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89-00169, Boeing D model kit number M3323, was a CH-47D helicopter. The U.S. Army acceptance date was 14 September 1990, at 3,224.5 aircraft hours. As of 28 September 2001, 89-00169 had accumulated 1,769.4 D model hours and 4,987.4 total aircraft hours. 89-00169 was a conversion from the original C model Chinook 68-16012. On 26 September 1989, 89-00169 was inducted into the D model program, conversion complete on 31 August 1990, and was initially assigned to the unit that would eventually become B Company - "Sugar Bears North", 4th Battalion, 123rd Aviation Regiment, located at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Fort Wainwright was the former historic Ladd Field of World War Two era fame. B Company was the former C Company, 228th Aviation Regiment (16 October 1987 - 24 June 1994). C Company was the former 242nd Assault Support Helicopter Company (ASHC) - "Muleskinners" (located in Alaska from November 1971 through 16 October 1987). When United States involvement in the Vietnam conflict ended, 242nd ASHC was re-located from the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) to Alaska. The aviation unit in Alaska at the time was designated the 236th ASHC, 19th Aviation Battalion (April 1971 - November 1971). When the 242nd ASHC re-located to Alaska and re-formed, the unit name changed from "Muleskinners" to "Sugar Bears" and the unit designation went from the 236th ASHC to the 242nd ASHC. At some point, the unit was split into two companies. One company remained in Alaska and became known as "Sugar Bears North". The other company, C Company, 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment, was relocated to Fort Kobbe, Panama and became known as "Sugar Bears South". From 14 March 2001 through 9 July 2001, 89-00169, along with 87-00102, 89-00168,and 89-00176, self deployed from Fort Wainwright to Anchorage, Alaska, then via surface vessel to the country of Thailand to participate in Joint Training Exercise Cobra Gold 2001. The return trip to home station was in reverse order. Data from Historical Records. As of 1 January 2002, this aircraft was 32.5 years old. As of 28 September 2001, the last known location of 89-00169 was Fort Wainwright, Alaska, assigned to B Company, 4th Battalion, 123rd Aviation Regiment. Aircraft status: Flyable. |
