Helicopter UH-1C 66-00651

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-00651
The Army purchased this helicopter 1066
Total flight hours at this point: 00000300
Date: 04/15/1967
Unit: 114 AHC
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
This was a Recon mission for Armed Recon
While Enroute this helicopter was at Level Flight at 0400 feet and UNK knots.
South Vietnam
Helicopter took 1 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 Passenger Cargo Section
Systems damaged were: STRUCTURE
The helicopter Continued Flight.
The aircraft continued and accomplished all mission objectives.
for 50.00
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: LNOF, 72514, FM232 (Lindenmuth Old Format Data Base. )


Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-00651
The Army purchased this helicopter 1066
Total flight hours at this point: 00000528
Date: 07/06/1967
Unit: 114 AHC
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
for Close Air Support
While in Target Area this helicopter was Attacking at 0300 feet and UNK knots.
South Vietnam
Helicopter took 1 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 Right Side
Systems damaged were: STRUCTURE
The helicopter Continued Flight.
The aircraft continued and accomplished all mission objectives.
for 10.00
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: LNOF, 73196, FM232 (Lindenmuth Old Format Data Base. )


Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-00651
The Army purchased this helicopter 1066
Total flight hours at this point: 00000528
Date: 07/22/1967
Unit: 114 AHC
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
This was a Recon mission for Armed Recon
While Enroute this helicopter was at Level Flight at 1700 feet and UNK knots.
South Vietnam
Helicopter took 1 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 Right Side
Systems damaged were: STRUCTURE, LDG GEAR
The helicopter Continued Flight.
The aircraft continued and accomplished all mission objectives.
for 262.00
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: LNOF, 73295, FM232 (Lindenmuth Old Format Data Base. )


Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-00651
The Army purchased this helicopter 1066
Total flight hours at this point: 00000528
Date: 07/30/1967
Unit: 114 AHC
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
This was a Recon mission for Armed Escort , Other Aircraft.
While in Operations Area this helicopter was in Orbit at 0200 feet and UNK knots.
South Vietnam
Helicopter took 1 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 Right Side
Systems damaged were: STRUCTURE
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: LNOF, 73331, FM232 (Lindenmuth Old Format Data Base. )


Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-00651
The Army purchased this helicopter 1066
Total flight hours at this point: 00000528
Date: 08/01/1967
Incident number: 670801101ACD Accident case number: 670801101 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 114 AHC
South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 4 . . Injured = 1 . . Passengers = 1
costing 503679
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. Also: OPERA (Operations Report. )
Loss to Inventory

Crew Members:
AC 1LT COLVIN PAUL SILVEY KIA
P ENS BURKE JAMES FRANCIS JR KIA
CE SP4 RILEY ERNST KIA
G E4 FLEURY TE

Passengers:
. CPT GUDLESKE GUSTAVE FRANKLIN, AR, PX, KIA;


Accident Summary:

.The aircraft went into inadvertant IFR flight. The pilot experienced vertigo and crashed. Severe turblance was experienced with IFR conditions in the area.


War Story:
.The mission of this helicopter was command/control and observation during a "firefly" mission in the Province of Vinh Long. The crash occurred in the vicinity of the Vinh Long airfield in the early morning of the date of the incident. A firefly mission consisted of two gunships and a command and control helicopter. The C&C chopper would fly at approximately 2500 feet and release flares. A MACV advisor would be on board to coordinate the operation and be in contact with other advisors located throughout the province on the ground. We usually had our favorite "hot" spots to visit every night, and then roamed the province as opportunities developed. About six of us on MACV Team 52 had a revolving roster for these missions. The gunships would fly at low altitude and look for enemy movements illuminated by the flares, firing upon targets of opportunity, or responding to outposts under sniper or other attack. These missions usually began between 9:00 and 10:00 in the evening and went until 2:00 AM with a refueling break midway. Gus's chopper was returning to the airfield after the last mission of the evening and encountered a violent thunderstorm just short of the runway, when it crashed. The gunships had already landed safely, just avoiding the extreme conditions. April 1998 from David A. Radin, MACV 1967, friend of Gudleske

This record was last updated on 09/20/1998


The following is crew member information for this incident:


Name: 1LT Paul Silvey Colvin
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 08/01/1967 while performing the duty of Aircraft Commander.
Age at death: 25.3
Date of Birth: 04/30/1942
Home City: Culpeper, VA
Service: reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 114 AHC
Major organization: other
Flight class: 66-12
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 24E-059
Short Summary: Crashed in bad weather in IV Corp.
Aircraft: UH-1C tail number 66-00651
Service number: O5419264
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 1978
Primary cause: A/C Accident WX
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: aircraft commander
Started Tour: 09/13/1966
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 04
Location: Unknown Province
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-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: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: officer
This record was last updated on 07/28/1994



Name: ENS James Francis Burke, Jr.
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 08/01/1967 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 22.7
Date of Birth: 12/04/1944
Home City: Yonkers, NY
Service: reserve component of the U.S. Navy.
Unit: HA(L)-3
Flight class: 66-17
Service: U.S. Navy.
The Wall location: 24E-058
Short Summary: Crashed in bad weather in IV Corp.
Aircraft: UH-1C tail number 66-00651
Call sign: Seawolf
Service number: 691235
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 1315
Primary cause: Hostile Fire
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 04
Location: Vinh Long Province IV Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
married male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Roman Catholic
This record was last updated on 07/29/1994



Name: CPT Gustave Franklin Gudleske
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 08/01/1967 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Age at death: 30.8
Date of Birth: 10/08/1936
Home City: Rhinelander, WI
Service: IN branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: MACV Advisors
Major organization: MACV advisors
Service: IN branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 24E-060
Short Summary: Crashed in bad weather.
Aircraft: UH-1C tail number 66-00651
Service number: O2307430
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 82162
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: weapons
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: observer
Started Tour: 11/01/1966
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
Length of service: 08
Location: Unknown Province
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died illness or injuries
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: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: officer
This record was last updated on 03/05/1994



Name: SP4 Ernst Riley
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 08/01/1967 while performing the duty of Crew Chief.
Age at death: 19.1
Date of Birth: 06/25/1948
Home City: Kuttawa, KY
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 114 AHC
Major organization: other
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 24E-063
Short Summary: Crashed in bad weather in IV Corp.
Aircraft: UH-1C tail number 66-00651
Service number: 10816983
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 chief
Started Tour: 05/31/1967
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Location: Unknown Province
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died while missing
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 07/30/1995


The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1B tail number 66-00651
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 1066.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
6610   0    0 W0Y6AA TRAN MDMHELCO S  ALASKA                      ALASKA  
6611   0    0 W0MHAA DIROF SUP TRAN   6TH ARMY   SHARPE GD        SUPMACOM         
6612   0    0 W0MHAA DIROF SUP TRAN   6TH ARMY   SHARPE GD        SUPMACOM         
6701  33   33 WAX7AA 114 AVN CO AML   VIETNAM                     RVN     
6702  54   87 WAX7AA 114 AVN CO AML   VIETNAM                     RVN     
6703 114  201 WAX7AA 114 AVN CO AML   VIETNAM                     RVN     
6704  99  300 WAX7AA 114 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6705  71  371 WAX7AA 114 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6706  81  452 WAX7AA 114 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6707  76  528 WAX7AA 114 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     


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