Helicopter UH-1C 66-15163

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-15163
The Army purchased this helicopter 0667
Total flight hours at this point: 00000466
Date: 02/02/68
Unit: 170 AHC
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
for Close Air Support
While in Target Area this helicopter was Attacking at 0300 feet and 080 knots.
South Vietnam
Helicopter took 1 hits from:
Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. (7.62MM)
The helicopter was hit in the Cockpit
Systems damaged were: UNK
The helicopter Continued Flight.
The aircraft continued and accomplished all mission objectives.
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: UH1P3, 03311 ()

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-15163
The Army purchased this helicopter 0667
Total flight hours at this point: 00000809
Date: 06/25/68
Unit: 170 AHC
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
This was a Recon mission for Armed Escort , Other Aircraft.
While in Target Area this helicopter was Attacking at 0050 feet and 070 knots.
South Vietnam
Helicopter took 2 hits from:
Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. (7.62MM)
The helicopter was hit in the Tail Section
Systems damaged were: UNK
The helicopter Continued Flight.
The aircraft continued and accomplished all mission objectives.
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: UH1P3, 17701 ()

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-15163
The Army purchased this helicopter 0667
Total flight hours at this point: 00001100
Date: 11/13/68
Incident number: 68111313.KIA
Unit: 170 AHC
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was LOSS TO INVENTORY
This was a Recon mission for Armed Escort , Ground Movement,
While in Target Area this helicopter was Attacking at 0250 feet and 095 knots.
South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: BR299453
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 = 02 DOI, 02 INJ . .
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, UH1P3, 31801 (Operations Report. )
Loss to Inventory

Crew Members:
AC WO1 ENGSTROM LOREN EUGENE KIA
CE SP5 KEESEE ARTHUR EARL KIA
This record was last updated on 05/25/98

The following is crew member information for this incident:

Name: WO1 Loren Eugene Engstrom
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 11/13/68 while performing the duty of Aircraft Commander.
Age at death: 23.3
Date of Birth: 07/21/45
Home City: La Canada, CA
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 170 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 67-25/67-23
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 39W-059
Short Summary: Complete tail rotor failure caused by a 50 cal that sheared off tail rotor shaft during a rocket run.
Aircraft: UH-1C tail number 66-15163
Service number: W3159970
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 062B = Helicopter Pilot, Utility and Light Cargo Single Rotor
Primary cause: 50 Cal
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: aircraft commander
Started Tour: 03/20/68
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 02
Location: Binh Dinh Province II Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
single 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: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 04/12/98

Name: SP5 Arthur Earl Keesee
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 11/13/68 while performing the duty of Crew Chief.
Age at death: 20.9
Date of Birth: 12/26/47
Home City: Brownwood, TX
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 170 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 39W-060
Aircraft: UH-1C tail number 66-15163
Service number: 10121774
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 67N2F = UH-1 Helicopter Repairer
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: crew chief
Started Tour: 10/01/66
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 02
Location: Binh Dinh Province II Corps.
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: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 04/12/98

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-15163
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 0667.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
6706   0    0 W0Y6AA INTRANSIT        IN TRANSIT                  AVCOMCTR
6707  11   11 3364   USARV FLT DET    VIETNAM                     RVN     
6708   6   17 3364   BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM    
6709   0   17 3364   BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM    
6710  85  102 WC4YAA 170 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6711 110  212 WC4YAA 170 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6712  93  305 WC4YAA 170 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6801  81  386 WC4YAA 170 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6802  80  466 WC4YAA 170 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6803  53  519 WC4YAA 170 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6804  74  593 WC4YAA 170 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6805 104  697 WC4YAA 170 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6806 112  809 WC4YAA 170 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6807  74  883 WC4YAA 170 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6808  59  942 WC4YAA 170 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6809  85 1027 WC4YAA 170 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6810  73 1100 WC4YAA 170 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN

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Gary Roush
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Painted Post, NY 14870

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Printed from databases on: 02/27/99

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