Helicopter AH-1G 67-15670

Information on U.S. Army helicopter AH-1G tail number 67-15670
The Army purchased this helicopter 0768
Total flight hours at this point: 00001723
Date: 06/20/72
Incident number: 72062020.KIA
Unit: F/79 ARA 1 CAV
This helicopter was LOST TO INVENTORY
South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: XT776768
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Also: OPERA, Mike Sloniker, GOLDBOOK (Operations Report. )
Summary: Shot down with .51 cal.
Loss to Inventory

Crew Members:
P CPT NORTHUP EDWIN GILBERT KIA
P 1LT SHIELDS STEPHEN EDWARD KIA

War Story:
At 0955H, at XT 769 770, in the vicinity of Tan Khai, LTC Lew McConnell, the 229th AHB CO, went to extract the pathfinders south of a creek bed. A F/79th AFA Pink team was covering McConnell, when a puff of white smoke went off under his aircraft. Three Blue Max aircraft were in the area; Causey and Funk were lead, Shields and Northrup were in the second aircraft, and Leach and Garrett were in three. All Cobras were flying low level at high speed, when Shields and Northrup were hit by .51 cal fire. Shields, the aircraft commander, successfully landed the aircraft, but could have been wounded. Jim Jackson remembers Northrup was killed after getting out of the aircraft, and attempting to help Shields out. Causey/Funk took 12.7 hits aft of the cockpit. Also an RPG went through their rocket pad and damaged the primary hydraulic and nitrogen accumulator. Crew successfully landed the aircraft

This record was last updated on 05/25/98

The following is crew member information for this incident:

Name: CPT Edwin Gilbert Northup
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 06/20/72 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 25.4
Date of Birth: 01/29/47
Home City: Lenox, IA
Service: FA branch of the regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: F/79 ARA 1 CAV
Major organization: 1st Cavalry Division
Flight class: 71-38
Service: FA branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 01W-047
Short Summary: Shot by .51 cal triangular ambush near An Loc. Survived crash, took refuge in a bomb crater, then killed in gun fight with NVA.
Aircraft: AH-1G tail number 67-15670
SSN: 483625589
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 1981 = 19 Rotary Wing Aviator (Unit Commander)
Primary cause: .51 CAL
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: small arms fire
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: aircraft commander
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 04/02/72
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
The initial status of this person was: missing in action - P I D
Length of service: *
Location: Binh Long Province III Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: XT783762

Additional information about this casualty:
Shot down while flying John Parker's (Blue Max 31) wing

Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
married 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: officer
This record was last updated on 07/20/98

Name: 1LT Stephen Edward Shields
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 06/20/72 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 23.6
Date of Birth: 11/19/48
Home City: Clinton, MD
Service: IN branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: F/79 ARA 1 CAV
Major organization: 1st Cavalry Division
Flight class: 71-36
Service: IN branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 01W-047
Short Summary: Shot by .51 cal triangular ambush near An Loc. Survived crash, took refuge in a bomb crater, then killed in gun fight with NVA.
Aircraft: AH-1G tail number 67-15670
SSN: 218528572
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 1981 = 19 Rotary Wing Aviator (Unit Commander)
Primary cause: .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: 02/03/72
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
The initial status of this person was: missing in action - P I D
Length of service: *
Location: Binh Long Province III Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: XT783762

Additional information about this casualty:
Shot down while flying John Parker's (Blue Max 31) wing

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: officer
This record was last updated on 07/20/98

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter AH-1G tail number 67-15670
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 0768.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
6807   0    0 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS      ITR CONUS                   AVCOMITR
6808   1    1 WCLSAA 388 TRANS CO     VIETNAM                     RVN
6809   0    1 WCLSAA 388 TRANS CO     VIETNAM                     RVN
6810   0    1 WCLSAA 388 TRANS CO     VIETNAM                     RVN
6811   0    1 WADPT0 UNIT NOT KNOWN   VIETNAM                     RVN
6812   9   10 WADPD0 D TRP 2SQ1CV4IN  VIETNAM                     RVN
6901   9   19 WADPD0 D TRP 2SQ1CV4IN  VIETNAM                     RVN
6902   0   19 3205   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND                    PACIFIC
6903   0   19 3205   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND                    PACIFIC
6904   0   19 WADPD0 D TRP 2SQ1CV4IN  VIETNAM                     RVN
6905   0   19 3205   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND                    PACIFIC
6906   0   19 3205   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND                    PACIFIC
6907  30   49 WADPD0 D TRP 2SQ1CV4IN  VIETNAM                     RVN
6908  71  120 WADPD0 D TRP 2SQ1CV4IN  VIETNAM                     RVN
6909  32  152 WADPD0 D TRP 2SQ1CV4IN  VIETNAM                     RVN
6910  36  188 WADPD0 D TRP 2SQ1CV4IN  VIETNAM                     RVN
6911   9  197 WADPD0 D TRP 2SQ1CV4IN  VIETNAM                     RVN
6912  66  263 WADPD0 D TRP 2SQ1CV4IN  VIETNAM                     RVN
7001  14  277 WADPD0 D 2SQ 1 CAV      VIETNAM                     RVN
7002  39  316 WADPD0 D TRP 211 CAV    VIETNAM                     RVN
7003  24  340 WADPD0 D TRP 211 CAV    VIETNAM                     RVN
7004   0  340 3532   7 CORPS SPT COM  GERMANY                     EUROPE
7005   0  340 WC5EAA 608 TRANS CO     VIETNAM                     RVN
7006   0  340 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM
7007   0  340 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM
7008   0  340 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM
7009   0  340 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM
7010   0  340 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM
7011   5  345 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM
7012  39  384 WAG3C0 CBTRY2BN20A1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
7101  74  458 WAG3C0 C 2 20 ARTY      VIETNAM                     RVN
7102  75  533 WAG3C0 C 2 20 ARTY      VIETNAM                     RVN
7103  80  613 WAG3C0 C 2 20 ARTY      VIETNAM                     RVN
7104  73  686 WAG3C0 C 2 20 ARTY      VIETNAM                     RVN
7105  71  757 WAG3C0 C 2 20 ARTY      VIETNAM                     RVN
7106  66  823 WAG3C0 79TH ARABN FBTY  VIETNAM                     RVN
7107  97  920 WHN0NA 79 ARABN FBTRY   VIETNAM                     RVN
7108  93 1013 WHN0NA 79 ARABN FBTRY   VIETNAM                     RVN
7109  91 1104 WHN0NA 79 ARABN FBTRY   VIETNAM                     RVN
7110  83 1187 WHN0NA 79 ARABN FBTRY   VIETNAM                     RVN
7111  48 1235 WHN0NA 79 ARABN FBTRY   VIETNAM                     RVN
7112  83 1318 WHN0NA 79 ARABN FBTRY   VIETNAM                     RVN
7201  76 1394 WHN0AA 79 ARABN FBTRY   VIETNAM                     RVN
7202  76 1470 WHN0AA 79 ARABN FBTRY   VIETNAM                     RVN
7203  73 1543 WHN0AA 79 ARABN FBTRY   VIETNAM                     RVN
7204  96 1639 WHN0AA 79 ARABN FBTRY   VIETNAM                     RVN
7205  84 1723 WHN0AA 79 ARABN FBTRY   VIETNAM                     RVN

Please send additions or corrections to:

VHPA Head Quarters or Gary Roush or Mike Law

Printed from databases on: 08/27/00