Helicopter UH-1B 63-08667

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1B tail number 63-08667
Date: 04/06/1965
Incident number: 0B775ACD Accident case number: 0B775 Total Loss Accident
Unit: 114 AHC
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was LOSS TO INVENTORY
for Close Air Support
While in Target Area this helicopter was Attacking at 0300 feet and 070 knots.
South Vietnam
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. (14.5MM)
causing an Explosion.
Systems damaged were: PERSONNEL
Casualties = 04 DOI . . Number killed in accident = 4 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
The helicopter Crashed. Aircraft Destroyed.
Both mission and flight capability were terminated.
Burned
costing 193648
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Army Aviation Safety Center database. Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: OPERA, UH1P1, 01009, CASRP, CRAFX, JSIDR (Operations Report. Joint Services Incident Damage Report. Crash Facts Message. Casualty Report. )
Loss to Inventory

Crew Members:
AC 1LT RUPCIC RAYMOND ELLSWORTH KIA
P CPT TUCKER CHARLES GILBERT KIA
CE SP4 JONES CLARENCE LLOYD KIA
G SGT TORRES-RIVERA RAFAEL KIA
This record was last updated on 05/25/1998

The following is crew member information for this incident:

Name: SP4 Clarence Lloyd Jones
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 04/06/1965 while performing the duty of Crew Chief.
Age at death: 22.8
Date of Birth: 06/06/1942
Home City: Greenacres City, FL
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 114 AHC
Major organization: other
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 01E-101
Short Summary: Shot down by .50 cal, crashed inverted, and exploded. All crew members killed.
Aircraft: UH-1B tail number 63-08667
Service number: 14795601
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 67N20
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: weapons
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: crew chief
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 02
Location: Unknown Province
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
married male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Protestant - no denominational preference
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: SGT Rafael Torres-Rivera
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 04/06/1965 while performing the duty of Gunner.
Age at death: 25.1
Date of Birth: 02/22/1940
Home City: Hato Rey, PR
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 114 AHC
Major organization: other
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 01E-102
Short Summary: Shot down by .50 cal, crashed inverted, and exploded. All crew members killed.
Aircraft: UH-1B tail number 63-08667
Service number: 50155826
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 11C40
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: weapons
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: door gunner
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 04
Location: Unknown Province
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
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: battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 07/29/1995

Name: 1LT Raymond Ellsworth Rupcic
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 04/06/1965 while performing the duty of Aircraft Commander.
Age at death: 23.2
Date of Birth: 01/26/1942
Home City: Lorain, OH
Service: IN branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 114 AHC
Major organization: other
Flight class: 63-6T
Service: IN branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 01E-101
Short Summary: Shot down by .50 cal, crashed inverted, and exploded. All crew members killed. Brown witness. Bodies picked up by 21 Div ARVNs.
Aircraft: UH-1B tail number 63-08667
Service number: O5315409
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: aircraft commander
"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: Protestant - no denominational preference
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 07/28/1994

Name: CPT Charles Gilbert Tucker (posthumously promoted)
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 04/06/1965 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 24.3
Date of Birth: 11/30/1940
Home City: Shelbyville, TN
Service: IN branch of the regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 114 AHC
Major organization: other
Flight class: 64-3
Service: IN branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 01E-102
Short Summary: Shot down by .50 cal, crashed inverted, and exploded. All four crew members killed. Brown witness. Bodies picked up by 21 Div ARVNs.
Aircraft: UH-1B tail number 63-08667
Service number: O96529
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 1981 = 19 Rotary Wing Aviator (Unit Commander)
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: weapons
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: pilot
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
Length of service: 02
Location: Unknown Province
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - died while missing
married 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: battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: officer
This record was last updated on 07/29/1994

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