Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail
number 66-16091
The Army purchased this helicopter 0267
Total flight hours
at this point: 00001360
Date: 02/16/69
Incident number: 69021657.KIA
Unit: 57 AHC
South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: ZA055956
Original
source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated:
Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Also: OPERA (Operations
Report. )
Loss to Inventory
Crew Members:
AC WO1 PAPALE ARTHUR
LAWRENCE KIA
P WO1 PERRON NORMAND PAUL KIA
CE SP4 OLIVER RICK ALTON
KIA
G SP4
ALCOS LARRY MELVIN KIA
War Story:
The 57th AHC unit
history states that while trying to insert a LRRP team in an LZ one mile
northeast of Polei Kleng, the aircraft, piloted by WOs Norman Perron and Arthur
Papale, received an unknown number and type of hits from enemy ground fire. WO
Perron radioed on climb out that the controls were erratic. The aircraft then
began a slow spiral descent, it crashed and burst into flames upon impact. All
four of the crewmembers were killed as were 4 LRRP team members aboard
This record was last updated on 05/25/98
The following is crew member information for this incident:
Name: SP4 Larry Melvin
Alcos Status: Killed In Action from an incident on
02/16/69 while performing the duty of Gunner.
Age at death: 20.8
Date of
Birth: 05/17/48
Home City: Waipahu, HI
Service: regular component of the
U.S. Army.
Unit: 57 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation
Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 32W-041
Short Summary:
LRRP insert near Polei Kleng, west of Kontum. Enemy fire hit controls. Lost 90
degree gear box on take off, crashed & exploded. All died
Aircraft: UH-1D
tail number 66-16091
Service number: 67190675
Country: South
Vietnam
MOS: 67A1F = Aircraft Maintenance Apprentice
Primary cause:
Hostile Fire
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at
sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved:
helicopter
Position in vehicle: door gunner
Started Tour:
08/08/68
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other
aircrew
Location: Kontum Province II Corps.
Military grid coordinates of
event: ZA055956
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile -
killed
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Malayan
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 04/18/98
Name: SGT Ralph Gerald Dunn
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on
02/16/69 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Date of Birth:
10/27/47
Home City: Andalusia, AL
Service: regular component of the U.S.
Army.
Major organization: 4th Infantry Division
Service: U.S. Army.
The
Wall location: 32W-043
Short Summary: LRRP insert near Polei Kleng, west of
Kontum. Enemy fire hit controls. Lost 90 degree gear box on take off, crashed
& exploded. All died
Aircraft: UH-1D tail number 66-16091
Service
number: 12939230
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 11B40 = Infantryman
Major
attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or
burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle:
passenger
Started Tour: 11/20/68
"Official" listing: helicopter air
casualty - non-aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Kontum Province II
Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: ZA055956
Reason: aircraft lost
or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
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: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on
07/31/96
Name: SP4 Gerald Quinn Hancock (posthumously promoted)
Status: Killed In
Action from an incident on 02/16/69 while performing the duty of
Passenger.
Date of Birth: 12/13/41
Home City: Louisville, KY
Service:
component of the U.S. Army.
Major organization: 4th Infantry
Division
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 32W-043
Short Summary:
LRRP insert near Polei Kleng, west of Kontum. Enemy fire hit controls. Lost 90
degree gear box on take off, crashed & exploded. All died
Aircraft: UH-1D
tail number 66-16091
Service number: 51945014
Country: South
Vietnam
MOS: 11C20 = Indirect Fire Infantryman
Major attributing cause:
aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: unknown
Vehicle involved:
helicopter
Position in vehicle: passenger
Started Tour:
06/25/68
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
Length
of service: 01
Location: Kontum Province II Corps.
Military grid
coordinates of event: ZA055956
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty
type: Hostile - killed
married male U.S. citizen
Race:
Caucasian
Relgion: Episcopal (Anglican)
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
07/31/96
Name: PFC Hugh Rufus Mc Kinney (posthumously promoted)
Status: Killed In
Action from an incident on 02/16/69 while performing the duty of
Passenger.
Date of Birth: 12/11/47
Home City: New York, NY
Service:
component of the U.S. Army.
Major organization: 4th Infantry
Division
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 32W-045
Short Summary:
LRRP insert near Polei Kleng, west of Kontum. Enemy fire hit controls. Lost 90
degree gear box on take off, crashed & exploded. All died
Aircraft: UH-1D
tail number 66-16091
Service number: 52773369
Country: South
Vietnam
MOS: 11B1P = Infantryman
Major attributing cause: aircraft
connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved:
helicopter
Position in vehicle: passenger
Started Tour:
12/10/68
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty -
non-aircrew
Location: Kontum Province II Corps.
Military grid coordinates
of event: ZA055956
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile
- killed
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Negro
Relgion: Protestant -
other churches
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 07/31/96
Name: SP4 Rick Alton Oliver
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on
02/16/69 while performing the duty of Crew Chief.
