description: The following is an edited version of an article titled "Red Gunners Bag 5 Helos in 1 Day."
Saigon (S&S Vietnam bureau) - Enemy gunners downed five American helicopters Sunday, killing four U.S. personnel and wounding six, according to an official U.S. spokesman, who said this brought to 1,577 the number of choppers lost to hostile fire over South Vietnam since 1961. This was the first time since May 12, 1969, that five U.S. helicopters had been shot down and destroyed by enemy fire U.S. officials said. The helicopter losses began Sunday morning when a UH1 (Huey) was shot down 27 miles east northeast of Saigon in Bien Hoa Province, wounding one American and four Thai soldiers, U.S. officials reported. At noon Sunday, another UH1 went down in Pleiku Province, 231 miles northeast of Saigon, killing three Americans and wounding two, according to U.S. officials. Shortly after noon, a third Huey was shot down in Kontum Province, in the central highlands 296 miles north-northeast of Saigon, resulting in one U.S. KIA and three wounded, spokesmen said. A fourth UH1 fell to enemy fire in Quang Tin Province 59 miles southeast of Da Nang, but resulted in no casualties, officials reported. An OH6 light observation helicopter was destroyed early Sunday morning in Quang Ngai Province 50 miles south-southeast of Da Nang, according to American officials who said those aboard escaped safely.
The source for this information was 7004pss.avn supplied by Les Hines 02/02/2000
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Last updated
02/03/2000
Date posted on this site:
05/13/2023