66-19006

 

 

66-19006, Boeing build number B-264, was a CH-47A helicopter. The U.S. Army acceptance date was 9 November 1966. The administrative strike date was 26 December 1967. 66-19006 accumulated at least 233.0 aircraft hours.    At some point, 66-19006 was assigned to C Company - "Crimson Tide", 228th Assault Support Helicopter Battalion (ASHB), located at various time periods at either An Khe, Camp Evans, Phuc Vinh, or Bear Cat, in the Republic of Vietnam (RVN), and remained there until it was lost due to an accident.    On 26 December 1967, 66-19006 crashed at Phu Cat Air Force Base, RVN, on the way to the 1967 Bob Hope Christmas Show at Phu Cat Air Force Base.    SFC Athol K. Foster, passenger and Platoon Sergeant of the platoon in which 66-19006 was assigned, was on the aircraft and reported: A blade came off the aft head and the aft transmission and pylon was dislodged from the airframe. The aircraft fell to the ground from about 200 feet tail first. The aircraft landed on its tail then continued down onto its belly. At this point the forward transmission departed the airframe. There was 33 personnel on board, with eight fatalities. Every one was hurt in some way.    The last known location of 66-19006 was in the Republic of Vietnam.    Aircraft status: Crashed.

 

 

The following photographs show 66-19006 at the crash site and then after the move to a temporary site at Red Beach.

 

 

 

 

Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image.

 

 

Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image.

 

 

Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image.

 

 

SFC Athol K. Foster recovering in the hospital after having leg surgery at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, 1967.

 

 

Additional Information on 66-19006

 

 

