Helicopter UH-34D 147190

Information on U.S. Marine Corps helicopter UH-34D tail number 147190
Date: 05/12/1967
Incident number: 67051212.KIA
Unit: HMM-363
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was LOSS TO INVENTORY
This was a Logistics Support mission for Resupply
Unknown this helicopter was on Take-Off at 0100 feet and 070 knots.
South Vietnam
Helicopter took 1 hits from:
Explosive Weapon; Non-Artillery launched or static weapons containing explosive charges. (MORTAR)
Systems damaged were: UNK
Casualties = 02 INJ, 02 MIA . .
The helicopter Crashed. Aircraft Destroyed.
Both mission and flight capability were terminated.
Burned
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: OPERA, JSIDR (Operations Report. Joint Services Incident Damage Report. )
Loss to Inventory

Crew Members:
P CPT BASINGER RICHARD LOUIS KIA
CE CPL JACKSON JOHN WENDELL KIA
G LCP HARTLINE RONALD R RES

War Story:
On May 12, 1967, a U.S. Marine Corps UH-34D (#147190) [YZ-78] from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 363 (HMM 363) was conducting a resupply mission in an abandoned rice paddy approximately 500 meters south of the 1st Battalion, 4th Marines' Con Tien command post when it was hit by an enemy rocket, killing two crew members and destroying the aircraft. The helicopter had just dropped off some green 55-gallon drums of diesel fuel, and one 55-gallon barrel of MOGAS (motor vehicle gasoline). As YZ-78 kicked off the last barrel, enemy rockets began impacting nearby. As the incoming rockets marched towards the aircraft's position, YZ-78 was immediately given an emergency signal to wind up and get away. The pilot was signaled to head south and he turned the helicopter towards the southeast. The chopper got approximately 80 meters from the landing zone when it was hit by a rocket on the left side behind the main rotor. When it was hit, the UH-34 had lifted and was beginning to accelerate over a small grouping of abandoned grass huts. It immediately rolled to the right, impacting violently on its right side, and was engulfed in flames. Pilot CPT Richard L. Basinger and crew chief CPL John W. Jackson were killed instantly. The aerial gunner, LCPL Ronald R. Hartline, was able to escape and run back to the LZ, seeking shelter in a Marine Amtrak, holding a .38 pistol in his left hand. Although not bleeding badly, he suffered a deep cut on his chin and was in shock. The co-pilot also got out of the aircraft and survived with injuries. [Taken from popasmoke.com]

This record was last updated on 04/15/2024

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Date posted on this site: 10/25/2024