Age at death: 20.2
Date
of Birth: 11/30/48
Home City: Chula Vista, CA
Service: regular component
of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 57 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation
Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 32W-045
Short Summary:
LRRP insert near Polei Kleng, west of Kontum. Enemy fire hit controls. Lost 90
degree gear box on take off, crashed & exploded. All died
Aircraft: UH-1D
tail number 66-16091
Service number: 18851225
Country: South
Vietnam
MOS: 67N20 = UH-1 Helicopter Repairer
Primary cause: Hostile
Fire
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment
cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle:
crew chief
Started Tour: 10/24/68
"Official" listing: helicopter air
casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Kontum Province
II Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: ZA055956
Reason: aircraft
lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
single male U.S.
citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Christian Science
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
Name: WO1 Arthur Lawrence Papale
Status: Killed In Action from an incident
on 02/16/69 while performing the duty of Aircraft Commander.
Age at death:
23.4
Date of Birth: 09/05/45
Home City: Biloxi, MS
Service: AV branch
of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 57 AHC
Major
organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 68-19
Service: AV branch
of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 32W-045
Short Summary: LRRP insert
near Polei Kleng, west of Kontum. Enemy fire hit controls. Lost 90 degree gear
box on take off, crashed & exploded. All died
Aircraft: UH-1D tail number
66-16091
Call sign: Gladiator
Service number: W3163328
Country: South
Vietnam
MOS: 062B
Primary cause: Hostile Fire
Major attributing cause:
aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle
involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: pilot
Started Tour:
01/03/69
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
Location:
Kontum Province II Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event:
ZA055956
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: warrant officer
This
record was last updated on 07/20/98
Name: WO1 Normand Paul Perron
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on
02/16/69 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 23.3
Date of
Birth: 10/23/45
Home City: Glen Burnie, MD
Service: AV branch of the
reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 57 AHC
Major organization: 1st
Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 68-505/68-3
Service: AV branch of the U.S.
Army.
The Wall location: 32W-047
Short Summary: LRRP insert near Polei
Kleng, west of Kontum. Enemy fire hit controls. Lost 90 degree gear box on take
off, crashed & exploded. All died
Aircraft: UH-1D tail number
66-16091
Call sign: Gladiator
Service number: W3160818
Country: South
Vietnam
MOS: 062B
Primary cause: Hostile Fire
Major attributing cause:
aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle
involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: aircraft commander
Started Tour:
07/02/68
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other
aircrew
Location: Kontum Province II Corps.
Military grid coordinates of
event: ZA055956
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: warrant officer
This
record was last updated on 04/18/98
Name: SP4 Jack Lee Rightmyer
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on
02/16/69 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Date of Birth:
08/19/48
Home City: Allentown, PA
Service: component of the U.S.
Army.
Major organization: 4th Infantry Division
Service: U.S. Army.
The
Wall location: 32W-046
Short Summary: LRRP insert near Polei Kleng, west of
Kontum. Enemy fire hit controls. Lost 90 degree gear box on take off, crashed
& exploded. All died
Aircraft: UH-1D tail number 66-16091
Service
number: 52987683
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 11B2P = Infantryman
Major
attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: small arms
fire
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle:
passenger
Started Tour: 07/13/68
"Official" listing: helicopter air
casualty - non-aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Kontum Province II
Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: ZA055956
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
07/31/96
The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1D tail number
66-16091
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 0267.
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
6702 0 1 W0Y6AA TRAN MDMHELCO S ALASKA ALASKA
6703 2 3 W0MHAA DIROF SUP TRAN 6TH ARMY SHARPE GD AVCOM
6704 0 3 W0MHAA DIROF SUP TRAN 6TH ARMY SHARPE GD AVCOM
6705 0 3 W0MHAA DIROF SUP TRAN 6TH ARMY SHARPE GD AVCOM
6706 7 10 3364 USARV FLT DET VIETNAM RVN
6707 21 31 3364 USARV FLT DET VIETNAM RVN
6708 20 51 3364 BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM
6709 34 114 WBSZAA 283 MED DET HA VIETNAM RVN
6710 45 159 3364 BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM
6711 24 183 3364 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY
6712 26 209 3364 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY
6801 35 244 3364 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY
6802 106 350 WC41AA 173 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN
6803 0 350 WC41AA 173 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN
6804 0 350 WC41AA 173 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN
6805 83 433 WAX5AA 57 AVN CO AM FW VIETNAM RVN
6806 43 476 WAX5AA 57 AVN CO AM FW VIETNAM RVN
6807 100 576 WAX5AA 57 AVN CO AM FW VIETNAM RVN
6808 108 684 WAX5AA 57 AVN CO AM FW VIETNAM RVN
6809 124 808 WAX5AA 57 AVN CO AM FW VIETNAM RVN
6810 103 911 WAX5AA 57 AVN CO AM FW VIETNAM RVN
6811 138 1049 WAX5AA 57 AVN CO AM FW VIETNAM RVN
6812 164 1213 WAX5AA 57 AVN CO AM FW VIETNAM RVN
6901 119 1332 WAX5AA 57 AVN CO AM FW VIETNAM RVN
6902 28 1360 WC5CAA 572ND MI DET VIETNAM RVN
Printed from databases on: 08/27/00
