Helicopter UH-1D 66-01172
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 66-01172
The Army purchased this helicopter 0167
Total flight hours at this point: 00000796
Date: 10/01/1967
Unit: 176 AHC
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
for Command and Control
While Enroute this helicopter was Unknown at 1300 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. (14.5MM)
The helicopter was hit in the Passenger Cargo Section
Systems damaged were: PERSONNEL
Casualties = YES . .
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: UH1P2, 73834 ()
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 66-01172
The Army purchased this helicopter 0167
Total flight hours at this point: 00001048
Date: 12/16/1967
Unit: 176 AHC
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
for Command and Control
While on Landing Zone this helicopter was on the Ground at 0000 feet and 000 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: UH1P2, 74497 ()
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 66-01172
The Army purchased this helicopter 0167
Total flight hours at this point: 00001048
Date: 01/05/1968 MIA-POW file reference number: 0967
Incident number: 68010501.TXT
Unit: 176 AHC
Laos
UTM grid coordinates: XD687047
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. Also: 0967 ()
Loss to Inventory
Crew: BRIGGS, ERNEST FRANK JR; HAMILTON DC SCHULTZ SD WILLIAMSON JD
Crew Members:
CE SFC BRIGGS ERNEST FRANK JR BNR
G SFC WILLIAMSON JAMES D BNR
AC CW3 HAMILTON DENNIS CLARK BNR
P CW3 SCHULTZ SHELDON D BNR
Passengers:
SFC GALLAGHER JOHN THEODORE, AR, PX, BNR;
REFNO Synopsis:
SYNOPSIS: On January 5, 1968, WO Dennis C. Hamilton, aircraft commander; WO Sheldon D. Schultz, pilot; SP5 Ernest F. Briggs, Jr., crew chief; SP4 James P. Williamson, crewman, and SSgt. John T. Gallagher, passenger; were aboard a UH1D
helicopter (tail # 66-1172) on a mission to infiltrate an indigenous reconnaissance patrol into Laos.
The reconnaissance patrol and SSgt. Gallagher were operating under orders to Command & Control North, MACV-SOG (Military Assistance Command, Vietnam Studies and Observation Group). MACV-SOG was a joint service high command unconventional warfare task force engaged in highly classified operations throughout Southeast Asia. The 5th Special Forces channeled personnel into MACV-SOG (although it was not a Special Forces group) through Special Operations Augmentation (SOA), which provided their "cover" while under secret orders to MACV-SOG. The teams performed deep penetration missions of strategic
reconnaissance and interdiction which were called, depending on the time frame, "Shining Brass" or "Prairie Fire" missions.
As the aircraft approached the landing zone about 20 miles inside Laos south of Lao Bao, it came under heavy 37mm anti-aircraft fire while at an altitude of about 300 feet above ground level. The aircraft immediately entered a nose-low vertical dive and crashed.
Upon impact with the ground, the aircraft burst into flames which were 10 to 20 feet high. No radio transmissions were heard during the helicopter's descent, nor were radio or beeper signals heard after impact. Four attempts to get into the area of the downed helicopter failed due to intense ground fire.
During the next two days more attempts to get to the wreckage failed. The pilot of one search helicopter maneuvered to within 75 feet of the crash site before being forced out by enemy fire. The pilot who saw the wreckage stated that the crashed helicopter was a mass of burned metal and that there was no part of the aircraft that could be recognized. No signs of life were seen in the crash area.
Weather delayed further search attempts for a couple of days. After the weather improved, the successful insertion of a ground team was made east of the crash site to avoid enemy fire. The team was extracted after the second day, finding nothing. The crash site was located near the city of Muong Nong in Savannakhet Province, Laos
This record was last updated on 05/25/1998
The following is crew member information for this incident:
Name: CW3 Dennis Clark Hamilton
Status: Body Not Recovered from an incident on 01/05/1968 while performing the duty of Aircraft Commander.
Declared dead on 01/08/1979.
Age at death: 21.7
Date of Birth: 05/04/1946
Home City: Barnes City, IA
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 176 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 67-5
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 33E-049
Short Summary: Shot down by 33 mm at 300 ft crashed and burned.
