Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail
number 69-15715
The Army purchased this helicopter 0970
Total flight hours
at this point: 00001482
Date: 04/24/72 MIA-POW file reference number:
1833
Incident number: 72042410.KIA
Unit: 57 AHC
South Vietnam
UTM
grid coordinates: ZB001219
Casualties = 05 KIA, 05 INJ . .
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: 1833 ()
Loss to Inventory
Crew: CARTER,
GEORGE WILLIAMS;
Crew Members:
P WO1 ELLEN WADE LYNN BNR
PP 1LT
JONES JOHNNY MACK BNR
C SP5 VOGLE RICKY V RES
C SP4 LEA CHARLES M
RES
AC 1LT HUNSICKER JAMES EDWARD BNR
Passengers:
MAJ CARTER
GEORGE WILLIAM, AR, PX, BNR; SP4 ZOLLICOFFER FRANKLIN, AR, PX, BNR; MAJ WARMATH
JULIUS G, AR PX, RES; CPT KELLER JOHN P, AR, PX, RES; SGT WARD WALTER H, AR, PX,
RES
REFNO Synopsis:
SYNOPSIS: On the evening of April 23, 1972, Capt.
Kenneth J. Yonan accompanied his ARVN counterpart to a water tower located on
the northwestern edge of the Tanh Canh base camp compound near Dak To, Kontum
Province, South Vietnam. Yonan was an advisor assigned to Advisory Team 22,
MACV, and was assisting the ARVN 42nd Regiment based there. At about 0530 hours
on April 24, Capt. Yonan was still in the water tower when Viet Cong attacked
the camp perimeter. Although tanks fired at and hit the water tower, two other
advisors spoke to Capt. Yonan after the firing and Yonan reported that he was
not hit and planned to join the other advisors when it was safe to do so. Radio
contact was maintained with Yonan until 0730 hours. The other U.S. advisors
began escape and evasion operations from the beleaguered compound. Team 22
Advisors Maj. George W. Carter, Maj. Julius G. Warmath, and Capt. John P.
Keller, were extracted by helicopter. The aircraft was a UH1H from the 52nd
Aviation Battalion, 17th Aviation Group, (serial #69-15715) and was flown by Lt.
James E. Hunsicker. WO Wade L. Ellen was the co-pilot of the chopper, and SP4
Charles M. Lea, and SP5 Ricky V. Vogle were crewmen. Other persons extracted
included 1Lt. Johnny M. Jones, from the 52nd Aviation Battalion; SP4 Franklin
Zollicoffer, from the U.S. Army Installation at Pleiku, and Sgt. Walter H. Ward,
unit not specified. The helicopter departed to the northwest from Dak To, but
was apparently hit by enemy fire, as it crashed and burned on a small island in
the Dak Poko River about 500 meters from the end of the dock to the runway.
Because of the rolling terrain, personnel at the airfield did not see the
aircraft impact. A pilot flying over the wreckage reported that the helicopter
was burning, but they could see no survivors. It was later discovered that five
people did survive the crash - Warmath, Keller, Vogle, Ward and Lea. According
to their statements, Hunsicker, Ellen, Zollicoffer, Jones and Carter were all
dead. Two other Team 22, MACV Advisors, LtCol. Robert W. Brownlee and Capt.
Charles W. Gordon, and their ARVN interpreter, Sgt. Cao Ky Chi, were in a bunker
near the airstrip approximately 4 kilometers to the west of the base camp when
they were forced to withdraw under heavy enemy attack. They proceeded south of
the compound across the Dak Poko River, but LtCol. Brownlee became separated
from the others as they were advancing up a hill. Sgt. Chi and Capt. Gordon
called out to him, but received no response. From the top of the hill, Sgt. Chi
heard the enemy call out to someone in Vietnamese to halt and raise their hands.
Sgt. Chi believed the Viet Cong were speaking to LtCol. Brownlee. Gordon and Chi
evaded capture and eventually made their way to safety. A Vietnamese who was
captured and subsequently released reported that he had talked to another
prisoner who had witnessed LtCol.Brownlee\'s death. He was told that LtCol.
Brownlee had killed himself with his own pistol when communist soldiers told him
to raise his hands in an attempt to capture him. Additional hearsay reports of
his suicide were reported by another ARVN source. Yonan never caught up with the
others. For three days, helicopter searches were made of the area with no
success. Ground search, because of the hostile threat in the area, was not
practical. In April 1988, the Vietnamese \"discovered\" the remains of Capt.
