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67-18526, Boeing build number B-496, was a CH-47C helicopter. The U.S. Army acceptance date was 4 June 1968. 67-18526 accumulated 4,443.0 aircraft hours. 67-18526 was initially assigned to the 200th Assault Support Helicopter Company (ASHC) - "Pachyderms" 101st Airborne Division, located at Bear Cat, in the Republic of Vietnam (RVN). The 200th ASHC was formed at Fort Benning, Georgia and was deployed to the RVN from 15 March 1967 to 1 July 1968. In mid 1968, the 200th ASHC was relocated to Phu Bai. At some point, the unit was re-designated A Company, 159th Assault Support Helicopter Battalion (ASHB). At some point, and as of March 2002, A Company re-deployed to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and became A Company, 7th Battalion, 159th Combat Aviation Group (CAG), 101st Airborne Division. On 10 May 1970, 67-18526, while assigned to A Company, received fire from a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) in the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) area while on a re-supply mission to an artillery site in the Ashau Valley. SP6 Quakenbush was the Flight Engineer (FE). He had just finished a ramp check and walked forward when the helicopter was struck. There were no injuries. While the aircraft recovery was in process, Vietcong (VC) Charlie continued to attempt the destruction of 67-18526. However, AH-1 Cobras kept them at bay, as well as infantry from C Company, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Strike Force, 101st Airborne Division. The engines and rotor blades were removed to lighten the load, and 67-18526 was slung out to Da Nang, RVN, courtesy of another CH-47C helicopter (tail number unknown) from C Company - "Platex", 159th ASHC, 101st Airborne Division. C Company would later be re-named "Haulmark". At some point, 67-18526 was assigned to the 213th Assault Support Helicopter Company (ASHC) - "Blackcats", located at Camp Humphreys, in the Republic of Korea (ROK) (South Korea), and remained there through at least from September 1986 through December 1988. SGT Robert L. Carter was the last Flight Engineer assigned to 67-18526 before the airframe was converted to a D model. At some point, the 213th ASHC would be re-designated A Company, 2nd Battalion, 501st Aviation Regiment, and eventually A Company, 2nd Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment. At some point, 67-18526 was returned to the United States. On 4 June 1990, 67-18526 was inducted into the D model program and converted to 89-00159. The last known location of 67-18526 was at Boeing during the conversion. Aircraft status: Converted to D model. |
