Helicopter UH-1H 69-15704
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 69-15704
The Army purchased this helicopter 0970
Total flight hours at this point: 00000841
Date: 05/25/71
Incident number: 71052543.KIA
Unit: A/227 AVN
South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: YB998176
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Also: OPERA (Operations Report. )
Loss to Inventory
Crew Members:
P MAJ ADAMS WILLIAM EDWARD KIA
P CPT CURRAN JOHN DEHAAS KIA
CX SP4 LITTLETON JOHN WAYNE KIA
CE SP4 ROBINSON MELVIN KIA
G SP4 DURAND DENNIS CHARLES KIA
War Story:
SP4 John Wayne Littleton was crew chief on 67-17760 for CPT Larry Dewey, member of the 92nd Avn Co. He survived this shoot down and crash of 67-17760 that killed CPT Dewey and SP4 Lubbehusen then escaped and evaded to Firebase 5 where he was rescued by MAJ Adams in 69-15704. 69-15704 was then shot down killing all on board. From John Tucker, July 2000.
This record was last updated on 08/18/00
The following is crew member information for this incident:
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 05/25/71 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 31.9
Date of Birth: 06/16/39
Home City: Ft Collins, CO
Service: FA branch of the regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: A/227 AHB 1 CAV
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Service: FA branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 03W-054
Short Summary: Shot down while trying to rescue SP5 Littleton from Firebase 5. Received the Medal of Honor.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 69-15704
Call sign: CHICKENMAN 6
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 1983
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: small arms fire
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: pilot
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 07/06/70
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
The initial status of this person was: missing in action - interim
Length of service: *
Location: Kontum Province II Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: YB980170
Additional information about this casualty:
See Frank Tierney's feature article in the August, 1995 VHPA Newsletter
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - died while missing
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: officer
This record was last updated on 12/10/95
Name: CPT John Dehaas Curran
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 05/25/71 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 25.0
Date of Birth: 05/12/46
Home City: Phoenix, AZ
Service: AR branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: A/227 AHB 1 CAV
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 69-30/69-22
Service: AR branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 03W-054
Short Summary: Shot down while trying to rescue SP5 Littleton from Firebase 5 with MAJ William Adams
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 69-15704
Call sign: CHICKENMAN 3
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 1981 = 19 Rotary Wing Aviator (Unit Commander)
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: small arms fire
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: co-pilot
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 07/15/70
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
The initial status of this person was: missing in action - interim
Length of service: *
Location: Kontum Province II Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: YB980170
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - died while missing
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Roman Catholic
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 12/10/95
Name: SP4 Dennis Charles Durand
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 05/25/71 while performing the duty of Gunner.
Age at death: 20.4
Date of Birth: 01/12/51
Home City: Allen Park, MI
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: A/227 AHB 1 CAV
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 03W-054
Short Summary: Shot down while trying to rescue SP5 Littleton from Firebase 5 with MAJ William Adams
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 69-15704
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 67A1F = Aircraft Maintenance Apprentice
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: small arms fire
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: door gunner
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 02/11/70
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
The initial status of this person was: missing in action - interim
Length of service: *
Location: Kontum Province II Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: YB980170
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - died while missing
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Presbyterian
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 12/10/95
Name: SP4 John Wayne Littleton
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 05/25/71 while performing the duty of Crew member passenger.
Age at death: 18.9
Date of Birth: 06/26/52
Home City: Flagstaff, AZ
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 92 AVN
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 03W-054
Short Summary: Was shot down earlier and E&Eed to Firebase 5. Died when rescue ship flown by MAJ William Adams was shot down.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 69-15704
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 67A1F = Aircraft Maintenance Apprentice
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: small arms fire
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: passenger
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 01/13/71
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
The initial status of this person was: missing in action - interim
Length of service: *
Location: Kontum Province II Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: YB980170
Additional information about this casualty:
Was crew chief on 67-17760 for CPT Larry Dewey, member of the 92nd Avn Co. He survived the shoot down and crash of 67-17760 that killed CPT Dewey then escaped and evaded to Firebase 5 where he was rescued by MAJ Adams in 69-15704. 69-15704 was then shot down killing all on board. From John Tucker, July 2000.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - died while missing
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Baptist - other groups
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 08/18/00
Name: SP4 Melvin Robinson
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 05/25/71 while performing the duty of Crew Chief.
Age at death: 20.9
Date of Birth: 06/26/50
Home City: Greenville, SC
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: A/227 AHB 1 CAV
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 03W-055
Short Summary: Shot down while trying to rescue SP5 Littleton from Firebase 5 with MAJ William Adams
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 69-15704
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 67N20 = UH-1 Helicopter Repairer
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: small arms fire
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: crew chief
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 08/21/70
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
The initial status of this person was: missing in action - interim
Length of service: *
Location: Kontum Province II Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: YB980170
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - died while missing
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Negro
Relgion: Baptist - other groups
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 12/10/95
The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 69-15704
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 0970.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY
7009 0 0 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVCOMITR
7010 14 14 WAAVA0 COA 227ASH 1CAV VIETNAM RVN
7011 112 126 WAAVA0 COA 227ASH 1CAV VIETNAM RVN
7012 98 224 WAAVA0 COA 227ASH 1CAV VIETNAM RVN
7101 96 320 WAAVA0 A 227TH BN VIETNAM RVN
7102 92 412 WAAVA0 A 227TH BN VIETNAM RVN
7103 79 491 WAAVA0 A 227TH BN VIETNAM RVN
7104 101 592 WAAVA0 A 227TH BN VIETNAM RVN
7105 249 841 WC5CAA 604TH TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN
Please send additions or corrections to:
VHPA Head Quarters or Gary Roush or Mike Law
Printed from databases on: 08/27/00
Copyright © 1998, 1999 and 2000 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association