Information on U.S. Army helicopter CH-47A tail number 66-19006 Date: 12/26/67 Incident number: 671226091ACD Accident case number: 671226091 Total loss or fatality Accident Unit: C/228 ASHB This was a Accident incident. The station for this helicopter was An Khe in South Vietnam Number killed in accident = 8 Injured = 25 Passengers = 28 costing 1412037 Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Army Aviation Safety Center database. Also: OPERA (Operations Report. ) Loss to Inventory Crew Members: AC W2 OBRAY PE P W1 CLIFTON JL CE E5 HAWK RL G E4 LYNN AS FE SP4 CAMPBELL WILLIAM H III KIA Passengers: CPT BERDY MICHAEL EDWARD, AR, PX, KIA SP4 KYLE BARRY STUART, AR, PX, KIA E4 GOODWILL, PAX, D E6 MCGUIRE, PAX, D E4 COMERFORD, PAX, D E4 GAYLOR, PAX, D E6 DECKER, PAX, D E4 JAMES, PAX, D SGT VUGA STEPHEN MICHAEL, AR, PX, KIA E4 CLARK, PAX, D E6 TEACHEY, PAX, D E6 DAVIS, PAX, D E5 JOINER, PAX, D E5 ATKINS, PAX, D E6 COLEY, PAX, D 1LT VAN ZANDT THOMAS MILTON, AR, PX, KIA E6 BAKER, PAX, D E7 FOSTER, PAX, D 1LT LIGONS DARYL LEE, AR, PX, KIA CPL RUSS JAMES LEE JR, AR, PX, KIA E6 HOFFA, PAX, D E4 TEAGUE, PAX, D E4 KELLY, PAX, D E4 WIGGINS, PAX, D E6 FRUEND, PAX, D SSG FORD ALLEN D, AR, PX, KIA NO NAME, PAX, D NO NAME, PAX, D Accident Summary:    An eye witness stated that the aft rotor assembly left the aircraft while the aircraft was terminating an approach for landing then the forward rotor system also left the aircraft. The aircraft came to rest upright and two small fires were extinguished. The following is information on fatalities for this incident: Name: CPT Michael Edward Berdy Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 12/26/67 while performing the duty of Passenger. Age at death: 24.0 Date of Birth: 12/29/43 Home City: New York, NY Service: IN branch of the regular component of the U.S. Army. Unit: 1 CAV Major organization: 1st Cavalry Division Service: IN branch of the U.S. Army. The Wall location: 32E-061 Aircraft: CH-47A tail number 66-19006 Service number: OF104623 Country: South Vietnam MOS: 2163 = 21 Air Operations Officer (G3, S3) Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea Compliment cause: fire or burns Vehicle involved: helicopter Position in vehicle: passenger Started Tour: 01/15/67 "Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew Length of service: 02 Location: Binh Dinh Province II Corps. Reason: aircraft lost or crashed Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes single male U.S. citizen Race: Caucasian Relgion: Jewish The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident. Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: officer Name: SP4 William H. Campbell III Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 12/26/67 while performing the duty of Flight Engineer. Age at death: 22.9 Date of Birth: 02/15/45 Home City: Burlington, MA Service: regular component of the U.S. Army. Unit: C/228 ASHB 1 CAV Major organization: 1st Cavalry Division Service: U.S. Army. The Wall location: 32E-062 Short Summary: Aft rotor assemble left the aircraft while the aircraft was terminating an approach for landing. Aircraft: CH-47A tail number 66-19006 Service number: 12758781 Country: South Vietnam MOS: 67U20 = CH-47 Helicopter Repairer Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea Compliment cause: fire or burns Vehicle involved: helicopter Position in vehicle: passenger Started Tour: 09/24/67 "Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew Length of service: 01 Location: Binh Dinh Province II Corps. Reason: aircraft lost or crashed Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes single male U.S. citizen Race: Negro Relgion: Episcopal (Anglican) The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident. Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel Name: SSG Allen D. Ford Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 12/26/67 while performing the duty of Passenger. Age at death: 20.0 Date of Birth: 12/08/47 Home City: Pueblo, CO Service: regular component of the U.S. Army. Unit: 1 CAV Major organization: 1st Cavalry Division Service: U.S. Army. The Wall location: 32E-063 Aircraft: CH-47A tail number 66-19006 Service number: 17707667 Country: South Vietnam MOS: 11B40 = Infantryman Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea Compliment cause: weapons Vehicle involved: helicopter Position in vehicle: passenger Started Tour: 07/26/66 "Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew Length of service: 02 Location: Binh Dinh Province II Corps. Reason: aircraft lost or crashed Casualty type: Non-hostile - died illness or injuries married male U.S. citizen Race: Caucasian Relgion: Baptist - other groups The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident. Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel Name: SP4 Barry Stuart Kyle Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 12/26/67 while performing the duty of Passenger. Age at death: 21.5 Date of Birth: 06/10/46 Home City: Bradford, MA Service: component of the U.S. Army. Unit: 1 CAV Major organization: 1st Cavalry Division Service: U.S. Army. The Wall location: 32E-064 Aircraft: CH-47A tail number 66-19006 Service number: 51615684 Country: South Vietnam MOS: 11B20 = Infantryman Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea Compliment cause: fire or burns Vehicle involved: helicopter Position in vehicle: passenger Started Tour: 08/04/67 "Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew Length of service: 01 Location: Binh Dinh Province II Corps. Reason: aircraft lost or crashed Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes 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: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel Name: 1LT Daryl Lee Ligons Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 12/26/67 while performing the duty of Passenger. Age at death: 23.1 Date of Birth: 11/11/44 Home City: Los Angeles, CA Service: FA branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army. Major organization: other Service: FA branch of the U.S. Army. The Wall location: 32E-064 Aircraft: CH-47A tail number 66-19006 Service number: O5420692 Country: South Vietnam MOS: 1193 = 11 Field Artillery Unit Commander Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea Compliment cause: weapons Vehicle involved: helicopter Position in vehicle: passenger Started Tour: 10/16/67 "Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew Length of service: 02 Location: Binh Dinh Province II Corps. Reason: aircraft lost or crashed Casualty type: Non-hostile - died while missing single male U.S. citizen Race: Negro Relgion: Presbyterian The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident. Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: officer Name: CPL James Lee Russ, Jr. (posthumously promoted) Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 12/26/67 while performing the duty of Passenger. Age at death: 22.6 Date of Birth: 05/14/45 Home City: Youngstown, OH Service: regular component of the U.S. Army. Unit: 1 CAV Major organization: 1st Cavalry Division Service: U.S. Army. The Wall location: 32E-065 Aircraft: CH-47A tail number 66-19006 Service number: 15731589 Country: South Vietnam MOS: 91A10 = Medical Corpsman Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea Compliment cause: fire or burns Vehicle involved: helicopter Position in vehicle: passenger Started Tour: 08/20/67 "Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew Length of service: 02 Location: Binh Dinh Province II Corps. Reason: aircraft lost or crashed Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes single male U.S. citizen Race: Negro 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: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel Name: 1LT Van Zandt Thomas Milton Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 12/26/67 while performing the duty of Passenger. Age at death: 28.1 Date of Birth: 12/01/39 Home City: Austin, TX Service: IN branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army. Unit: 1 CAV Major organization: 1st Cavalry Division Service: IN branch of the U.S. Army. The Wall location: 32E-066 Aircraft: CH-47A tail number 66-19006 Service number: O5331685 Country: South Vietnam MOS: 1542 = 15 Infantry Unit Commander Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea Compliment cause: fire or burns Vehicle involved: helicopter Position in vehicle: passenger Started Tour: 02/28/67 "Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew Length of service: 01 Location: Binh Dinh Province II Corps. Reason: aircraft lost or crashed Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes married male U.S. citizen Race: Negro 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: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: officer Name: SGT Stephen Michael Vuga (posthumously promoted) Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 12/26/67 while performing the duty of Passenger. Age at death: 20.6 Date of Birth: 05/05/47 Home City: Pittsburgh, PA Service: component of the U.S. Army. Unit: 1 CAV Major organization: 1st Cavalry Division Service: U.S. Army. The Wall location: 32E-065 Aircraft: CH-47A tail number 66-19006 Service number: 52851462 Country: South Vietnam MOS: 11B20 = Infantryman Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea Compliment cause: fire or burns Vehicle involved: helicopter Position in vehicle: passenger Started Tour: 02/24/67 "Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew Length of service: 01 Location: Binh Dinh Province II Corps. Reason: aircraft lost or crashed Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes 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: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel

 

 

This aircraft was piloted by:

 

W2 P. E. Obray, Aircraft Commander, 1967

 

W1 J. L. Clifton, Copilot, 1967

 

Your Name Here.

 

 

This aircraft was crewed by:

 

SP4 William H. Campbell III, Flight Engineer, 1967 (KIA)

 

SGT R. L. Hawk, Crew Chief, 1967

 

SPC A. S. Lynn, Door Gunner, 1967

 

Your Name Here.

 

 

Related Information

 

The Heroism of W1 Ken Bastion

 

 

Comments or Questions ?

Email the Webmaster.