Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1B tail number 64-13959
The Army purchased this helicopter 0265
Total flight hours at this point: 00001121
Date: 02/27/1967
Unit: 116 AHC
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
for Close Air Support
While On Target this helicopter was Attacking at 0800 feet and 080 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 Forward area
Systems damaged were: MAIN ROTOR 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: LNOF, 72274, JSIDR (Lindenmuth Old Format Data Base. Joint Services Incident Damage Report. )
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1B tail number 64-13959
The Army purchased this helicopter 0265
Total flight hours at this point: 00001537
Date: 12/27/1967
Unit: 116 AHC
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
for Close Air Support
While Enroute this helicopter was at Level Flight at 0300 feet and UNK 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 Forward area
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, 74580, FM232 (Lindenmuth Old Format Data Base. )
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1B tail number 64-13959
The Army purchased this helicopter 0265
Total flight hours at this point: 00001537
Date: 01/05/1968
Unit: 116 AHC
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
for Close Air Support
While Enroute this helicopter was at Level Flight at 1000 feet and 080 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: PERSONNEL
Casualties = 01 WIA . .
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: UH1P3, 00506 ()
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1B tail number 64-13959
The Army purchased this helicopter 0265
Total flight hours at this point: 00001911
Date: 06/19/1968
Unit: 116 AHC
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
This was a Logistics Support mission for Resupply
While Enroute this helicopter was at Level Flight at UNK feet and 080 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 Passenger Cargo Section
Systems damaged were: UNK
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: UH1P3, 17101 ()
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1B tail number 64-13959
The Army purchased this helicopter 0265
Total flight hours at this point: 00001987
Date: 09/25/1968
Unit: 765 TC BN
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
This was a Miscellaneous mission for Test and Maintenance
While Enroute this helicopter was at Level Flight at 3000 feet and 100 knots.
Unknown
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: UNK
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: UH1P3, 26901 ()
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1B tail number 64-13959
The Army purchased this helicopter 0265
Total flight hours at this point: 00002378
Date: 10/27/1969
Unit: 129 AHC
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
for Close Air Support
While On Target this helicopter was Attacking at UNK 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)
Systems damaged were: FLT CONTROLS, PERSONNEL
Casualties = 01 WIA . .
The helicopter made a Forced Landing. Aircraft took off, fully flight capable.
The aircraft was diverted or delayed after completing some mission objectives.
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: UH1P3, 30001 ()
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1B tail number 64-13959
The Army purchased this helicopter 0265
Total flight hours at this point: 00002379
Date: 12/02/1969 MIA-POW file reference number: 1533
Incident number: 69120210.KIA
Unit: 129 AHC
South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: BR750850
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. Also: 1533 ()
Loss to Inventory
Crew: DUNLAP, WILLIAM C; SANDERLIN WD STANLEY MH VANDEN EYKEL MD
Crew Members:
CE SSG SANDERLIN WILLIAM DALE RR
G SFC SHANLEY MICHAEL HENRY JR RR
P CW3 DUNLAP WILLIAM CHARLES RR
P CW3 VANDEN EYKEL MARTIN D II RR
REFNO Synopsis:
Remains Returned - ID Announced March 1990 Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 01 April 1990 from one or more of the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews. SYNOPSIS: On December 2, 1969, CW2 Martin VandenEykel, aircraft commander; CW2 William C. Dunlap, pilot; SP5 Michael H. Shanley, gunner; and SP5 William D. Sanderlin, crew chief, were flying in the second UH1B gunship (serial #64-13959) in a flight of two in a night ground support mission in Binh Dinh Province, South Vietnam. (Note: some records place this incident in Kontum Province, but according to coordinates, it is in Binh Dinh Province.) At 2030 hours, CW2 Dunlap's aircraft and the flight leader's aircraft departed LZ English to provide fire support for a long range reconnaissance patrol (LRRP) that had radioed for help. The two helicopters were led to the reported LRRP location by another helicopter equipped to drop flares. Upon arrival at the target area, the flare ship began dropping flares, while the two gunships tried to make radio contact with the LRRP team. CW2 Vanden Eykel radioed that he had made a turn to avoid crashing into a mountain, and the ground forces lost contact with him. CW2 Vanden Eykel's acknowledgement was the last known radio transmission in the vicinity. The Bong Son region of South Vietnam, which is where the operation was taking place was so well-known for its treachery to aircraft that it became known as the "grave yard of helicopters." Many had been lost in that area. Following the loss of the helicopter and crew, a board of inquiry was held. A Vietnamese woman stated at the hearing that she had seen the helicopter go down and the crew was captured by the Viet Cong. In July 1973, Vietnamese woodcutters reported finding the wreckage of a helicopter in that vicinity. Investigation disclosed that the aircraft was not a helicopter, but a fixed wing airplane and not related to this case. In December 1974, another source reported finding aircraft wreckage in this area, but upon investigation, it was found that the wreckage was that of a Vietnamese helicopter, rather than one that was involved in this case. There has been no further word of the crew of the UH1B helicopter. No one saw them die; no one found the wreckage of their plane. To this date it is not known if they died or survived to be captured by the enemy. In March 1990, the U.S. Government announced that the Vietnamese had discovered the remains of Dunlap, Sanderlin, Shanley and VandenEykel, and they had been returned to U.S. control. These families finally could begin their grieving, knowing at last their loved ones were dead.
This record was last updated on 05/25/1998
The following is crew member information for this incident:
The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1B tail number 64-13959
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 0265.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 6610 66 836 WC3GAA 116 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6611 51 887 WC3GAA 116 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6612 73 960 WC3GAA 116 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6701 101 1061 WC3GAA 116 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6702 60 1121 WC3GAA 116 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6703 108 1229 WC3GAA 116 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6704 82 1311 WC3GAA 116 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6705 16 1327 WC5DAA 605 TRANS CO DS VIETNAM RVN 6706 0 1327 W0MUAA ARADMAC 4TH ARMY NAVAL AIR STA AVCOM 6707 0 1327 W0MUAA ARADMAC 4TH ARMY NAVAL AIR STA AVCOM 6708 0 1327 W0MUAA ARADMAC 4TH ARMY NAVAL AIR STA AVCOM 6709 0 1327 W0MUAA ARADMAC 4TH ARMY NAVAL AIR STA AVCOM 6710 2 1329 W0MUAA ARADMAC 4TH ARMY NAVAL AIR STA AVCOM 6711 82 1411 WC3GAA 116 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6712 126 1537 WC3GAA 116 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6801 0 1537 WC3GAA 116 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6802 102 1639 WC3GAA 116 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6803 50 1689 WC3GAA 116 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6804 50 1739 WC3GAA 116 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6805 65 1804 WC3GAA 116 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6806 107 1911 WC3GAA 116 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6807 37 1948 WCKGAA 20 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6808 4 1952 WCKGAA 20 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6809 35 1987 WCKGAA 20 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6810 37 2024 WCKGAA 20 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6811 36 2060 WCLGAA 20 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6812 0 2060 WCLGAA 20 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6901 0 2060 WCLGAA 20 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6902 0 2060 WCLGAA 20 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6903 17 2077 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6904 50 2127 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6905 46 2173 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6906 76 2249 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6907 25 2274 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6908 27 2301 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6909 48 2349 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6910 29 2378 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6911 1 2379 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6912 0 2379 WCLNAA 79 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN