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89-00176, Boeing D model kit number M3330, was a CH-47D helicopter. The U.S. Army acceptance date was 30 October 1990. As of 28 September 2001, 89-00176 had accumulated 1,763.5 D model hours and 3,359.5 total aircraft hours. 89-00176 was a conversion from the original B model Chinook 66-19138. On 9 October 1990, 89-00176 was inducted into the D model program, converted, 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". On 16 January 1991, 89-00176 was disassembled for C5 air shipment to the Middle East Theater (Saudi Arabia) at 1,634.5 aircraft hours. On 24 February 1991, 89-00176 was transferred to B Company, 7th Battalion, 101st Airborne Division for Operation Desert Shield / Storm at 1,634.5 aircraft hours. On 17 March 1991, 89-00176 was transferred to B Company, 8th Battalion, 101st Airborne Division, at 1,670.0 aircraft hours. On or about 22 April 1991, 89-00176 was transferred to C Company, 228th Aviation Regiment at 1,707.5 aircraft hours. 89-00176 was one of three C Company, 228th Aviation Regiment Chinook helicopters to deploy to Southwest Asia. 89-00167 and 89-00172 were the other two aircraft. 89-00176 accumulated 64.0 aircraft hours in support of Operation Desert Storm. From 14 March 2001 through 9 July 2001, 89-00176, along with 87-00102, 89-00168, and 89-00169, deployed via surface vessel to the country of Thailand to participate in Joint Training Exercise Cobra Gold 2001. Data from Historical Records. As of 1 January 2002, this aircraft was 34.4 years old. As of 28 September 2001, the last known location of 89-00176 was Fort Wainwright, Alaska, assigned to B Company, 4th Battalion, 123rd Aviation Regiment. Aircraft status: Flyable. |
