66-19114

 

 

Property of the Air Cavalry

C Company "Crimson Tide" 228th Assault Support Helicopter Battalion Republic of Vietnam 1970

 

 

Cliff Morley standing in front of 66-19114, a.k.a "The Pusher", while in the Republic of Vietnam. Cliff had two tours with the 228th Assault Support Helicopter Battalion. The first tour was with B Company from May 1968 to May 1969. He was on his 2nd tour from January 1970 to September 1970 when this photograph was taken. 66-19114 is sporting the distinctive 1st Air Cavalry Division markings on the aft pylon and the Pegasus markings on the nose compartment door. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger version.

 

 

66-19114, Boeing build number B-372, was a CH-47B helicopter. The U.S. Army acceptance date was 20 June 1967. 66-19114 accumulated 7,379.5 aircraft hours.    At some point, at least through 1970, 66-19114 was assigned to the 228th Assault Support Helicopter Battalion (ASHB) in the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) through an unknown end date.    On an unknown date in 1970, 66-19114 was involved in an accident.    While on a combat resupply mission in the RVN, 66-19114 was on short final to an Landing Zone (LZ) in Cambodia with a M105 sling load and experienced a blade strike. The copilot chopped the throttles and the aircraft settled down on top of the load sitting on a dirt mound.    The aircraft was recovered and repaired.    At some point, 66-19114 was assigned to Fort Rucker, Alabama, and utilized in the training fleet for producing aircrews qualified in the CH-47 helicopter.    On 24 April 1986, 66-19114 was inducted into the D model program and converted to 86-01655.    As of 24 April 1986, the last known location of 66-19114 was at Boeing during the conversion.    Aircraft status: Converted to D model.

 

 

66-19114 and crew were on short final to an LZ in Cambodia with a "105" sling load and had a blade strike. The copilot chopped the throttles and they ended up on top of the load sitting on a dirt mound. Looks like they are jacked up for an oil change. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger version.

 

 

The pilot cranked 66-19114 back up (all by himself) and hovered over to the side of the LZ to get it out of the way. The crew departed the area on a Huey and left the aircraft for Maintenance to recover later. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger version.

 

 

The Aircraft Commander (AC), Captain Larry D. Mohler, is on top of CH-47B 66-19114 making a final inspection before flying the damaged aircraft, alone, off to the side of the LZ. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger version.

 

 

John A. Williams, the Left Door Gunner during the crash of the "Pusher" in Cambodia. Note his trademark white plastic spoon. He was always ready to chow down on some delicious C-rations. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger version.

 

 

David Petty II, the Crew Chief (CC) and Right Door Gunner (DG) during the crash of the "Pusher" in Cambodia. Note the Arizona state flag behind him which was often mistaken for a Vietcong flag.

 

 

This aircraft was piloted by:

 

WO1 Mark S. Morgan, Pilot, 1985

 

CPT Larry D. Mohler, Aircraft Commander, 1970

 

Your Name Here.

 

 

This aircraft was crewed by:

 

UNK John A. Williams, Door Gunner, 1970

 

UNK David Petty II, Door Gunner, 1970

 

Your Name Here.

 

 

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