PHOTOS PROVIDED BY JUDY CLINTON, sister in law Dean Eddie Clinton E-Mail Judy Clinton
Dean Eddie Clinton
E-Mail Judy Clinton
I do remember Jim Nelson, and that incident. Believe me when I say, Maj. Hunnesucker, Foltz an I called out every search and rescue craft that was available at the time. Even as time wore on, we even called in the Navy and Coast Guard. Every effort was made. Maj. Hunnesucker and I always held onto the hope that they made it to shore! That has nagged me for years asInformation on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 63-12958 to there fate. Before I DEROS'ed out in August of 67', I asked Maj. Caudle and King, as to there fate. Negative, was there answer. I went home with that bugging me. I still don't know the name of the Lad [gunner or crew chief] that was crushed to death when his ship flipped over onto its side. If you ever find out please let me know. I thanked Sgt. Abe for asking the question about our MIA's. It was to be my very first question to JR. Thanks to Paul Jones an his research we are now of the knowledge. Joe, if it's any comfort, these MEN WILL be remembered in a Mass of my faith, every Memorial Day. I guarantee it! Sorry I couldn't be of help. Maybe Paul Jones, or the other Gents. Take Care, Jack
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 63-12958 The Army purchased this helicopter 0864 Total flight hours at this point: 00001587 Date: 06/11/67 MIA-POW file reference number: 0731 Incident number: 670611061ACD Accident case number: 670611061 Total loss or fatality Accident Unit: B/227 AVN 1 CAV Over Water UTM grid coordinates: CQ555705 Number killed in accident = 5 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 2 costing 228554 Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Reference Notes. Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Army Aviation Safety Center database. Loss to Inventory Crew: BEECHER, QUENTIN RIPPETOE; BEECHER QR CLINTON DE NELSON JR RIGGS TF UHLMANSIEK RE
Crew Members: P CW3 RIGGS THOMAS FREDERICK BNR AC CW2 CLINTON DEAN EDDIE BNR CE SSG NELSON JAMES RAYMOND BNR G SSG UHLMANSIEK RALPH EDWARD BNR P CW3 BEECHER QUENTIN RIPPETOE BNR
REFNO Synopsis: The 227th Aviation Battalion (Assault Helicopter), 11th Aviation Group was organic to the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). From the end of October 1966 into February 1967, the 1st Cavalry Division battled clearing Binh Dinh Province in Operations THAYER II and PERSHING, the latter concentrated in the rich northern coastal plain as well as the Kim Son and Luoi Ci Valleys to the west. Throughout the rest of 1967 the division combated the North Vietnamese Army's 610th Division and Viet Cong Units in the II Corps Tactical Zone. There were over 7100 known enemy casualties in the two operations. On June 11, 1967, WO1 Thomas F. Riggs, pilot; WO Dean E. Clinton, co-pilot; SP5 James R. Nelson, crew chief; and passengers WO1 Quentin R. Beecher and SP4 Ralph E. Uhlmansiek; departed Landing Zone Uplift, Qui Nhon airfield in the southern coastal region of Binh Dinh Province, South Vietnam. The crew and passengers were aboard a UH1D helicopter (serial #63-12958), call sign "Bamboo Viper 47", on an operations mission in the province. At 1900 hours, Bamboo Viper 47 left the LZ at Qui Nhon. While en route, bad weather was encountered, and the pilot requested assistance in determining his position. Efforts by Tuy Hoa and Qui Nhon airfields, and airborne search and rescue control aircraft failed to locate the aircraft to guide it to the airfield. At 2057 hours, the pilot reported that he was out of fuel, and was willing to make a water landing. Search and rescue efforts started immediately, and continued until 13 June, but was unsuccessful in locating either the helicopter or its crew and passengers. All were declared Missing in Action, Category 5 (which indicates that it is not felt that remains can be recovered)
Accident Summary:
Aircraft became lost in weather over the open sea with a short fuel supply. Radar stations were unable to pick up the aircraft due to weather related clutter on the scope. The aircraft apparently ditched at sea. There were no survirors
This record was last updated on 05/25/98
The following is crew member information for this incident:
