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Helicopter UH-1B 63-08550Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1B tail number 63-08550Date: 11/07/1964 Accident case number: 0A821 Fatality Accident Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0 costing 360 Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database. Crew Members: P CW LINDSEY BW IP O1 KEGELMEYER
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1B tail number 63-08550
This record was last updated on 05/25/1998
The following is crew member information for this incident:
Name: 1LT Leonard John Dadante Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 09/09/1965 while performing the duty of Pilot. Age at death: 23.8 Date of Birth: 11/30/1941 Home City: Cleveland, OH Service: TC branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army. Unit: 101 ABN Major organization: 101st Airborne Division Flight class: 65-2 Service: TC branch of the U.S. Army. The Wall location: 02E-078 Short Summary: Being checked as a new pilot took fire low level and crashed? With IP Reagan, CE Simkaitis, G Hipke. Aircraft: UH-1B tail number 63-08550 Call sign: Thunderbird Service number: O5222131 Country: South Vietnam MOS: 1981 = 19 Rotary Wing Aviator (Unit Commander) Primary cause: Hostile Fire Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea Compliment cause: weapons Vehicle involved: helicopter Position in vehicle: pilot Started Tour: 05/24/1965 "Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot Length of service: 02 Location: Unknown Province Reason: aircraft lost or crashed Casualty type: Hostile - killed 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: battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: officer This record was last updated on 08/20/1995
Name: PFC Harry Allan Hipke Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 09/09/1965 while performing the duty of Gunner. Age at death: 18.7 Date of Birth: 12/17/1946 Home City: Gleason, WI Service: regular component of the U.S. Army. Unit: 101 ABN Major organization: 101st Airborne Division Service: U.S. Army. The Wall location: 02E-079 Short Summary: P O2 DADANTE AC CW REAGAN CE E5 SIMKAITIS G E3 HIPKE killed. Aircraft: UH-1B tail number 63-08550 Call sign: Thunderbird Service number: 16800321 Country: South Vietnam MOS: 36A10 = Wireman Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea Compliment cause: weapons Vehicle involved: helicopter Position in vehicle: door gunner Started Tour: 09/05/1965 "Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew Length of service: 01 Location: Unknown Province Reason: aircraft lost or crashed Casualty type: Hostile - killed single male U.S. citizen Race: Caucasian Relgion: Lutheran (Missouri Synod) The following information is 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 07/29/1995
Name: CW2 Robert William Reagan Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 09/09/1965 while performing the duty of Aircraft Commander. Age at death: 34.6 Date of Birth: 02/04/1931 Home City: Miami, FL Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army. Unit: 101 ABN Major organization: 101st Airborne Division Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army. The Wall location: 02E-079 Short Summary: P Dadante, CE Simkaitis, G Hipke. While checking out new pilot (Dadante), took fire low level and crashed. Took several days to recover Aircraft: UH-1B tail number 63-08550 Call sign: Thunderbird Service number: W3151304 Country: South Vietnam MOS: 062B = Helicopter Pilot, Utility and Light Cargo Single Rotor Primary cause: Hostile Fire Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea Compliment cause: weapons Vehicle involved: helicopter Position in vehicle: co-pilot Started Tour: 02/28/1965 "Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew Length of service: 04 Location: Unknown Province Reason: aircraft lost or crashed Casualty type: Hostile - killed married male U.S. citizen Race: Caucasian 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: battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: warrant officer This record was last updated on 07/20/1998
Name: SP5 Erich Simkaitis Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 09/09/1965 while performing the duty of Crew Chief. Age at death: 22.6 Date of Birth: 01/22/1943 Home City: Tampa, FL Service: regular component of the U.S. Army. Unit: 101 ABN Major organization: 101st Airborne Division Service: U.S. Army. The Wall location: 02E-080 Short Summary: P O2 DADANTE AC CW REAGAN CE E5 SIMKAITIS G E3 HIPKE were killed. Aircraft: UH-1B tail number 63-08550 Call sign: Thunderbird Service number: 14807877 Country: South Vietnam MOS: 67N20 = UH-1 Helicopter Repairer Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea Compliment cause: weapons Vehicle involved: helicopter Position in vehicle: crew member Started Tour: 04/12/1965 "Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew Length of service: 03 Location: Unknown Province Reason: aircraft lost or crashed Casualty type: Hostile - killed single male U.S. citizen Race: Caucasian Relgion: Lutheran (Missouri Synod) The following information is 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 07/29/1995
