6815742
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-15742
The Army purchased this helicopter 0669
Total flight hours at this point: 00002380
Date: 07/13/72
Incident number: 72071333.KIA
Unit: 48 AHC
South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: YD345549
Loss to Inventory
Crew Members:
G SP4 HILL MICHAEL ALAN KIA
War Story:
Aircraft was forced to flare excessively when ARVN Marines rushed the lead aircraft. The
tail rotor on 742 was knocked off while flaring to avoid chalk 1, aircraft crashed in the
LZ. The crew was picked up by chase birds. Mike Hill was flying gunner on 742 although he
was normally a Cobra crew chief. Two /F/8 slicks were chase on this mission, one was
piloted by (Pappy) Walker Jones. Mike Hill scooted in behind Jones' seat when an ARVN shot
up through the floor of the aircraft. The round came up through Mike Hill's knee, entered
the bottom of his chin and exited the top of this head. From VHCMA 98 reunion
Name: SP4 Michael Alan Hill (posthumously promoted)
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 07/13/72 while performing the duty of Gunner.
Age at death: 20.9
Date of Birth: 08/05/51
Home City: Cottonwood, AZ
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 48 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 01W-056
Short Summary: Hill survived the crash on 68-15742, but was killed by an ARVN round
through the bottom of the rescue aircraft flow by Jones.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 68-15742
SSN: 526908111
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 67U20 = CH-47 Helicopter Repairer
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: 09/26/71
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
The initial status of this person was: no previous report
Length of service: *
Location: Quang Tri Province I Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: YD352552
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
married male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Assemblies of God
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active
duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 08/20/95
The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-15742
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 0669.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 6906 0 0 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVCOMITR 6907 28 28 WAJ1A0 A CO 4 AVN BN VIETNAM RVN 6908 125 153 WAJ1A0 A CO 4 AVN BN VIETNAM RVN 6909 113 266 WAJ1A0 A CO 4 AVN BN VIETNAM RVN 6910 103 369 WAJ1A0 A CO 4 AVN BN VIETNAM RVN 6911 121 490 WAJ1A0 A CO 4 AVN BN VIETNAM RVN 6912 100 590 WAJ1A0 A CO 4 AVN BN VIETNAM RVN 7001 86 676 WAJ1A0 A 4 AVN BN 4INF VIETNAM RVN 7002 83 759 WAJ1A0 A 4 AVN BN 4INF VIETNAM RVN 7003 76 835 WAJ1A0 A 4 AVN BN 4INF VIETNAM RVN 7004 64 899 WAJ1A0 A 4 AVN BN 4INF VIETNAM RVN 7005 96 995 WAJ1A0 A 4 AVN BN 4INF VIETNAM RVN 7006 97 1092 WAJ1A0 A 4 AVN BN 4INF VIETNAM RVN 7007 60 1152 WAJ1A0 A 4 AVN BN 4INF VIETNAM RVN 7008 76 1228 WAJ1A0 A 4 AVN BN 4INF VIETNAM RVN 7009 52 1280 WAJ1A0 A 4 AVN BN 4INF VIETNAM RVN 7010 55 1335 WAJ1A0 A 4 AVN BN 4INF VIETNAM RVN 7011 0 1335 WC5CAA 604 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 7012 0 1335 WC5CAA 604 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 7101 0 1335 WC5CAA 604TH TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 7102 1 1336 WC5CAA 604TH TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 7103 88 1424 WARTAA 71 AHC VIETNAM RVN 7104 99 1523 WARTAA 71 AHC VIETNAM RVN 7105 75 1598 WARTAA 71 AHC VIETNAM RVN 7106 26 1624 WARTAA 71 AHC VIETNAM RVN 7107 20 1644 WARTAA 71 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7108 73 1717 WARTAA 71 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7109 26 1743 WARTAA A 123RD AVN BN VIETNAM RVN 7110 69 1812 WARTAA 608 TC DS VIETNAM RVN 7111 89 1901 WARTAA 608 TC DS VIETNAM RVN 7112 19 1920 WARTAA 1 1 CAV D TRP VIETNAM RVN 7201 80 2000 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7202 114 2114 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7203 25 2139 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7204 115 2254 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7205 52 2306 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7206 74 2380 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7207 0 2380 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN
Please send additions or corrections to:
Gary Roush
43 Overbrook Road
Painted Post, NY 14870