Helicopter AH-1G 68-15171

Information on U.S. Army helicopter AH-1G tail number 68-15171
The Army purchased this helicopter 0669
Total flight hours at this point: 00000386
Date: 01/18/70
Unit: A/3/17 CAV
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
This was a Recon mission for Armed Escort
While in Target Area this helicopter was Attacking at 0500 feet and 110 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)
Systems damaged were: TAIL ROTOR
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: JSIDR (Joint Services Incident Damage Report. )

Information on U.S. Army helicopter AH-1G tail number 68-15171
The Army purchased this helicopter 0669
Total flight hours at this point: 00000505
Date: 02/27/70
Unit: A/3/17 CAV
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
This was a Recon mission for Armed Escort
While in Target Area this helicopter was Attacking at 0150 feet and 110 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 Nose
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: JSIDR (Joint Services Incident Damage Report. )

Information on U.S. Army helicopter AH-1G tail number 68-15171
The Army purchased this helicopter 0669
Total flight hours at this point: 00001136
Date: 12/24/70
Incident number: 70122424.KIA
Unit: A/3/17 CAV
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was LOSS TO INVENTORY
for Close Air Support
While in Target Area this helicopter was Attacking at UNK feet and UNK knots.
South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: XT780975
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.
Systems damaged were: PERSONNEL
Casualties = 02 KIA . .
The helicopter Crashed. Aircraft Destroyed.
Both mission and flight capability were terminated.
Burned
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: OPERA, CASRP, CALTR, FM385 (Operations Report. Casualty Report. )
Loss to Inventory

Crew Members:
AC 1LT SPENCE JOSEPH C JR KIA
P CW3 YOUNT WILLIAM HENRY JR KIA
This record was last updated on 05/25/98

The following is crew member information for this incident:

Name: 1LT Joseph C. Spence, Jr.
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 12/24/70 while performing the duty of Aircraft Commander.
Age at death: 23.7
Date of Birth: 04/06/47
Home City: Franklin, VA
Service: FA branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: A/3/17 CAV
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 69-40
Service: FA branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 05W-007
Aircraft: AH-1G tail number 68-15171
SSN: 224660333
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: vehicular accident
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: aircraft commander
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 07/18/70
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
The initial status of this person was: no previous report
Length of service: *
Location: Binh Long Province III Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
single 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 02/21/94

Name: CW3 William Henry Yount, Jr. (posthumously promoted)
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 12/24/70 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 27.6
Date of Birth: 05/03/43
Home City: Millington, TN
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: A/3/17 CAV
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 66-13
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 05W-007
Short Summary: Shot down by small arms fire while performing a "Night Hawk" mission.
Aircraft: AH-1G tail number 68-15171
Call sign: Silver Spur 34
SSN: 174343595
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 100E = Attack Helicopter Pilot
Primary cause: Small arms fire
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: vehicular accident
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: pilot
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 07/28/70
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
The initial status of this person was: no previous report
Length of service: *
Location: Binh Long Province III Corps.
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 02/21/94

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter AH-1G tail number 68-15171
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 0669.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY

6906   0    0 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS      ITR CONUS                   AVCOMITR

6907   0    0 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS      ITR CONUS                   AVCOMITR

6908   1    1 W0MHAA DIR SUP / TRAN   IN TRANSIT SHARPE AD        AVCOM

6909   0    1 W0MHAA DIR SUP / TRAN   IN TRANSIT SHARPE AD        AVCOM

6910  30   31 WAAMA0 TRP A 3SQ 17CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN

6911 116  147 WAAMA0 TRP A 3SQ 17CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN

6912 121  268 WAAMA0 TRP A 3SQ 17CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN

7001 118  386 WAAMA0 TRP A 3SQ 17CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN

7002 119  505 WAAMA0 TRP A 3SQ 17CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN

7003  50  555 WAAMA0 TRP A 3SQ 17CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN

7004  79  634 WAAMA0 TRP A 3SQ 17CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN

7005  57  691 WAAMA0 TRP A 3SQ 17CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN

7006  73  764 WAAMA0 TRP A 3SQ 17CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN

7007  81  845 WAAMA0 TRP A 3SQ 17CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN

7008  68  913 WAAMA0 TRP A 3SQ 17CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN

7009  84  997 WAAMA0 TRP A 3SQ 17CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN

7010  44 1041 WAAMA0 TRP A 3SQ 17CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN

7011  55 1096 WAAMA0 TRP A 3SQ 17CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN

7012  40 1136 WC5DAA 605 TRANS CO DS  VIETNAM                     RVN

Please send additions or corrections to:

VHPA Head Quarters or Gary Roush or Mike Law

Printed from databases on: 08/27/00