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1B tail number 63-08550
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1B tail number 63-08550
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1B tail number 63-08550
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1B tail number 63-08550
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1B tail number 63-08550
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1B tail number 63-08550
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1B tail number 63-08550
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1B tail number 63-08550
THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON A COMBAT ASSAULT MISSION SERVING AS SECURITY FOR A COMPANY SIZE INSERTION OF ARVN RANGERS AND THEIR AMERICAN ADVISORS FROM THE 34TH RANGER BATTALION. WHILE ON THIS MISSION, THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO THE SAIGON RIVER KILLING ALL FOUR CREWMEMBERS ABOARD. AFTER RETURNING TO THE OPERATIONAL AREA FROM REFUELING AND REARMING AT NHA BE, RVN, THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER RADIOED STATING THAT HE HAD SIGHTED A BUNKER COMPLEX AND WAS GOING INBOUND TO POP SMOKE ON THE COMPLEX. ACCORDING TO EYE WITNESS STATEMENTS, AFTER ROLLING OUT OF THE BANK, THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO TUCK AT APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED IN A GRADUAL NOSE LOW CONDITION UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO REACH A VERTICAL ATTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT HELD THIS ATTITUDE FOR A BRIEF SECOND AND THEN CONTINUED ON OVER INTO AN INVERTED ATTITUDE AT APPROXIMATELY 75 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO THE RIVER IN AN INVERTED POSITION, IMPACTING TAIL FIRST. WITNESSSES OBSERVED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN TACT PRIOR TO IMPACT. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED INVERTED ON AN APPROXIMATE AZIMUTH OF 080 DEGREES. ON IMPACT, THE TAILBOOM, ROTOR SYSTEM, TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE WERE TORN FREE OF THE WRECKAGE. ONLY THE ROTOR SYSTEM, TRANSMISSION, AND AIRCRAFT CABIN WERE RECOVERED. THE NAVY DIVERS COULD NOT LOCATE THE TAILBOOM AND ENGINE BEFORE THE AREA HAD TO BE EVACUATED DUE TO HOSTILE FIRE. THERE WAS NO FIRE CONNECTED WITH THE ACCIDENT.\\
This record was last updated on 09/20/1998
The following is crew member information for this incident:
Name: SP4 Patrick Dale Finch Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 06/04/1969 while performing the duty of Gunner. Age at death: 20.2 Date of Birth: 03/20/1949 Home City: Rockford, IL Service: regular component of the U.S. Army. Unit: 128 AHC Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade Service: U.S. Army. The Wall location: 23W-063 Short Summary: Gunship hit wire put up by VC and crashed inverted into the Siagon River. With WO1 Zappini, WO1 Mayer, SP5 Turner. Aircraft: UH-1B tail number 63-08550 Service number: 16904387 Country: South Vietnam MOS: 67A1F = Aircraft Maintenance Apprentice Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea Compliment cause: unknown Vehicle involved: helicopter Position in vehicle: door gunner Started Tour: 06/23/1968 "Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew Length of service: 01 Location: Bien Hoa Province III Corps. Reason: aircraft lost or crashed Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes single 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 record was last updated on 07/28/1994
Name: WO1 Oscar Clement Mayer III Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 06/04/1969 while performing the duty of Pilot. Age at death: 19.5 Date of Birth: 11/22/1949 Home City: Lititz, PA Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army. Unit: 128 AHC Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade Flight class: 68-19/68-33 Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army. The Wall location: 23W-065 Short Summary: Gunship hit wires put up by the VC and crashed into Saigon River. With WO1 Zappini, SP5 Turner, and SP4 Finch Aircraft: UH-1B tail number 63-08550 Call sign: Gunslinger Service number: W3162385 Country: South Vietnam MOS: 100B = Utility/Observation Helicopter Pilot Primary cause: A/C Accident Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea Compliment cause: drowning Vehicle involved: helicopter Position in vehicle: pilot Started Tour: 12/20/1968 "Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot Location: Bien Hoa Province III Corps. Reason: aircraft lost or crashed Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes single male U.S. citizen Race: Caucasian Relgion: unknown 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: warrant officer This record was last updated on 08/08/1999
