Helicopter UH-1C 66-00579

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-00579
The Army purchased this helicopter 0866
Total flight hours at this point: 00000801
Date: 04/07/68
Unit: D/227 AVN
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was LOSS TO THEATER
This was a Recon mission for Armed Escort , Other Aircraft.
Unknown this helicopter was Unknown at UNK feet and UNK knots.
South Vietnam
Helicopter took 6 hits from:
The helicopter was hit in the Tail Section
Systems damaged were: DRIVESHAFT
The helicopter made a Forced Landing. Aircraft is later recovered by any means other than its own power.
Both mission and flight capability were terminated.
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: UH1P3, 09801 ()

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-00579
The Army purchased this helicopter 0866
Total flight hours at this point: 00000817
Date: 01/24/69
Incident number: 69012424.KIA
Unit: 170 AHC
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was LOSS TO INVENTORY
This was a Recon mission for Armed Recon
While Enroute this helicopter was at Level Flight at UNK feet and UNK knots.
South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: BR264472
Helicopter took 1 hits from:
Explosive Weapon; Non-Artillery launched or static weapons containing explosive charges. (B-40 RKT)
causing a Fire.
Systems damaged were: PERSONNEL
Casualties = 04 DOI . .
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, 02402, LNNF, CRAFX, CASRP (Operations Report. Lindenmuth New Format Data Base. Crash Facts Message. Casualty Report. )
Loss to Inventory

Crew Members:
AC WO1 MCDONNELL WILLIAM HERBERT KIA
P WO1 GRISWOLD SCOTT CRAIG KIA
CE SP4 WESTMORELAND BRUCE WAYNE KIA
G SP4 TAFOYA JOHN OLIVIO KIA

War Story:
Ray Smith E-mail: RJSmith@rjsmith.com Web: www.rjsmith.com Phone: (714)432-8517 ------------------------------------- The following men were killed at 0723 hours on January 24, 1969 when their UH1B Huey Gunship crashed within sight of LZ Action alongside Highway QL-19 at grid coordinates BR270471 in Binh Dinh Province (CACF1193 database incorrectly says Pleiku Province). The information was taken from the 24 January 1969 Daily Journal of the 1st Bn 50th Infantry (Mechanized). The 1/50th scout platoon recovered the bodies. The aircraft crashed and burned. Three of the bodies were recovered from the aircraft, one body was recovered 75 meters southwest of the crash site, still strapped into a seat. I used the information in the Daily Journal to narrow a search of the CACF1193 database and the TAGCEN database to locate the names and information listed below. Name Rank MOS Date Killed Province CasType Reason AirNoAir Unit Griswold, Scott Craig WO 062B 19690124 Pleiku A1 B 5 1st Av Bde Mc Donnell, William Herbert WO 062B 19690124 Pleiku A1 B 5 1st Av Bde Tafoya, John Olivio SP4 67A1F 19690124 Pleiku A1 B 5 1st Av Bde Westmoreland, Bruce Wayne SP4 67N2F 19690124 Pleiku A1 B 5 1st Av Bde The line entries beginning on page 2 of 10 from the Daily Journal are reproduced below. Item Time Incident 9 0723 To 1/50th fm CO RTO A Co Chopper down between Strong Point 10 and LZ Action. It is burning at this time. Scouts are enroute. 10 0725 To 1/50th fm CO RTO A Co Scouts in area at this time. 11 0726 To 1/50th fm Scouts We have area secured. Have 1 US KIA. 12 0728 To 1/50th fm Scouts Have 2nd body. 13 0729 To 1/50th fm FAC 30A Location of downed chopper: BR270471 14 0730 To 1/50th fm Buccaneer 7 Will notify my higher at Pleiku. 15 0732 To Scouts fm Buccaneer 7 Downed aircraft was flying east to west on north side of road. 19 0735 To Maj. Juliano fm Scouts Fire still burning. We can not extiguish it. We need someone to extract bodies. 34 0755 To 1/50th fm Scout Plt Ldr Have two bodies Dusted off. Found another body in the aircraft. 55 0930 To 1/50th fm CO RTO B Co Found the other body. It was not in the aircraft. 58 0952 To 1/50th fm CO RTO B Co 4th body was found 75m southwest of the crash, still strapped in his chair.

