Helicopter AH-1G 68-15136

Information on U.S. Army helicopter AH-1G tail number 68-15136
The Army purchased this helicopter 0569
Total flight hours at this point: 00000771
Date: 07/07/70
Incident number: 70070777.KIA
Unit: A/4/77 ARA 101 ABN
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was LOSS TO INVENTORY
for Close Air Support
While On Target this helicopter was Attacking at UNK feet and UNK knots.
South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: YC814983
Count of hits was not possible because the helicopter burned or exploded.
Unknown groundfire.
Systems damaged were: PERSONNEL
Casualties = 02 KIA . .
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 Helicopter Loss database. Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: OPERA, CRAFX, STMNT, CALTR, FM385, CASRP. Bill Gurski (Operations Report. Crash Facts Message. Casualty Report. )
Summary: Crashed during night ARA mission possibly due to vertigo or target fixation.
Loss to Inventory

Crew Members:
AC CW2 DAMM THOMAS WILLIAM KIA
AC 1LT GILLASPY THOMAS DAVID KIA
This record was last updated on 05/25/98

The following is crew member information for this incident:

Name: CW2 Thomas William Damm
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 07/07/70 while performing the duty of Aircraft Commander.
Age at death: 22.3
Date of Birth: 03/14/48
Home City: Fond Du Lac, WI
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: A/4/77 ARA 101 ABN
Major organization: 101st Airborne Division
Flight class: 69-15
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 09W-126
Short Summary: Crashed during night ARA mission possibly due to vertigo or target fixation.
Aircraft: AH-1G tail number 68-15136
SSN: 398467444 Service number: W3165116
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 100E = Attack Helicopter Pilot
Primary cause: Hostile Fire
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: vehicular accident
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: aircraft commander
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 08/24/69
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
The initial status of this person was: no previous report
Length of service: *
Location: Thua Thien Province I Corps.

Additional information about this casualty:
Tom was originallly assigned to my unit, B Battery, 4/77th ARA. After a few months he requested to be grounded for personal reasons. He was then transferred to A Battery where he was doing admin work for a while. After a month or so he was needed back in the cockpit fand made to fly combat missions again. It was only after one or two missions back on flight status that he went out on this night mission. Submitted by Bill Gurski, Dec 1996

Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
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: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 12/26/96

Name: 1LT Thomas David Gillaspy
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 07/07/70 while performing the duty of Aircraft Commander.
Age at death: 23.7
Date of Birth: 10/17/46
Home City: Monticello, MS
Service: FA branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: A/4/77 ARA 101 ABN
Major organization: 101st Airborne Division
Flight class: 69-42
Service: FA branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 09W-127
Short Summary: Crashed during night ARA mission possibly due to vertigo or target fixation.
Aircraft: AH-1G tail number 68-15136
SSN: 428887086
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 61193
Primary cause: Hostile Fire
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: vehicular accident
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: co-pilot
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 04/06/70
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
The initial status of this person was: no previous report
Length of service: *
Location: Quang Nam Province I Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
married 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 12/26/96

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter AH-1G tail number 68-15136
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 0569.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
6905   0    0 W0MHAA DIR SUP / TRAN   IN TRANSIT SHARPE AD        AVCOM        
6906   0    0 W0MHAA DIR SUP / TRAN   IN MAINT   SHARPE AD        AVCOM       
6907   0    0 W0MHAA DIR SUP / TRAN   IN TRANSIT SHARPE AD        AVCOM        
6908  58   58 WFJ8A0 A 4-77ATY 101AC  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6909  54  112 WFJ8A0 A 4-77ATY 101AC  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6910  56  168 WFJ8A0 A 4-77ATY 101AC  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6911  55  223 WFJ8A0 A 4-77ATY 101AC  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6912  51  274 WFJ8A0 A 4-77ATY 101AC  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7001  70  344 WFJ8A0 A 4-77ATY 101AC  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7002 110  454 WFJ8A0 A 4-77ATY 101AC  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7003  75  529 WFJ8A0 A 4-77ATY 101AC  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7004  87  616 WFJ8A0 A 4-77ATY 101AC  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7005 109  725 WFJ8A0 A 4-77ATY 101AC  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7006  46  771 WFJ8A0 A 4-77ATY 101AC  VIETNAM                     RVN

Please send additions or corrections to:

Gary Roush
43 Overbrook Road
Painted Post, NY 14870

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Printed from databases on: 02/21/99

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