Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-00700
The Army purchased this helicopter 1266
Total flight hours at this point: 00002609
Date: 02/20/1971 MIA-POW file reference number: 1708
Incident number: 71022010.KIA
Unit: 48 AHC
Laos
UTM grid coordinates: XD562198 (To see this location on a map, go to https://legallandconverter.com/p50.html and search on Grid Reference 48QXD562198)
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: 1708 ()
Loss to Inventory
Crew Members:
G SSG ACALOTTO ROBERT JOSEPH BNR
CE SFC JOHNSON RANDOLPH LEROY BNR
P CPT MAY DAVID MURRAY RR
P CW3 REID JON ERIC RR
REFNO Synopsis:
Personnel
In Incident: Robert Joseph Acalotto; Jon E. Reid; Randolph L. Johnson;
David M. May (all missing) Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 01
September 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: Lam Son 719 was a large-scale
offensive against enemy communications lines which was conducted in
that part of Laos adjacent to the two northern provinces of South
Vietnam. The South Vietnamese would provide and command ground forces,
while U.S. forces would furnish airlift and supporting fire. Phase I,
renamed Operation Dewey Canyon II, involved an armored attack by the
U.S. from Vandegrift base camp toward Khe Sanh, while the ARVN moved
into position for the attack across the Laotian border. Phase II began
with an ARVN helicopter assault and armored brigade thrust along Route
9 into Laos. ARVN ground troops were transported by American
helicopters, while U.S. Air Force provided cover strikes around the
landing zones. During one of these maneuvers, W1 Jon E. Reid was was
flying a UH1C helicopter (serial #66-700) with a crew of three - 1Lt.
David M. May, co-pilot, SP5 Randall L. Johnson, crew chief, and SP4
Robert J. Acalotto, door gunner - on a mission providing gun cover for
an emergency resupply mission about 20 miles southeast of Sepone, Laos.
The aircraft was hit by hostile fire and crashed. When the helicopter
landed, it was upright on its skids, with the tail boom broken off and
the right aft burning. Witnesses stated that it was certainly a
"survivable crash." Two people were seen exiting the aircraft on the
right side, running towards nearby trees. Witnesses noted that the left
pilot door was jettisoned and that both forward seats were empty.
Several attempts were made to rescue the downed crew, but were
unsuccessful because of heavy enemy fire. The 1st ARVN Division was to
assist in a ground rescue attempt, but the tactical situation changed
before the infantry could reach the area, and the unit had to be pulled
out. No contact with the crew was ever established after the crash.
According to information received by his family, John Reid was known to
have been captured and was seen alive by other U.S. POWs in March of
that same year, again in May and once in June. Whether the rest of the
crew was captured is unknown. When the POWs were released in 1973, Reid
was not among them, nor was the rest of the crew. The communist
governments of Southeast Asia claim no knowledge of the fate of the
crew of the UH1C that went down February 20, 1971. David M. May was
promoted to the rank of Captain, Jon E. Reid to the rank of Chief
Warrant Officer, Randolph L. Johnson to the rank of Sergeant First
Class, and Robert J. Acalotto to the rank of Staff Sergeant during the
period they were maintained missing.
War Story:
Army
Capt. David May, Hyattsville, Md.; and Army Chief Warrant Officer Jon
E. Reid, Phoenix, Ariz. (Both from 48th AHC Bluestars) when Feb. 20,
1971, their UH-1C Huey Gunship was hit by enemy ground fire and
crashed. MG (USA Ret'd) Ben Harrison was at Khe Sanh when they were
lost. Bob Bunting Blue Star 6 during Lam Son 719. From SY Berdux ,
Mbr#06310, January 2000. "The remains of two American servicemen
previously unaccounted-for from the Vietnam war have been identified
and are being returned to their families for burial in the United
States. They are identified as Army Capt. David May, Hyattsville, Md.;
and Army Chief Warrant Officer Jon E. Reid, Phoenix, Ariz. (Both from
48th AHC Bluestars). On Feb. 20, 1971, May and Reid were flying their
48th AHC UH-1C Huey Gunship providing armed escort for other
helicopters on an emergency resupply mission over Laos when they were
hit by enemy ground fire and crashed. A search and rescue mission was
repulsed by hostile forces. During the invasion of Laos within a
thirty-nine day period the 48th AHC lost 11 airmen killed or MIA due to
hostile fire. In 1994, 1996 and 1998, U.S. and Lao investigators
interviewed villagers in the area of the crash, then initiated an
excavation which recovered human remains as well as portions of an
identification tag with the name "May, David M." Analysis of the
remains and other evidence by the U.S. Army Central Identification
Laboratory Hawaii confirmed the identification of each of these
servicemen". These two Army Aviators will be interred at Arlington
National Cemetery on Friday, 14 January after being MIA for twenty-nine
years. Information currently available is still subject to change. A
Chapel service will be held for both CW3 Reid and CPT May at 0845
hours, 14 January 2000, at the Old Post Chapel, Fort Myer, VA. A
procession to the grave site will take place immediately following the
service. Many former fellow unit members are planning on attending. If
you are in the Washington area that day and you like to attend, your
presence would be welcome. Ken Bording, CW5, FLARNG, 48th AHC '66-'67,
BordingK@AOL.COM
This record was last updated on 01/06/2000
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