Helicopter UH-1H 66-16217

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 66-16217
The Army purchased this helicopter 0367
Total flight hours at this point: 00000485
Date: 01/23/69 MIA-POW file reference number: 1365
Incident number: 69012310.KIA
Unit: 283 MED DET
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was LOSS TO INVENTORY
This was a Rescue and Recovery mission for Medical Evacuation
While in PickUp Zone this helicopter was at Hover at 0050 feet and 000 knots.
South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: YA940681
Helicopter took 1 hits from:
Explosive Weapon; Non-Artillery launched or static weapons containing explosive charges.
causing a Blast.
Systems damaged were: PERSONNEL
Casualties = 07 DOI, 01 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 Reference Notes. Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: 1365, LNNF, CASRP, JSIDR (Lindenmuth New Format Data Base. Joint Services Incident Damage Report. Casualty Report. )
Loss to Inventory
Crew: HENDERSON, WILLIAM R; LUSTER RL MOORMAN FD

Crew Members:
CE PFC SLOPPYE ROBERT ROYCE KIA
MD SFC HENDERSON WILLIAM ROY RR
P WO1 DAVIS SYLVESTER KIA
AC WO1 SILVERBERG ARVID OSCAR JR KIA

Passengers:
 SP4 SMITH EDWARD JR, AR, PX, KIA;

REFNO Synopsis:
HENDERSON, WILLIAM ROY Remains Returned 27 January 1969, ID'd 23 February 1976 Name: William Roy Henderson Rank/Branch: E5/US Army Unit: Date of Birth: 18 February 1943 Home City of Record: Cincinnati OH Date of Loss: 23 January 1969 Country of Loss: South Vietnam Loss Coordinates: 141911N 1074330E (YA940681) Status (in 1973): Missing in Action Category: 3 Acft/Vehicle/Ground: UH1H Other Personnel in Incident: Robert L. Luster, Frank D. Moorman (both missing) Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project (919/527-8079) 01 April 1991 from one or more of the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews. Copyright 1991 Homecoming II Project. REMARKS: REMS REC 690127, IDD 760223 SYNOPSIS: MACV-SOG (Military Assistance Command, Vietnam Studies and Observation Group) was a joint-service 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 into Laos and Cambodia which were called, depending on the time frame, "Shining Brass" or "Prairie Fire" missions. On December 19, 1968, PFC Robert F. Scherdin was the assistant team leader of a MACV-SOG reconnaissance patrol in Rotanokiri Province, Cambodia, near the border of Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. The team leader, suspecting enemy activity, had taken four members of the team to check out the area. The rear element, with Scherdin in charge, came under heavy automatic weapon fire as they were moving up to the leader's position. Montagnard soldier Nguang in this element, saw Scherdin fall on his right side and tried to help him stand up, but Scherdin only groaned and would not get up. Nguang was then wounded himself and realized that he had been left by the other three Vietnamese of the rear element, whereupon he left Scherdin and joined the rest of the unit. The team leader and his element were extracted a short time later, then the rear element was extracted, except for Scherdin. The team leader had been informed that Scherdin had been wounded and because of the tactical situation, had to be left behind. Scherdin was not seen again. On December 30, a platoon was inserted into the area to search for Scherdin, but had to be extracted because of heavy enemy activity. In January, 1969, the rear element of the original team was also reinserted and remained four days. They died in a helicopter crash shortly after their extraction. They had not been questioned by the investigation board, and it is not known if they located information concerning Scherdin. There are only three Americans missing who are associated with the loss of a helicopter in January 1969. Lost January 23, 1969, in the general vicinity of the Scherdin loss, they are SGT. William R. Henderson, SP4 Frank D. Moorman and PFC Robert L. Luster. These three were lost in the Tri-border area in South Vietnam. Their remains were recovered on January 27, 1969 and positive identifications confirmed February 23, 1976. According to Luster's wife, the remains were subsequently buried in a mass grave. She does not accept the identification of her husband. Further, Mrs. Luster states that one of the team "walked off the plane in 1973" (was a released POW). According to all available public records, only Luster, Moorman and Henderson were classified missing from this incident, and no released POW went missing that day. It is believed that these three may have comprised the flight crew of the helicopter extracting the Special Forces search party. [As the remainder of the rear element was probably completely indigenous, U.S. records would not contain reference to them. The individual released may have been an indigenous.]

This record was last updated on 05/25/98

The following is crew member information for this incident:

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 66-16217
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 0367.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
6703   0    0 W0MHAA DIROF SUP TRAN   6TH ARMY   SHARPE GD        AVCOM          
6704   1    1 W0MHAA DIROF SUP TRAN   6TH ARMY   SHARPE GD        AVCOM          
6705   0    1 W0MHAA DIROF SUP TRAN   6TH ARMY   SHARPE GD        AVCOM          
6706   5    6 WC4YAA 170 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6707   6   12 3364   USARV FLT DET    VIETNAM                     RVN     
6708   0   12 3364   BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM    
6709   0   12 3364   BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM    
6710   0   12 3364   BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM    
6711   0   12 3364   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY 
6712   5   17 3364   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY 
6801  51   68 3364   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY 
6802  58  126 3364   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY  
6803  54  180 3364   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY  
6804  39  219 3364   BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM     
6805  39  258 3364   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY  
6806  30  288 3364   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY  
6807  40  328 3364   OPM SEA NITEOPS  1ST ARMY   FORT BELVOIR     AMC          
6808  41  369 3364   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND                    PACIFIC 
6809  23  392 WBSZAA 283 MED DET HA   VIETNAM                     RVN     
6810  32  424 WBSZAA 283 MED DET HA   VIETNAM                     RVN     
6811  61  485 WBSZAA 283 MED DET HA   VIETNAM                     RVN     
6812   0  485 WBSZAA 283 MED DET HA   VIETNAM                     RVN     

Please send additions or corrections to:

Gary Roush
43 Overbrook Road
Painted Post, NY 14870

Printed from databases on: 02/27/99

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