Helicopter or incident 66-00695

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-00695
Date: 11/08/67 MIA-POW file reference number: 0899
Incident number: 67110842.KIA
Unit: 189 AVN
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was LOSS TO INVENTORY
This was a Recon mission for Armed Escort , Other Aircraft.
While on Landing Zone this helicopter was in Orbit at 0050 feet and 080 knots.
Classified
UTM grid coordinates: YB800300
Count of hits was not possible because the helicopter burned or exploded.
Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. (7.62MM)
The helicopter was hit in the Engine Compartment
Systems damaged were: ENGINE, PERSONNEL
Casualties = 03 INJ, 01 MIA . .
The helicopter Crashed. Aircraft Destroyed.
Both mission and flight capability were terminated.
Down in Trees
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Reference Notes. Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: 0899, LNOF, 74043, STMNT, JSIDR, FM232 (Lindenmuth Old Format Data Base. Joint Services Incident Damage Report. )
Loss to Inventory

Crew Members:
CE SSG ADAMS JOHN ROBERT BNR
AC W1 MCKENNA WILLIAM J JR RES
P W1 WEEKS RES
G SP4 BEGAY RES

REFNO Synopsis:
Other Personnel In Incident: WO McKenna (pilot); SP4 Begay (crewmember); WO Weaks (copilot) - all rescued Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 15 June 1990 from one or more of the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews. SYNOPSIS: SP5 John Adams was crewchief aboard a UH1C gunship flying cover on a Special Forces insertion mission west of Dak Tho, Republic of Vietnam on November 8, 1967. While circling the inserted troops, the helicopter began to lose power and attempted to land. Failing to find a suitable landing zone, McKenna allowed the aircraft to settle tail first into the trees. At the helicopter struck the trees, the tail boom snapped off, spun and came to rest on an upslope, caving in the front of the aircraft. McKenna and Begay exited the right side of the chopper, while Weaks and Adams exited the left. Begay had suffered a broken leg, Weaks had injured his right foot, and Adams was broken his arm and appeared to be in shock. The four had barely exited the helicopter when they began to receive small arms fire. McKenna radioed for help, and he, Begay and Weaks made their way to an extraction point, with Begay dragging Adams. Begay, because of his own injuries, was unable to carry Adams far, and left him in a slumped-over position against some bushes. Begay later stated that Adams' condition had worsened. While awaiting extraction, McKenna returned to the crash site to see if he could help Adams. He saw two Viet Cong, one of whom appeared to be shooting at Adams. McKenna shot at the Viet Cong, then fell down the slope to the creekbed from which he was extracted. Adams was last seen slumped over just outside the left cargo door of the crashed aircraft. Subsequent rescue efforts were frustrated by enemy fire, and the company commander ordered all rescue attempts terminated. Following termination of rescue efforts, the downed aircraft was destroyed to prevent capture of weapons and equipment. John Adams survived the crash of his helicopter, and with the presence of enemy forces, stands a good chance of being captured. His helicopter contained equipment the Army did not want in the hands of the enemy. Twelve 500 lb. bombs, six CBU-2's, 1600 rounds of 20 mm fire, additional bombs and napalm were dropped on the crash site to prevent capture

This record was last updated on 05/25/98

The following is crew member information for this incident:

Name: SSG John Robert Adams
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 11/08/67 while performing the duty of Crew Chief.
Declared dead on 03/13/78.
Age at death: 21.3
Date of Birth: 07/31/46
Home City: Chico, CA
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 189 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 29E-046
Short Summary: Downed in Cambodia on a SOG mission.
Aircraft: UH-1C tail number 66-00695
SSN: 562641205
Country: Laos
MOS: 67N4O = UH-1 Helicopter Repairer
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: small arms fire
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: crew chief
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 05/03/67
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
The initial status of this person was: missing in action - bonified
Length of service: *
Location: Province Unknown, MR 2 Province II Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: YB800300

Additional information about this casualty:
I helped Adams do his 25 hour PM the night before with him. David Wilkie, Sep 97

Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - died while missing
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Protestant - no denominational preference
The following information secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 10/04/97

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-00695
It is provided here as an ESTIMATE of the history of this helicopter and is not intended to be the final authority.
This helicopter was purchased by the US Army in .
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
6711   0    0 WDUVAA 189 AVN          VIETNAM                     CL

Please send additions or corrections to:

Gary Roush
43 Overbrook Road
Painted Post, NY 14870