Helicopter UH-1C 65-09561

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 65-09561
The Army purchased this helicopter 0566
Total flight hours at this point: 00000849
Date: 02/04/68 MIA-POW file reference number: 1033
Incident number: 68020444.TXT
Unit: C/2/20 ARA
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was LOSS TO INVENTORY
for Close Air Support
Unknown this helicopter was Attacking at UNK feet and UNK knots.
Unknown
UTM grid coordinates: YD691248
Helicopter took 1 hits from:
Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. (7.62MM)
causing a Fire.
Systems damaged were: PERSONNEL
Casualties = 03 DOI . .
The helicopter Crashed. Aircraft Destroyed.
Both mission and flight capability were terminated.
Burned
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. Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: 1033, UH1P3, 03503 ()
Loss to Inventory
Crew: OCONNOR, MICHAEL FRANCIS;

Crew Members:
AC WO1 FIELDS RONALD CLARK KIA
P OCONNOR MICHAEL FRANCIS
CE SGT REEVES HAROLD RAY KIA
G SFC ADLER HENRY KIA

War Story:
Sources indicate to the VHPA that this was the aircraft and event in which three crew members from C/2/20 ARA were killed and Mike O'Connor was injured and later captured.

This record was last updated on 05/25/98

The following is crew member information for this incident:

Name: WO1 Ronald Clark Fields
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 02/04/68 while performing the duty of Aircraft Commander.
Age at death: 23.7
Date of Birth: 05/12/44
Home City: Dayton, OH
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: C/2/20 ARA 1 CAV
Major organization: 1st Cavalry Division
Flight class: 67-7
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 37E-021
Short Summary: Shot down near Hue. AC O'Connor became POW.
Aircraft: UH-1C tail number 65-09561
Service number: W3156475
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 062B = Helicopter Pilot, Utility and Light Cargo Single Rotor
Primary cause: Hostile Fire
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: weapons
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: co-pilot
Started Tour: 07/06/67
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Thua Thien Province I Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: YD691248
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
married male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Church of Christ
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 07/27/96

Name: SGT Harold Ray Reeves (posthumously promoted)
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 02/04/68 while performing the duty of Crew Chief.
Age at death: 28.6
Date of Birth: 06/19/39
Home City: Mercedes, TX
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: C/2/20 ARA 1 CAV
Major organization: 1st Cavalry Division
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 37E-027
Short Summary: Shot down near Hue. AC O'Connor became POW.
Aircraft: UH-1C tail number 65-09561
Service number: 15958686
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 67N20 = UH-1 Helicopter Repairer
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: weapons
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: door gunner
Started Tour: 11/06/67
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Location: Thua Thien Province I Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: YD691248
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Roman Catholic
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 07/27/96

Name: SFC Henry Adler (posthumously promoted)
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 02/04/68 while performing the duty of Gunner.
Age at death: 38.5
Date of Birth: 07/23/29
Home City: Lincoln, NE
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: C/2/20 ARA 1 CAV
Major organization: 1st Cavalry Division
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 37E-017
Short Summary: SFC Adler was the platoon sergeant. He took the regular gunners place because he was sick that day and no one else was available.
Aircraft: UH-1C tail number 65-09561
Service number: 16234136
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 67N40 = UH-1 Helicopter Repairer
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: weapons
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: passenger
Started Tour: 10/05/67
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
Length of service: 20
Location: Thua Thien Province I Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: YD691248
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
married male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Jewish
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 12/10/95

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1B tail number 65-09561
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 0566.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
6610  32  167 WAG3C0 CBTRY2BN20A1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN      
6611  55  222 WAG3C0 CBTRY2BN20A1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN      
6612  11  233 WAG3C0 CBTRY2BN20A1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN      
6701  37  270 WAG3C0 CBTRY2BN20A1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN      
6702  40  310 WAG3C0 CBTRY2BN20A1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN      
6703  61  371 WAG3C0 CBTRY2BN20A1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN      
6704  54  425 WAG3C0 CBTRY2BN20A1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN      
6705  94  519 WAG3C0 CBTRY2BN20A1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN      
6706  48  567 WAG3C0 CBTRY2BN20A1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN      
6707  98  665 WAG3C0 CBTRY2BN20A1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN      
6708   0  665 WAG3C0 CBTRY2BN20A1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6709  40  705 WAG3C0 CBTRY2BN20A1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN      
6710  28  733 WAG3C0 CBTRY2BN20A1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN      
6711  63  796 WAG3C0 CBTRY2BN20A1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN      
6712  50  846 WAG3C0 CBTRY2BN20A1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN      
6801   0  846 WAG3C0 CBTRY2BN20A1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6802   3  849 WC5GAA 610 TRANS CO     VIETNAM                     RVN     
6803   0  849 3448   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY

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Printed from databases on: 02/21/99

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