Helicopter UH-1H 68-16206

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-16206
The Army purchased this helicopter 0869
Total flight hours at this point: 00000133
Date: 10/23/1969
Unit: 176 AHC
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
for Troop Insertation
While in Operations Area this helicopter was on the Ground at 0000 feet and 000 knots.
South Vietnam
Helicopter took 1 hits from:
Explosive Weapon; Non-Artillery launched or static weapons containing explosive charges. (BOOBY TRAP)
causing Fragmentation Damage.
Systems damaged were: MAIN ROTOR SYS, FUEL SYS, PERSONNEL
Casualties = 01 WIA . .
The helicopter Continued Flight.
The aircraft was diverted prior to accomplishing any mission objectives.
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: BDART, 00174 (Battle Damage Assessment and Reporting Team Report. )

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-16206
The Army purchased this helicopter 0869
Total flight hours at this point: 00000244
Date: 11/25/1969
Unit: 176 AHC
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was UNK
This was a Logistics Support mission for Resupply
While Enroute this helicopter was at Level Flight at 0200 feet and 110 knots.
South Vietnam
Helicopter took 2 hits from:
Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. (7.62MM)
The helicopter was hit in the Main Rotor Blade System
Systems damaged were: MAIN ROTOR SYS, FUEL SYS
The helicopter Continued Flight.
The aircraft continued and accomplished all mission objectives.
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: BDART, 00226 (Battle Damage Assessment and Reporting Team Report. )

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-16206
The Army purchased this helicopter 0869
Total flight hours at this point: 00000244
Date: 12/15/1969
Incident number: 69121555.KIA
Unit: 176 AHC
South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: BT585018
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Also: OPERA (Operations Report. )
Loss to Inventory

Crew Members:
PX SP4 BARRITT WILLIAM STEPHEN KIA
G SP5 KEELER LARRY DEAN KIA
CE SP5 ROSE DONALD RAY KIA
P WO1 HYDEN DEE AARON KIA
P 1LT STOCKTON DON EUGENE JR KIA

War Story:
The following was provided by Steve Kerchenfaut about WO1 Dee Aaron Hyden and 1Lt Don Eugene Stockton, Jr. in July 1992: Rose and Keeler were going home the next day. I was operations officer and they came to say goodby to me. When the call came in for a flare mission, they said "one more". They physically threw the crew chief off and went up with Stockton, Hyden and Barritt. Steve Kerchenfaut

This record was last updated on 05/25/1998

The following is crew member information for this incident:

Name: WO1 Dee Aaron Hyden (posthumously promoted)
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 12/15/1969 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 21.4
Date of Birth: 07/25/1948
Home City: Amarillo, TX
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 176 AHC
Major organization: Americal Division
Flight class: 68-521/68-39
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 15W-058
Short Summary: Flare mission at night with 200 ft ceiling went IFR - WX, 5 crew KIA - Lt Stockton, Barritt, (Rose, & Keeler to go home next day). memo.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 68-16206
Call sign: Minuteman
SSN: 455828964
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 100B = Utility/Observation Helicopter Pilot
Primary cause: A/C Accident WX
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: weapons
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: aircraft commander
Started Tour: 02/18/1969
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 03
Location: Quang Tin Province I Corps.

Additional information about this casualty:
The following was provided by Steve Kerchenfaut about WO1 Dee Aaron Hyden and 1Lt Don Eugene Stockton, Jr. in July 1992: Rose and Keeler were going home the next day. I was operations officer and they came to say goodby to me. When the call came in for a flare mission, they said "one more". They physically threw the crew chief off and went up with Stockton, Hyden and Barritt. Steve Kerchenfaut

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 04/03/1996

Name: 1LT Don Eugene Stockton, Jr.
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 12/15/1969 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 24.2
Date of Birth: 09/17/1945
Home City: Sherwood, OR
Service: EN branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 176 AHC
Major organization: Americal Division
Flight class: 69-22
Service: EN branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 15W-060
Short Summary: A/C on night flare mission with 200 ft. ceiling went IFR and crashed. Dee Hyden was pilot. See Hyden memo. 5 member crew KIA.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 68-16206
Call sign: Minuteman
SSN: 540520739
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 1981 = 19 Rotary Wing Aviator (Unit Commander)
Primary cause: A/C Accident WX
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: weapons
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: pilot
Started Tour: 09/03/1969
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
Length of service: 03
Location: Quang Tin Province I Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Protestant - other churches
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: officer
This record was last updated on 08/25/1996

Name: SP5 Donald Ray Rose
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 12/15/1969 while performing the duty of Crew Chief.
Age at death: 19.6
Date of Birth: 04/29/1950
Home City: Wichita Falls, TX
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 176 AHC
Major organization: Americal Division
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 15W-060
Short Summary: Flare mission at night with 200 ft ceiling went IFR - WX, five crew killed.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 68-16206
SSN: 585323991
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 67N2F = UH-1 Helicopter Repairer
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: weapons
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: crew chief
Started Tour: 01/09/1969
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Quang Tin Province I 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 08/25/1996

Name: SP5 Larry Dean Keeler
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 12/15/1969 while performing the duty of Gunner.
Age at death: 21.6
Date of Birth: 05/25/1948
Home City: Ponca City, OK
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 176 AHC
Major organization: Americal Division
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 15W-059
Short Summary: Flare mission at night with 200 ft ceiling went IFR - WX, five crew killed.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 68-16206
SSN: 446469846
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 67N2F = UH-1 Helicopter Repairer
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: weapons
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: door gunner
Started Tour: 01/20/1969
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 02
Location: Quang Tin Province I 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 08/25/1996

Name: SP4 William Stephen Barritt
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 12/15/1969 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Age at death: 20.3
Date of Birth: 09/03/1949
Home City: Bridgeport, OH
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 176 AHC
Major organization: Americal Division
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 15W-057
Short Summary: Flare mission at night with 200 ft ceiling went IFR - WX, five crew killed.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 68-16206
SSN: 290482533
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 67N2F = UH-1 Helicopter Repairer
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: weapons
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: passenger
Started Tour: 07/02/1969
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
Length of service: 02
Location: Quang Tin Province I 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 08/25/1996

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-16206
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 0869.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
6908   0    0 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS      ITR CONUS                   AVCOMITR
6909   0    0 W0Y6AA INTRANSIT        IN TRANSIT                  AVCOMCTR
6910 133  133 WC44AA 176 AHC    AMDV  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6911 111  244 WC44AA 176 AHC    AMDV  VIETNAM                     RVN

Please send additions or corrections to:

Gary Roush
43 Overbrook Road
Painted Post, NY 14870

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Printed from databases on: 08/09/1999

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