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.

 

 

         
CH-47A Chinook helicopter 66-19006 after the crash in the Republic of Vietnam, 26 December 1967.

 

 

         
CH-47A Chinook helicopter 66-19006 after the crash in the Republic of Vietnam, 26 December 1967.

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

 

 

         
CH-47A Chinook helicopter 66-19006 after the crash in the Republic of Vietnam, 26 December 1967.

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

 

 

         
CH-47A Chinook helicopter 66-19006 after the crash in the Republic of Vietnam, 26 December 1967.

          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.

             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.

 

 

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