Kenneth J. Yonan and returned them to the U.S. in a spirit of stepped-up
cooperation on the POW/MIA issue. In addition to the reports regarding
Brownlee\'s death, a South Vietnamese soldier reported that he observed the
capture of one \"big\" American from the camp. Another report described the
capture of a U.S. Captain stationed at the camp
War Story:
Warmath, Keller, Vogle, Ward and Lea survived the crash
and successfully E&E for 13 days. Vogle was featured on the cover of
V.V.A.national mag, April issue with the story on the remains recovery at this
crash. CW2 Ellen was the only remains found. Remains were returned in April
1993. from Rick Vogel, rickvogel@midmo.net The A/227th, call sign Chickenman,
went to Pleiku around April of 71, it stood down around January of 72, with the
remaining people and some choppers from this cav unit swung over to the 57th.
This particular chopper, 69-15715, was one of those brought from Chickenman to
the 57th. Larry Burbridge 57th Gladiators Sep 70- Feb 72,
lamarbur@mindspring.com
UPDATE: March 2010... Concerning statement that the remains of Warrant Officer
Wade L. Ellen were returned on April 1993. An email from sister of Wade Ellen
states that his remains were never found or returned.
This record was last updated on 11/11/99
The following is crew member information for this incident:
Name: MAJ George William Carter
Status: Body Not Recovered from an incident
on 04/24/72 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Age at death:
38.4
Date of Birth: 12/04/33
Home City: Apopka, FL
Service: AR branch
of the regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: MACV Advisors
Major
organization: MACV advisors
Service: AR branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall
location: 01W-005
Short Summary: Shot down by .51 cal & burned 500 meters
from Dak To.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 69-15715
SSN: 267421451
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: G1204
Major attributing cause: aircraft
connected not at sea
Compliment cause: small arms fire
Vehicle involved:
helicopter
Position in vehicle: passenger
Vehicle ownership:
government
Started Tour: 01/28/72
\"Official\" listing: helicopter air
casualty - non-aircrew
The initial status of this person was: missing in
action - interim
Length of service: *
Location: Kontum Province II
Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: ZB028208
Reason: aircraft lost
or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - died while missing
married 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: officer
This record
was last updated on 07/29/95
Name: WO1 Wade Lynn Ellen
Status: Body Not Recovered from an incident on
04/24/72 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 20.5
Date of
Birth: 10/25/51
Home City: Norfolk, VA
Service: AV branch of the reserve
component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 57 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation
Brigade
Flight class: 71-31/71-25
Service: AV branch of the U.S.
Army.
The Wall location: 01W-005
Short Summary: Shot down by 51 cal. AC
Hunsicker KIA. Two crew members & one passenger E&E for 2 weeks before
rescued. See memo, Hunsicker.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 69-15715
Call
sign: Gladiator 17
SSN: 230788107
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 100B =
Utility/Observation Helicopter Pilot
Primary cause: SVN-BNR .51 Cal
Major
attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: small arms
fire
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: co-pilot
Vehicle
ownership: government
Started Tour: 10/05/71
\"Official\" listing:
helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
The initial status of this person
was: missing in action - interim
Length of service: *
Location: Kontum
Province II Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event:
ZB028208
Additional information about this casualty:
Wade Ellen and
Danny Platt grew up together, and went to high school, basic training, and
flight school together. Wade went to Vietnam one month ahead of Danny. From
Danny Platt 4 Jul 88
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - died while
missing
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Baptist -
other groups
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: warrant
officer
This record was last updated on 06/20/92
Name: 1LT James Edward Hunsicker
Status: Body Not Recovered from an incident
on 04/24/72 while performing the duty of Aircraft Commander.
