Helicopter UH-1H 68-15759

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-15759
The Army purchased this helicopter 0769
Total flight hours at this point: 00000430
Date: 04/14/1970
Accident case number: 700414071
Unit: 176 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Chu Lai in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing 295
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.

Crew Members:
AC W1 COLLISON JR
P O2 ROPES DG

Accident Summary:

AC STATED ENG FAILURE OCCURRED DURING TAKEOFF FROM LZ AC ENTERED AUTO T/R STRUCK SMALL TREE UPON TERM WITH ICDT DMG \

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-15759
The Army purchased this helicopter 0769
Total flight hours at this point: 00001538
Date: 03/22/1971 MIA-POW file reference number: 1733
Incident number: 71032210.KIA
Unit: 176 AHC
Laos
UTM grid coordinates: XD666365
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: 1733 ()
Loss to Inventory
Crew: CLEVE, REGINALD DAVID;

Crew Members:
P WO1 CLEVE REGINALD DAVID BNR
G SP4 HALL WALTER RAY BNR
CE SP4 KNUTSEN DONALD PAUL BNR
P WO1 TRAVER JOHN GROVE III BNR

REFNO Synopsis:
SYNOPSIS: The families of the men aboard the UH1H aircraft lost on March 22, 1971 were given the following account: On March 22, 1971, W1 Reginald Cleve, aircraft commander; W1 John G. Traver, pilot; SP4 Donald P. Knutsen, crew chief; and Walter R. Hall, door gunner, comprised the crew of a UH1H helicopter in a flight of five helicopters conducting an emergency resupply mission when the helicopter burst into flames and crashed. The aircraft was flying at an altitude of about 5000 feet above sea level in Savannakhet Province, Laos, when it was fired upon by a hostile ground force and an explosion occurred in the cargo compartment. The helicopter impacted essentially in one piece and again exploded and continued to burn. No one was observed to exit the aircraft, and it was the opinion of the investigating committee that no one could have survived. No rescue attempts were made due to the heavy concentration of enemy troops and the aircraft fire in the area.

This record was last updated on 05/25/1998

The following is crew member information for this incident:

Name: WO1 Reginald David Cleve
Status: Body Not Recovered from an incident on 03/22/1971 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 23.6
Date of Birth: 08/02/1947
Home City: Farmington, MO
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 176 AHC
Major organization: Americal Division
Flight class: 70-5/70-3
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 04W-066
Short Summary: Crash with John G. Traver after being hit at 5000 ft in Laos during Lam Son 719.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 68-15759
Call sign: Minuteman
SSN: 499505657
Country: Laos
MOS: 100B = Utility/Observation Helicopter Pilot
Primary cause: Laos-BNR
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: small arms fire
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: aircraft commander
Vehicle ownership: government
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
The initial status of this person was: missing in action - interim
Length of service: *
Military grid coordinates of event: XD666365
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - died while missing
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: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 07/19/1992

Name: WO1 John Grove Traver III
Status: Body Not Recovered from an incident on 03/22/1971 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 21.8
Date of Birth: 05/20/1949
Home City: Jacksonville, FL
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 176 AHC
Major organization: Americal Division
Flight class: 70-39
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 04W-069
Short Summary: Loaded with ammo returning from aborted supply mission w/ Cleve, hit at 5000 ft in Laos w/37 mm during Lam Son 719.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 68-15759
Call sign: Minuteman
SSN: 263020514
Country: Laos
MOS: 100B = Utility/Observation Helicopter Pilot
Primary cause: Laos-BNR 37MM
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: small arms fire
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: pilot
Vehicle ownership: government
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
The initial status of this person was: missing in action - interim
Length of service: *
Military grid coordinates of event: XD666365
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - died while missing
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: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 07/25/1992

Name: SP4 Donald Paul Knutsen
Status: Body Not Recovered from an incident on 03/22/1971 while performing the duty of Crew Chief.
Age at death: 21.5
Date of Birth: 09/25/1949
Home City: Buffalo, NY
Service: component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 176 AHC
Major organization: Americal Division
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 04W-067
Short Summary: Crash after being hit at 5000 ft in Laos during Lam Son 719.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 68-15759
SSN: 129401118
Country: Laos
MOS: 67N2F = UH-1 Helicopter Repairer
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: 12/02/1970
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
The initial status of this person was: missing in action - interim
Length of service: *
Military grid coordinates of event: XD666365
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 08/20/1995

Name: SP4 Walter Ray Hall
Status: Body Not Recovered from an incident on 03/22/1971 while performing the duty of Gunner.
Age at death: 21.0
Date of Birth: 03/07/1950
Home City: Los Angeles, CA
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 176 AHC
Major organization: Americal Division
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 04W-066
Short Summary: Crash after being hit at 5000 ft in Laos during Lam Son 719.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 68-15759
SSN: 552823419
Country: Laos
MOS: 67A1F = Aircraft Maintenance Apprentice
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: small arms fire
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: door gunner
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 12/02/1970
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
The initial status of this person was: missing in action - interim
Length of service: *
Military grid coordinates of event: XD666365
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 08/20/1995

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-15759
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 0769.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
6907   0    0 3300   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND                    PACIFIC 
6908  40   40 WC44AA 176 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN     
6909  63  103 WC44AA 176 AHC    AMDV  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6910  27  130 WC44AA 176 AHC    AMDV  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6911  32  162 WC44AA 176 AHC    AMDV  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6912  17  179 WC44AA 176 AHC    AMDV  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7001  41  220 WC44AA 176 AHC    AMDV  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7002  50  270 WC44AA 176 AHC    AMDV  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7003  51  321 WC44AA 176 AHC    AMDV  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7004 109  430 WC44AA 176 AHC    AMDV  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7005 139  569 WC44AA 176 AHC    AMDV  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7006 134  703 WC44AA 176 AHC    AMDV  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7007 126  829 WC44AA 176 AHC    AMDV  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7008 105  934 WC44AA 176 AHC    AMDV  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7009 134 1068 WC44AA 176 AHC    AMDV  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7010 101 1169 WC44AA 176 AHC    AMDV  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7011 118 1287 WC44AA 176 AHC    AMDV  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7012  81 1368 WC44AA 176 AHC    AMDV  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7101  99 1467 WC44AA 176 AHC          VIETNAM                     RVN     
7102  71 1538 WC44AA 176 AHC          VIETNAM                     RVN     
7103   0 1538 WC44AA 176 AHC          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: 08/09/1999

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