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57th Assault Helicopter Co.
57th AHC
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Goldbook Info - UH-1H 67-17817

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 67-17817
The Army purchased this helicopter 1068
Total flight hours at this point: 00000559
Date: 04/01/69
Incident number: 69040157.KIA
Unit: 57 AHC
Laos
Casualties = 01 KIA, 01 WIA . .
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Also: OPERA, Unit History (Operations Report. )
Summary: Shot down by .50 cal. Crashed and burned.
Loss to Inventory

Crew Members:
CE SP4 GAY ALVIN LEON KIA
AC WO1 HESTAND T WIA

War Story:
The 57th AHC's unit history states on the first an aircraft was trying to climb out of a hot LZ and sustained .50 cal hits causing the engine to fail. The pilot entered autorotation but the terrain did not permit a successful termination and the aircraft crashed and burned. The AC, WO Thomas Hestand, received a broken arm and the CE, SP4 Alvin T. Gay, died instantly from a .50 cal wound. The pilot and gunner were fortunate enough to escape without injury This record was last updated on 05/25/98

The following is crew member information for this incident:
Name: SP4 Alvin Leon Gay
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 04/01/69 while performing the duty of Crew Chief.
Age at death: 20.2
Date of Birth: 02/03/49
Home City: Springville, UT
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 57 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 28W-101
Short Summary: Died from .50 cal wounds. Helicopter crashed and burned.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17817
Service number: 18815260
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 67N2F = UH-1 Helicopter Repairer
Primary cause: Hostile Fire
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: small arms fire
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: crew chief
Started Tour: 11/12/68
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Location: Unknown Province
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
married male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Latter Day Saints (Mormon)
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 04/18/98

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 67-17817
It is provided here as an ESTIMATE of the history of this helicopter and is not intended to be the final authority.
This helicopter was purchased by the US Army in 1068.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

Tabular Data unavailable on mobile device
DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
6810   0    0 W0Y6AA INTRANSIT        IN TRANSIT                  AVCOMCTR
6811  24   24 WAX5AA 57 AVN CO AM FW  VIETNAM                     RVN
6812 174  198 WAX5AA 57 AVN CO AM FW  VIETNAM                     RVN
6901 145  343 WAX5AA 57 AVN CO AM FW  VIETNAM                     RVN
6902 107  450 WAX5AA 57 AVN CO AM FW  VIETNAM                     RVN
6903 109  559 WAX5AA 57 AVN CO AM FW  VIETNAM                     RVN

Printed from databases on: 08/27/00
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