Age at death:
25.4
Date of Birth: 11/29/46
Home City: Denver, PA
Service: IN branch
of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 57 AHC
Major
organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 71-14
Service: IN branch
of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 01W-006
Short Summary: Shot down by
.51 cal 500 meters from Dak To. See Ellen, J.M. Jones.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail
number 69-15715
Call sign: Gladiator 17
SSN: 189369067
Country: South
Vietnam
MOS: 1981 = 19 Rotary Wing Aviator (Unit Commander)
Primary cause:
SNV-BNR .51 Cal
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at
sea
Compliment cause: small arms fire
Vehicle involved:
helicopter
Position in vehicle: pilot
Vehicle ownership:
government
Started Tour: 06/24/71
\"Official\" listing: helicopter air
casualty - pilot
The initial status of this person was: missing in action -
interim
Length of service: *
Location: Kontum Province II
Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: ZB028208
Reason: aircraft lost
or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - died while missing
single male U.S.
citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Baptist - other groups
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: officer
This record was last updated on
07/28/90
Name: 1LT Johnny Mack Jones
Status: Body Not Recovered from an incident on
04/24/72 while performing the duty of Pilot Passenger.
Age at death:
23.8
Date of Birth: 07/01/48
Home City: Auburn, AL
Service: IN branch
of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 57 AHC
Major
organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Service: IN branch of the U.S.
Army.
The Wall location: 01W-006
Short Summary: Shot down by .51 cal.
& burned 500 meters from Dak To. Jones was passenger. See Hunsicker and
Ellen.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 69-15715
Call sign: Gladiator
SSN:
420601031 Service number: 14896749
Country: South Vietnam
MOS:
71542
Primary cause: SVN-BNR .51 Cal
Major attributing cause: aircraft
connected not at sea
Compliment cause: small arms fire
Vehicle involved:
helicopter
Position in vehicle: passenger
Vehicle ownership:
government
Started Tour: 09/17/71
\"Official\" listing: helicopter air
casualty - non-aircrew
The initial status of this person was: missing in
action - interim
Length of service: *
Location: Kontum Province II
Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: ZB028208
Reason: aircraft lost
or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - died while missing
single male U.S.
citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Methodist (Evangelical United
Brethren)
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: officer
This record
was last updated on 08/10/92
Name: SP4 Franklin Zollicoffer
Status: Body Not Recovered from an incident
on 04/24/72 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Age at death:
21.4
Date of Birth: 11/22/50
Home City: Kosciusko, MS
Service:
component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: USARV FLT DET
Major organization:
USARV
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 01W-009
Aircraft: UH-1H
tail number 69-15715
SSN: 587482233
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 91A10
= Medical Corpsman
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at
sea
Compliment cause: small arms fire
Vehicle involved:
helicopter
Position in vehicle: passenger
Vehicle ownership:
government
Started Tour: 09/07/71
\"Official\" listing: helicopter air
casualty - non-aircrew
The initial status of this person was: missing in
action - interim
Length of service: *
Location: Kontum Province II
Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: ZB028208
Reason: aircraft lost
or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - died while missing
single male U.S.
citizen
Race: Negro
Relgion: Baptist - other groups
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
08/20/95
The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number
69-15715
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 0970.
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
7009 0 0 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVCOMITR
7010 1 1 WHB1AA 166 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN
7011 118 119 WAAVA0 COA 227ASH 1CAV VIETNAM RVN
7012 78 197 WAAVA0 COA 227ASH 1CAV VIETNAM RVN
7101 99 296 WAAVA0 A 227TH BN VIETNAM RVN
7102 101 397 WAAVA0 A 227TH BN VIETNAM RVN
7103 73 470 WAAVA0 A 227TH BN VIETNAM RVN
7104 118 588 WAAVA0 A 227TH BN VIETNAM RVN
7105 63 651 WAAVA0 A 227TH BN VIETNAM RVN
7106 35 686 WAAVA0 A 227TH BN VIETNAM RVN
7107 73 759 WAAVA0 A 227TH BN VIETNAM RVN
7108 80 839 WAAVA0 A 227TH BN VIETNAM RVN
7109 77 916 WAAVA0 A 227TH BN VIETNAM RVN
7110 108 1024 WAAVA0 3 AHC VIETNAM RVN
7111 110 1134 WAAVA0 3 AHC VIETNAM RVN
7112 40 1174 WAAVA0 3 AHC VIETNAM RVN
7201 116 1290 WC68AA 3 AHC VIETNAM RVN
7202 53 1343 WAX5AA 57 AHC VIETNAM RVN
7203 72 1415 WAX5AA 57 AHC VIETNAM RVN
7204 67 1482 WAX5AA 57 AHC VIETNAM RVN
Printed from databases on: 08/27/00