This record was last updated on 07/10/98

The following is crew member information for this incident:

Name: WO1 William Herbert Mc Donnell
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 01/24/69 while performing the duty of Aircraft Commander.
Age at death: 19.9
Date of Birth: 03/16/49
Home City: Newtown, PA
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 170 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 68-15
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 34W-071
Aircraft: UH-1C tail number 66-00579
SSN: 169403327 Service number: W3161319
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 062B = Helicopter Pilot, Utility and Light Cargo Single Rotor
Primary cause: Hostile Fire
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: weapons
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: aircraft commander
Started Tour: 08/27/68
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Pleiku Province II Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
single 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 04/12/98

Name: WO1 Scott Craig Griswold
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 01/24/69 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 21.1
Date of Birth: 12/23/47
Home City: San Jose, CA
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 170 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 68-513/68-23
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 34W-070
Short Summary: Helicopter fire.
Aircraft: UH-1C tail number 66-00579
Service number: W3162059
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 062B = Helicopter Pilot, Utility and Light Cargo Single Rotor
Primary cause: Hostile Fire
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: co-pilot
Started Tour: 10/13/68
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Location: Pleiku Province II Corps.
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 04/12/98

Name: SP4 Bruce Wayne Westmoreland
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 01/24/69 while performing the duty of Crew Chief.
Age at death: 20.1
Date of Birth: 12/06/48
Home City: High Point, NC
Service: component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 170 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 34W-071
Aircraft: UH-1C tail number 66-00579
Service number: 67079662
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 67N2F = UH-1 Helicopter Repairer
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: weapons
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: crew chief
Started Tour: 05/24/68
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Pleiku 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

Name: SP4 John Olivio Tafoya
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 01/24/69 while performing the duty of Gunner.
Age at death: 18.7
Date of Birth: 05/24/50
Home City: Albuquerque, NM
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 170 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 34W-072
Aircraft: UH-1C tail number 66-00579
Service number: 15784832
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 67A1F = Aircraft Maintenance Apprentice
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: weapons
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: door gunner
Started Tour: 07/24/68
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Location: Pleiku Province II Corps.
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 04/12/98

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1B tail number 66-00579
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 0866.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
6610  24   24 WAAGAA 11GENSPTCO 1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6611  23   47 WAAGAA 11GENSPTCO 1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6612  23   70 WAAGAA 11GENSPTCO 1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6701  41  111 WAAGAA 11GENSPTCO 1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN      
6702  43  154 WAAGAA 11GENSPTCO 1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN      
6703  35  189 WAAGAA 11GENSPTCO 1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN      
6704  55  244 WAAGAA 11GENSPTCO 1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN      
6705  73  317 WAAGAA 11GENSPTCO 1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN      
6706  66  383 WAAGAA 11GENSPTCO 1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN      
6707  72  455 WAAGAA 11GENSPTCO 1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN      
6708 101  556 WAAGAA 11GENSPTCO 1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN      
6709  47  603 WAAGAA 11GENSPTCO 1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN      
6710  11  614 WAAVD0 COD 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN      
6711  50  664 WAAVD0 COD 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN      
6712  30  694 WAAVD0 COD 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN      
6801   0  694 WAAVD0 COD 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6802 107  801 WAAVD0 COD 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN      
6803   0  801 WAAVD0 COD 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6804   0  801 WAAVD0 COD 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6805   0  801 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM        
6806   0  801 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN STORAGE NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM          
6807   0  801 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN STORAGE NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM          
6808   0  801 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN STORAGE NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM          
6809   0  801 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM        
6810   3  804 W0MUAA ARADMAC          4TH ARMY   NAVAL AIR STA    AVCOM         
6811   0  804 WC5EAA 608 TRANS CO     VIETNAM                     RVN     
6812  13  817 WC4YAA 170 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6901   0  817 WC4YAA 170 ASLT HEL CO  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: 02/27/99

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