Aircraft: UH-1D tail number 66-01172
SSN: 481526530
Country: Laos
MOS: *
Primary cause: LAOS-BNR
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: vehicular accident
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: crew chief
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 06/11/1967
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
The initial status of this person was: missing in action - bonified
Length of service: *
Military grid coordinates of event: XD687047
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - died while missing
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 07/19/1992
Name: CW3 Sheldon D. Schultz
Status: Body Not Recovered from an incident on 01/05/1968 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Declared dead on 04/02/1979.
Age at death: 19.7
Date of Birth: 04/19/1948
Home City: Altoona, PA
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 176 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 67-15
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 33E-053
Short Summary: Shot down by 33 mm at 300 ft crashed and burned.
Aircraft: UH-1D tail number 66-01172
SSN: 171383314
Country: Laos
MOS: *
Primary cause: Laos-BNR
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: vehicular accident
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: pilot
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 12/07/1967
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
The initial status of this person was: missing in action - bonified
Length of service: *
Military grid coordinates of event: XD687047
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - died while missing
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 07/19/1992
Name: SFC John Theodore Gallagher
Status: Body Not Recovered from an incident on 01/05/1968 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Declared dead on 05/30/1978.
Age at death: 24.6
Date of Birth: 06/17/1943
Home City: Hamden, CT
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: SPECIAL FORCES
Major organization: Special Forces
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 33E-048
Aircraft: UH-1D tail number 66-01172
SSN: 141340325
Country: Laos
MOS: *
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: small arms fire
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: passenger
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 09/14/1967
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
The initial status of this person was: missing in action - bonified
Length of service: *
Military grid coordinates of event: XD687047
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - died while missing
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 01/01/1994
Name: SFC Ernest Frank Briggs, Jr.
Status: Body Not Recovered from an incident on 01/05/1968 while performing the duty of Crew Chief.
Declared dead on 04/03/1978.
Age at death: 23.1
Date of Birth: 12/12/1944
Home City: Devine, TX
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 176 AHC
Major organization: USARV
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 33E-044
Short Summary: Shot down by 33 mm at 300 ft crashed and burned.
Aircraft: UH-1D tail number 66-01172
SSN: 422586559
Country: Laos
MOS: *
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: small arms fire
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: crew chief
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 11/30/1967
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
The initial status of this person was: missing in action - bonified
Length of service: *
Military grid coordinates of event: XD687047
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - died while missing
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: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 07/30/1995
Name: SFC James D. Williamson
Status: Body Not Recovered from an incident on 01/05/1968 while performing the duty of Gunner.
Declared dead on 11/27/1978.
Age at death: 25.3
Date of Birth: 09/24/1942
Home City: Tumwater, WA
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 176 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 33E-054
Short Summary: Shot down by 33 mm at 300 ft crashed and burned.
Aircraft: UH-1D tail number 66-01172
SSN: 537388533
Country: Laos
MOS: *
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: vehicular accident
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: door gunner
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 07/03/1967
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
The initial status of this person was: missing in action - bonified
Length of service: *
Military grid coordinates of event: XD687047
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - died while missing
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: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 07/30/1995
The following is Goldbook
information on US Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 66-01172
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 0167.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY
6701 8 8 WQ1CAA GEN SUPPLY DIV 4THARMY RED RIVER AD AMC
6702 0 8 WQ1CAA GEN SUPPLY DIV 4THARMY RED RIVER AD AMC
6703 16 24 WC44AA 176 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN
6704 108 132 WC44AA 176 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN
6705 109 241 WC44AA 176 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN
6706 141 382 WC44AA 176 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN
6707 114 496 WC44AA 176 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN
6708 71 567 WC44AA 176 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN
6709 114 681 WC44AA 176 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN
6710 115 796 WC44AA 176 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN
6711 141 937 WC44AA 176 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN
6712 111 1048 WC44AA 176 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN
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Painted Post, NY 14870
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Printed from databases on:
08/09/1999
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