Helicopter UH-1H 67-17399
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 67-17399
The Army purchased this helicopter 0468
Total flight hours at this point: 00001254
Date: 05/13/1969 MIA-POW file reference number: 1440
Incident number: 69051329.TXT
Unit: 129 AHC
South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: BR621418
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: 1440 ()
Loss to Inventory
Crew: BROOKS, JOHN HENRY RALPH;
Crew Members:
CE SSG BROOKS JOHN HENRY RALPH BNR
G SP4 GOONAN PAUL EDWARD JR KIA
P WO1 STOWE JEFFREY CHARLES KIA
P WO1 WITMER KENNETH EUGENE KIA
REFNO Synopsis:
SYNOPSIS: On May 13, 1969, SP4 John H.R. Brooks was the crew chief aboard one of three helicopters assigned the task of inserting Republic of Korea soldiers into Binh Dinh Province, South Vietnam. While approaching the landing zone (LZ), the three aircraft came under enemy fire, and during the insertion, SP4 Brooks' aircraft was hit, spun in the air and crashed. Three of the 9 Koreans aboard the aircraft survived, evaded capture and were able to link up with Korean and American units the next day. One evadee reported that one Korean was killed in the helicopter and the American who was firing the machine gun on the left side of the helicopter was also killed. After the helicopter crashed, he saw the same American pinned under the helicopter. (This should be the door gunner.) The next day the bodies of all the other American crewmen except Brooks were found. Equipment thought to belong to Brooks was discovered near the burned helicopter. There was no sign of Brooks. Members of the crash site team agreed that while at the crash site a Korean soldier who had been in the helicopter reported that he had seen one American and two Koreans running down the hill from the crash site. No U.S. bodies were found down the hill; all of them were found at the top of the hill where the crash occurred. Crew members of the other aircraft reported seeing what they felt was SP4 Brooks exit the aircraft after it crashed and burned, yet there was now no sign of him.
War Story:
The following is from Dennis N. Lockard: WO1 Kenneth Eugene Witmer, WO1 Jeffrey Charles Stowe, SP4 Goonan, and SP4 John H. Brooks were supporting the Koreans who had contacted the NVA the day before while attacking a convey headed for An Kea. The NVA were heavily entrenched on a mountain top. Lt. Murphy (Chalk 1) terminated at a hover and dropped 6 Koreans. CW2 Lockard terminated at a hover at a lower LZ and dropped 6 Koreans. WO1 Witmer terminated on the ground at Murphy LZ and hit a land mine. Pulled pitch and crashed down the valley. The gunner Goonan was trapped under the aircraft at the left door gun position. The two pilots ran up the hill and got shot. Two Koreans were seen running down the hill with crew chief John H. Brooks. Brooks was never found. Three Koreans evaded and connected with friendly forces the next day
This record was last updated on 05/25/1998
The following is crew member information for this incident:
Name: SSG John Henry Ralph Brooks
Status: Body Not Recovered from an incident on 05/13/1969 while performing the duty of Crew Chief.
Declared dead on 02/11/1974.
Age at death: 20.1
Date of Birth: 04/08/1949
Home City: Bryant Pond, ME
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 129 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 25W-095
Short Summary: Hit land mine in LZ and crashed.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17399
SSN: 007506889
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 67N40 = UH-1 Helicopter Repairer
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: unknown or not reported
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: crew chief
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 12/01/1968
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
The initial status of this person was: missing in action - bonified
Length of service: *
Location: Binh Dinh Province II Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: BR621418
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - died while missing
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: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 11/24/1996
Name: SP4 Paul Edward Goonan, Jr.
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 05/13/1969 while performing the duty of Gunner.
Age at death: 20.8
Date of Birth: 07/09/1948
Home City: Franklin, OH
Service: component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 129 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 25W-100
Short Summary: Hit land mine in LZ and crashed.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17399
Service number: 51803444
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 68F20 = Aircraft Electrician
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: rockets or missiles or torpedoes
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: door gunner
Started Tour: 12/09/1968
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Binh Dinh Province II Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: BR621418
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Protestant - other churches
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 11/24/1996
Name: WO1 Jeffrey Charles Stowe
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 05/13/1969 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 20.2
Date of Birth: 03/11/1949
Home City: Winslow, AZ
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 129 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 68-517/68-31
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 25W-111
Short Summary: Killed on ground after hiting land mine in coastal highlands by small arms fire. AC Ken Witmer & SP4 Goonan KIA. SP4 Brooks MIA.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17399
Call sign: Witty
Service number: W3163229
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 100B = Utility/Observation Helicopter Pilot
Primary cause: Hostile Fire
Major attributing cause: connected with a booby trap
Compliment cause: unknown or not reported
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: co-pilot
Started Tour: 12/12/1968
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
Location: Binh Dinh Province II Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: BR621418
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: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 11/24/1996
Name: WO1 Kenneth Eugene Witmer
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 05/13/1969 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 21.0
Date of Birth: 05/19/1948
Home City: Millersville, PA
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 129 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 68-515/68-25
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 25W-114
Short Summary: Killed on ground after hiting land mine in coastal highlands by small arms fire. Pilot J.C. Stowe & SP4 Goonan KIA. SP4 Brooks MIA.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17399
Call sign: Witty
SSN: 202384205 Service number: W3162043
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 100B = Utility/Observation Helicopter Pilot
Primary cause: Hostile Fire
Major attributing cause: connected with a booby trap
Compliment cause: unknown or not reported
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: pilot
Started Tour: 11/08/1968
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
Location: Binh Dinh Province II Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: BR621418
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: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 11/24/1996
The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 67-17399
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 0468.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY
6804 1 1 9221 BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM
6805 70 71 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN
6806 102 173 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN
6807 109 282 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN
6808 137 419 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN
6809 123 542 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN
6810 102 644 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN
6811 110 754 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN
6812 105 859 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN
6901 94 953 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN
6902 130 1083 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN
6903 63 1146 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN
6904 108 1254 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN
6905 0 1254 WCLNAA 11 ARM CAV REG VIETNAM RVN