Helicopter UH-1H 69-15664

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 69-15664
The Army purchased this helicopter 0970
Total flight hours at this point: 00000493
Date: 03/17/71 MIA-POW file reference number: 1727
Incident number: 71031726.KIA
Unit: 128 AHC
Cambodia
UTM grid coordinates: XU480455
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: 1727 ()
Loss to Inventory
Crew: BAUMAN, RICHARD LEE; DIX CM HARRIS BG HESTAND JH

Crew Members:
P WO1 HESTAND JAMES HARDY REL
P CW3 BAUMAN RICHARD LEE BNR
G SSG HARRIS BOBBY GLENN BNR
CE SSG DIX CRAIG MITCHELL BNR

REFNO Synopsis:
Personnel in Incident: On UH1H: Craig M. Dix; Bobby G. Harris, Richard Lee Bauman,(all missing); James H. Hestand (released POW).Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 30 June 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: On March 17, 1971, a UH1H helicopter flown by WO1 James H. Hestand and carrying CW2 Richard L. Bauman; SP4 Craig M. Dix; and SP4 Bobby G. Harris. The aircraft was shot down near Snuol. A medivac chopper lowered a jungle penetrator to men seen on the ground through triple canopy jungle, but was forced to leave the area due to enemy fire and low fuel. Five ARVN were captured in the same operation and were told by Viet Cong guards that three chopper crew members had just been captured. One was killed in the crash, one was shot in the leg (ankle) trying to escape. The wounded crewmember and two others were finally captured. James Hestand was captured and was released in 1973. In his debriefing, he reported that Craig Dix was the one who had been shot in the upper right ankle. Hestand stated that Dix was ambulatory and evading capture at the time of his own capture. Hestand also stated that, when last seen, CW2 Bauman was alive, in good condition, and was hiding with Dix. Hestand said that he had seen the body of Harris, whom he believed to be dead because of throat lacerations and a discoloration of his body. Harris had been thrown from the aircraft. Hestand was separated from the others when he was captured, and had no further information on Dix, Bauman or Harris. Defense Department notes indicate that Harris was killed in the crash. Defense Department notes indicate that some intelligence say that Bauman, Dix and Harris are dead, yet other intelligence reports placed Dix in a Cambodian hospital after having been captured, and according to Hestand, the two were alive and well the last time he saw them

This record was last updated on 05/25/98

The following is crew member information for this incident:

Name: CW3 Richard Lee Bauman
Status: Body Not Recovered from an incident on 03/17/71 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Declared dead on 01/08/79.
Age at death: 22.8
Date of Birth: 05/28/48
Home City: Columbus, OH
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 128 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 69-43/69-41
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 04W-054
Short Summary: Copilot was POW Hestand released 02/12/73. Bauman was seen alive on ground by Hestand.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 69-15664
SSN: 291464724
Country: Cambodia
MOS: *
Primary cause: Cambodia-BNR
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: vehicular accident
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: pilot
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 07/12/70
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
The initial status of this person was: missing in action - bonified
Length of service: *
Military grid coordinates of event: XU488458
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - died while missing
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Protestant - no denominational preference
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: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 08/10/92

Name: SSG Craig Mitchell Dix
Status: Body Not Recovered from an incident on 03/17/71 while performing the duty of Crew Chief.
Declared dead on 10/27/78.
Age at death: 21.3
Date of Birth: 12/05/49
Home City: Livonia, MI
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 128 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 04W-054
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 69-15664
SSN: 371501934
Country: Cambodia
MOS: *
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: vehicular accident
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: crew chief
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 10/31/67
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
The initial status of this person was: missing in action - bonified
Length of service: *
Military grid coordinates of event: XU488458
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - died while missing
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: no religous preference
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 07/30/95

Name: SSG Bobby Glenn Harris
Status: Body Not Recovered from an incident on 03/17/71 while performing the duty of Gunner.
Declared dead on 04/16/79.
Age at death: 19.1
Date of Birth: 02/27/52
Home City: Mission, TX
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 128 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 04W-056
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 69-15664
SSN: 460921537
Country: Cambodia
MOS: *
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: vehicular accident
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: door gunner
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 07/25/70
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
The initial status of this person was: missing in action - bonified
Length of service: *
Military grid coordinates of event: XU488458
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - died while missing
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Church of Christ
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 07/30/95

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 69-15664
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
197009   0    0 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS      ITR CONUS                   AVCOMITR
197010  48   48 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
197011 123  171 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
197012 127  298 WC3HAA 128 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
197101 101  399 WC3HAA 128 AHC          VIETNAM                     RVN     
197102  94  493 WC3HAA 128 AHC          VIETNAM                     RVN

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Printed from databases on: 05/14/04

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