Helicopter UH-1B 64-14088

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1B tail number 64-14088
Date: 08/01/1966
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
for Close Air Support
While in Operations Area this helicopter was in Orbit at 0500 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 Bottom
Systems damaged were: PERSONNEL, STRUCTURE
Casualties = 02 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: UH1P1, 00456, JSIDR (Joint Services Incident Damage Report. )

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1B tail number 64-14088
Date: 09/13/1966
Incident number: 66091313.KIA Accident case number: G359
Unit: 68 AHC
South Vietnam
Casualties = 03 KIA . . Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing 0
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 CPT ABEL CHARLES SEABORN KIA
P WO1 HIGGINS EDWIN RAY KIA
CE SP4 BERTSCH KENNETH RAY KIA
G AN CHILDERS ROGER DALE KIA

Accident Summary:

ACFT 1 OF 2 GUNSHIPS ESCORTING 5 SLICKS WITH TROOP LZ MISSED BECAUSE OF WX FLT ATTEMPTED RETURN TO BASE FLT BECAME SEPARATED IN HVY RAIN 088 SEEN SLOWING AND ENTERING TREES ACFT SETTLED THRU TREE LOW CEILING HVY RAIN GROUND FOG POOR VISIBILITY ACFT AND CREW MISSING

War Story:
From page 12, 68th AHC Annual History 1966 on-line at http://www.68thahc.com/Unit_Reports/U_H_1966_01.pdf "The 'Top Tigers' were called upon to supply a platoon and a heavy fire team to support a classified operation. During the operation, four men were lost when they were caught in a severe thunderstorm. Missing in action are 1LT Charles S. Abel, WO Edwin R. Higgins, SP4 Kenneth R. Bertsch, and a Navy personnel, training as a gunner with the 68th." The "Navy personnel" was Airman CHILDERS (7949781). Correct unit is Det 1, HC-1. The HC-1 dets went in-country 01 Jul 66 and were combined to form HA(L)-3 on 01 April 1967.

This record was last updated on 05/11/2007

The following is crew member information for this incident:

Name: SP4 Kenneth Ray Bertsch
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 09/13/1966 while performing the duty of Crew Chief.
Age at death: 21.8
Date of Birth: 12/02/1944
Home City: Hamilton, OH
Service: component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 68 AVN
Major organization: other
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 10E-090
Aircraft: UH-1B tail number 64-14088
Service number: 52607943
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 67N = 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: 01/04/1966
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Unknown Province
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - died while missing
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Religion: Protestant - no denominational preference
The following information 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 07/27/2004

Name: CPT Charles Seaborn Abel
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 09/13/1966 while performing the duty of Aircraft Commander.
Age at death: 28.5
Date of Birth: 03/04/1938
Home City: Hopkinsville, KY
Service: IN branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 68 AVN
Major organization: other
Flight class: 66-6
Service: IN branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 10E-089
Short Summary: Originally reported as missing in action.
Aircraft: UH-1B tail number 64-14088
Service number: O5320259
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 062B = Helicopter Pilot, Utility and Light Cargo Single Rotor
Primary cause: Hostile Fire
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: weapons
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: co-pilot
Started Tour: 06/15/1966
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 10
Location: Unknown Province
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - died while missing
married male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Religion: Baptist - other groups
The following information 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 07/27/2004

Name: WO1 Edwin Ray Higgins
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 09/13/1966 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 28.4
Date of Birth: 04/15/1938
Home City: Glendale, AZ
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 68 AVN
Major organization: other
Flight class: 65-17W
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 10E-091
Short Summary: Originally reported as missing in action.
Aircraft: UH-1B tail number 64-14088
Service number: W3152876
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 062B = Helicopter Pilot, Utility and Light Cargo Single Rotor
Primary cause: Hostile Fire
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: weapons
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: pilot
Started Tour: 02/23/1966
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
Length of service: 04
Location: Unknown Province
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - died while missing
married male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Religion: Protestant - no denominational preference
The following information 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 07/27/2004

Name: AN Roger Dale Childers
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 09/13/1966 while performing the duty of Crew member unspecified.
Age at death: 18.7
Date of Birth: 01/10/1948
Home City: Barboursville, WV
Service: regular component of the U.S. Navy.
Unit: HC-1
Service: U.S. Navy.
The Wall location: 10E-090
Short Summary: Training as a gunner with the Army.
Aircraft: UH-1B tail number 64-14088
Service number: 7949781
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: AOAN
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Quang Ngai Province I Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - died while missing
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Religion: Protestant - no denominational preference
This record was last updated on 05/11/2007

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Painted Post, NY 14870

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Printed from databases on: 05/14/04

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