Name: SP5 Michael Dentis Turner Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 06/04/1969 while performing the duty of Crew Chief. Age at death: 21.9 Date of Birth: 07/06/1947 Home City: Ft Leonard Wood, MO Service: regular component of the U.S. Army. Unit: 128 AHC Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade Service: U.S. Army. The Wall location: 23W-068 Short Summary: Gunship hit wire put up by VC and crashed inverted into the Saigon River. With WO1 Zappini, WO1 Mayer, and SP4 Finch. Aircraft: UH-1B tail number 63-08550 Service number: 16992323 Country: South Vietnam MOS: 67N20 = UH-1 Helicopter Repairer Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea Compliment cause: unknown Vehicle involved: helicopter Position in vehicle: crew chief Started Tour: 09/13/1967 "Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew Length of service: 02 Location: Bien Hoa Province III Corps. Reason: aircraft lost or crashed Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes single 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 This record was last updated on 07/24/1994
Name: WO1 Joseph Vincent Zappini, Jr. Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 06/04/1969 while performing the duty of Aircraft Commander. Age at death: 21.3 Date of Birth: 02/19/1948 Home City: Orlando, FL Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army. Unit: 128 AHC Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade Flight class: 68-13/68-21 Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army. The Wall location: 23W-069 Short Summary: Gunship hit wire put up by VC and crashed inverted into the Saigon River. With WO1 Mayer, SP5 Turner, and SP4 Finch. Aircraft: UH-1B tail number 63-08550 Call sign: Gunslinger Service number: W3161710 Country: South Vietnam MOS: 100B = Utility/Observation Helicopter Pilot Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea Compliment cause: drowning Vehicle involved: helicopter Position in vehicle: aircraft commander Started Tour: 10/04/1968 "Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew Location: Bien Hoa Province III Corps. Reason: aircraft lost or crashed Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes single 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: warrant officer This record was last updated on 08/08/1999
The following is Goldbook
information on US Army helicopter UH-1B tail number 63-08550
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 6610 50 363 3456 BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 6611 52 415 3456 ARMY AVN DIV 6TH ARMY DUGWAY PG TEVALCOM 6612 58 473 3456 ARMY AVN DIV 6TH ARMY DUGWAY PG TEVALCOM 6701 17 490 3456 ARMY AVN DIV 6TH ARMY DUGWAY PG TEVALCOM 6702 30 520 3456 ARMY AVN DIV 6TH ARMY DUGWAY PG TEVALCOM 6703 0 520 3456 POST SUPPLY 6TH ARMY FORT ORD 6TH ARMY 6704 39 559 3456 ARMY AVN DIV 6TH ARMY DUGWAY PG TEVALCOM 6705 51 610 3456 ARMY AVN DIV 6TH ARMY DUGWAY PG TEVALCOM 6706 65 675 3456 USARV FLT DET VIETNAM RVN 6707 40 715 3456 USARV FLT DET VIETNAM RVN 6708 0 715 3456 BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 6709 0 715 W0Y6AA INTRANSIT IN TRANSIT AVCOMCTR 6710 0 715 W0MUAA ARADMAC 4TH ARMY NAVAL AIR STA AVCOM 6711 0 715 W0MUAA ARADMAC 4TH ARMY NAVAL AIR STA AVCOM 6712 0 715 W0MUAA ARADMAC 4TH ARMY NAVAL AIR STA AVCOM 6801 2 717 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 6802 31 748 WC3HAA 128 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6803 61 809 WC3HAA 128 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6804 54 863 WC3HAA 128 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6805 56 919 WC3HAA 128 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6806 38 957 WC3HAA 128 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6807 73 1030 WC3HAA 128 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6808 76 1106 WC3HAA 128 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6809 48 1154 WC3HAA 128 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6810 51 1205 WC3HAA 128 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6811 96 1301 WC3HAA 128 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6812 57 1358 WC3HAA 128 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6901 80 1438 WC3HAA 128 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6902 62 1500 WC3HAA 128 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6903 43 1543 WC3HAA 128 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6904 80 1623 WC3HAA 128 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6905 82 1705 WC3HAA 128 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6906 17 1722 WC5DAA 605 TRANS CO DS VIETNAM RVN Please send additions or corrections to:
Gary Roush
Send comments and questions to the VHPA at ( webmaster@vhpa.org ) Printed from databases on: 07/06/2000 Return to Main Index
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