Boeing CH-47A Chinook helicopter 65-08024.

65-08024

A unit patch from the 242nd Aviation Company - "Muleskinners", from thier days in the Republic of Vietnam.

Property of the

242nd Aviation Company - "Muleskinners"

(Assault Support Helicopter Company)

Republic of Vietnam

Photograph of destroyed CH-47A Chinook at Cu Chi, Republic of Vietnam, tail number unknown.

CH-47A destroyed by satchel charges, tail number unknown.

Crew Chief SP5 Roger G. Montgomery and 65-08024, at Cu Chi, before satchel charges destroyed the aircraft. Seen in the Nose Art, to the left of the Road Runner, is the plate showing the name of the Flight Engineer, SP5 Ronald P. Wetherell, Crew Chief, SP5 Roger G. Montgomery (in faint red), and the Door Gunner, SP4 Charles Smith. Below that, a cherry with the date 10 March 1968. The cherry signifies the fact that 65-08024 did not receive any hits from enemy fire during it's tour in the Republic of Vietnam until that date. Directly below the name plate is a Maltese Cross, of which the importance is unknown. See photograph below.

   65-08024, Boeing build number B-196, was a CH-47A helicopter. The U.S. Army acceptance date was 9 June 1966. The administrative strike date was 26 February 1969. 65-08024 accumulated at least 1,427.0 aircraft hours.

   At some point, 65-08024 was assigned to the 242nd Assault Support Helicopter Company (ASHC) - "Muleskinners", located at at Cu Chi Base Camp in the Republic of Vietnam, where it remained until it was lost due to enemy action.

   On 26 February 1969, enemy forces from North Vietnam infiltrated the company area and destroyed 65-08024, along with 8 additional CH-47A helicopters, with satchel charges.

   Another 3 airframes received major damage and 2 airframes had minor damage.

   The last known location of 65-08024 was in the Republic of Vietnam.

   Aircraft status: Destroyed.

Unit History

An extract from the history of the 242nd Aviation Company (Assault Support Helicopter Company) - "Muleskinners", 269th Aviation Battalion (Combat), 12th Aviation Group (Combat):

1 January 1969 - 31 December 1969
Prepared by CW2 Lawrence M. Cain, Unit Historical Officer

....Then tragedy struck in the form of a vicious enemy sapper attack on the "North Forty" Chinook parking area. One crew member was killed (SP4 Isaac Stringer, Jr.) and 5 wounded with aircraft losses totaling 9 destroyed, 3 with major damage and 2 with minor damage. Around the clock work by the dedicated men of the 242d returned the unit to fully operational in 10 days...

Flight Engineer SP5 Ronald P. Wetherell standing near the Nose Art just forward of the main cabin door of 65-08024.

Although not assigned to the aircraft, Flight Engineer SP4 Jerry D. Redburn is pictured standing beside 65-08024 at Cu Chi before satchel charges destroyed the aircraft.

Although not assigned to this aircraft, rather 66-19015, Flight Engineer SP4 Jerry D. Redburn is pictured standing beside 65-08024 at Cu Chi before satchel charges destroyed the aircraft.

Former Door Gunner SP4 Charles Smith writes:

"In approximately April 1968, while at Duc Hoa supporting the 25th Infantry Division, I took a round from an AK-47. I was helping SP6 Hillman Walden, my flight engineer, getting men inside the helicopter when I stood up and started to go back to my door. That is when I got hit from the AK-47. SP6 Walden caught me from falling back. I am alive today because I had my body armor on. If anybody knows the whereabouts of my other crew members please give them my email address: Poppie0921@aol.com."

This aircraft was piloted by:

Your Name Here.

This aircraft was crewed by:

SP5 Ronald P. Wetherell, Flight Engineer, 1967 - 1968.

SP5 Roger G. Montgomery, Crew Chief, 1967 - 1968.

SP4 Charles Smith, Door Gunner, 1967 - 1968.

SP6 Hillman Walden, Flight Engineer, 1967.

Your Name Here.