Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail
number 68-15558
The Army purchased this helicopter 0469
Total flight hours
at this point: 00000252
Date: 07/08/69
Accident case number: 690708141
Unit: 57 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Kontum in
Number
killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing
4500
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation
Safety Center database.
Crew Members:
AC W1 PEOPLES SF
Accident Summary:
HOVRNG IN LZ FOR APPROX 1 MIN FOR TROOP DROP OFF WHEN LOSS OF POWR OCCUR SHIP
START SPIN & SETTLED TO GRND HAD BLADE STRIKEBROKE CHIN BUBBLE ON STUMP
& FUSELAGE DAM
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-15558
The Army
purchased this helicopter 0469
Total flight hours at this point:
00000358
Date: 09/27/69 MIA-POW file reference number: 1493
Incident
number: 69092727.KIA
Unit: 57 AHC
UTM grid coordinates:
YB458318
Casualties = 01 KIA . .
Original source(s) and document(s) from
which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Reference
Notes. Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Also: 1493, Unit
History ()
Summary: Shot down during string extraction mission in
Laos.
Loss to Inventory
Crew: HUNTLEY, JOHN NORMAN;
Crew
Members:
G PFC HUNTLEY JOHN NORMAN BNR
AC 1LT DELL R
P WO1 RHODES D
REFNO Synopsis:
SYNOPSIS: PFC John N. Huntley was the door gunner
aboard a UH1H helicopter from the 57th Aviation Company, 17th Aviation Group on
an extraction mission in Laos. The helicopter was to extract a Special Forces
Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) in Attopeu Province. As the helicopter
was lifting from the extraction zone with four men attached by McGuire rigs,
they were receiving heavy volumes of enemy fire. When the helicopter reached an
altitude of 400 feet, gunfire hit the engine and the helicopter began falling.
The pilots were able to slow the descent somewhat by autorotation, but survivors
of the incident reported that after the helicopter was hit, it bounced, twisted
and came to rest burning on its right side. The crew members lost consciousness
and regain consciousness just as the pilot and copilot were dragging the
apparently lifeless body of Huntley from beneath the helicopter. While they were
doing this, they were knocked down by the explosion of the helicopter and had to
stop their attempts to rescue the door gunner. Because of intense enemy
activity, no further attempts were made to recover Huntley, and it was assumed
that his body was consumed by the blazing aircraft. He was listed as Killed,
Body not Recovered
War Story:
The 57th AHC's unit history states 1LT Raymond Dell and WO
David Rhodes were in the process of pulling a string extraction of a LRRP team.
Four team members were teared off on 100 foot ropes waiting to be pulled clear
of 70 foot trees. Hovering straight up so not to pull the team through the
trees, the aircraft had to hover at least 170 feet AGL and 100 feet above the
trees to give the men below on the strings a chance for survival. The aircraft
then fell straight down into the trees and, after impact, it exploded and
burned. The gunner, PFC John Huntley, was killed but the remainder of the crew
received only minor cuts and bruises. The crew from another 57th aircraft landed
and were quickly on the scene. After doing what they could for the members of
the downed aircraft, they began to follow the ropes that were still attached to
the wreckage. Three of the four LRRP team members were alive. LT Dell received
the Silver Star for his quick reaction and saving as many lives as possible. The
rest of the crew received the DFC, including those who assisted in the rescue.
Editor's note: Since the WALL database does not show another American KIA with
the same location details as Huntley, it is assumed that the LRRP killed was not
an American.
This record was last updated on 05/25/98
The following is crew member information for this incident:
Name: PFC John Norman Huntley
Status: Body Not Recovered from an incident on
09/27/69 while performing the duty of Gunner.
Age at death: 18.6
Date of
Birth: 03/01/51
Home City: Portland, ME
Service: regular component of the
U.S. Army.
Unit: 57 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation
Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 17W-013
Short Summary:
Died either from hostile fire or from injuries when helicopter crashed during an
LRRP extraction mission.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 68-15558
SSN:
100429151
Country: Laos
MOS: 67N20 = UH-1 Helicopter Repairer
Major
attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: vehicular
accident
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: door
gunner
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 06/05/69
"Official"
listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
The initial status of this
person was: missing in action - interim
Length of service: *
Reason:
aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - died while
missing
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Protestant -
no denominational preference
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
68-15558
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 0469.
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
6904 0 0 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVCOMITR
6905 93 93 WAX5AA 57 AVN CO AM FW VIETNAM RVN
6906 131 224 WAX5AA 57 AVN CO AM FW VIETNAM RVN
6907 28 252 WAX5AA 57 AVN CO AM FW VIETNAM RVN
6908 52 304 WAX5AA 57 AVN CO AM FW VIETNAM RVN
6909 54 358 WC5CAA 572ND MI DET VIETNAM RVN
Printed from databases on: 08/27/00