Information on U.S. Marine Corps helicopter UH-1E tail number 152427
Date: 03/21/1970 MIA-POW file reference number: 1577
Incident number: 70032110.KIA
Unit: HML-167
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was LOSS TO INVENTORY
for Close Air Support
While On Target this helicopter was Attacking at UNK feet and UNK knots.
Vietnam unspecified
UTM grid coordinates: YC457733
Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size.
causing a Fire.
Systems damaged were: PERSONNEL, FUEL SYS
Casualties = 04 DOI . .
The helicopter made an Emergency Landing. Aircraft Destroyed.
Both mission and flight capability were terminated.
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense
Intelligence Agency Reference Notes. Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database.
Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: 1577, NSC (Naval
Safety Center. )
Loss to Inventory
Crew Members:
P 1LT CASTLE ROBERT EDWARD KIA
C SGT GONZALES DAVID BNR
C SSG UNDERWOOD THOMAS WAYNE BNR
War Story:
This was the lead UH-1E gunship doing a visual recon of the LZ prior to a SOG team insert by Army slicks. The helicopter was hit by automatic weapons fire, crashed, and exploded. The co-pilot was blown clear of the aircraft and was recovered by an Army slick 18 days later after a barely successful E&E. Although Castle's call sign was normally Comprise, it was Eagle Claw on this SOG mission. from Randy Crew, July 1998
This record was last updated on 07/25/1998
Additional information is available on CD-ROM.
Please send additions or corrections to: The VHPA Webmaster Gary Roush.
KIA statistics
Return to the KIA panel date index
Date posted on this site: 09/07/2007
Copyright © 1998 - 2007 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association