Name: CW2 Dean Eddie Clinton Status: Body Not Recovered from an incident on 06/11/67 while performing the duty of Aircraft Commander. Declared dead on 06/05/73. Age at death: 20.7 Date of Birth: 10/12/46 Home City: Dix, IL Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army. Unit: C/227 AHB 1 CAV Major organization: 1st Cavalry Division Flight class: 66-23/66-17 Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army. The Wall location: 21E-087 Short Summary: See Riggs and Beecher. Aircraft: UH-1D tail number 63-12958 SSN: 335401702 Country: South Vietnam MOS: 100B Primary cause: SVN-BNR Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea Compliment cause: unknon or not reported Vehicle involved: helicopter Position in vehicle: co-pilot Vehicle ownership: government "Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew The initial status of this person was: non-hostile missing - bonified Length of service: * Location: Binh Dinh Province II Corps. Military grid coordinates of event: CQ555705 Reason: aircraft lost or crashed Casualty type: Non-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: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: warrant officer This record was last updated on 08/20/95
Name: CW3 Quentin Rippetoe Beecher Status: Body Not Recovered from an incident on 06/11/67 while performing the duty of Pilot Passenger. Declared dead on 06/05/73. Age at death: 24.7 Date of Birth: 09/14/42 Home City: Terre Haute, IN Service: reserve component of the U.S. Army. Unit: B/227 AHB 1 CAV Major organization: 1st Cavalry Division Flight class: 66-24 Service: U.S. Army. The Wall location: 21E-093 Short Summary: Helicopter passenger. Lost at sea east of Qui Nhon. See Clinton and Riggs. Aircraft: UH-1D tail number 63-12958 SSN: 315424900 Country: South Vietnam MOS: 100B Primary cause: SVN-BNR Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea Compliment cause: unknon or not reported Vehicle involved: helicopter Position in vehicle: passenger Vehicle ownership: government "Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew The initial status of this person was: non-hostile missing - bonified Length of service: * Location: Binh Dinh Province II Corps. Military grid coordinates of event: CQ555705 Reason: aircraft lost or crashed Casualty type: Non-hostile - died while missing single male U.S. citizen Race: Caucasian Relgion: Unitarian Universalist 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: warrant officer This record was last updated on 08/20/95
Name: CW3 Thomas Frederick Riggs Status: Body Not Recovered from an incident on 06/11/67 while performing the duty of Pilot. Declared dead on 06/05/73. Age at death: 20.9 Date of Birth: 07/24/46 Home City: Farmington, MI Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army. Unit: C/227 AHB 1 CAV Major organization: 1st Cavalry Division Flight class: 66-21 Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army. The Wall location: 21E-092 Short Summary: See Beecher, Clinton. Aircraft: UH-1D tail number 63-12958 SSN: 383448277 Service number: W3155121 Country: South Vietnam MOS: 100B Primary cause: SVN-BNR Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea Compliment cause: vehicular accident Vehicle involved: helicopter Position in vehicle: pilot Vehicle ownership: government "Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot The initial status of this person was: non-hostile missing - bonified Length of service: * Location: Binh Dinh Province II Corps. Military grid coordinates of event: CQ555705 Reason: aircraft lost or crashed Casualty type: Non-hostile - died while missing married 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: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: warrant officer This record was last updated on 08/20/95
Name: SSG James Raymond Nelson Status: Body Not Recovered from an incident on 06/11/67 while performing the duty of Crew Chief. Declared dead on 06/05/73. Age at death: 25.3 Date of Birth: 02/04/42 Home City: Ludington, MI Service: component of the U.S. Army. Unit: C/227 AHB 1 CAV Major organization: 1st Cavalry Division Service: U.S. Army. The Wall location: 21E-091 Aircraft: UH-1D tail number 63-12958 SSN: 380448334 Country: South Vietnam MOS: 67N20 = UH-1 Helicopter Repairer 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: 12/01/66 "Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew The initial status of this person was: non-hostile missing - bonified Length of service: * Location: Binh Dinh Province II Corps. Military grid coordinates of event: CQ555705 Reason: aircraft lost or crashed Casualty type: Non-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: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel This record was last updated on 07/30/95
Name: SSG Ralph Edward Uhlmansiek Status: Body Not Recovered from an incident on 06/11/67 while performing the duty of Gunner. Declared dead on 06/05/73. Age at death: 20.7 Date of Birth: 10/09/46 Home City: Cincinnati, OH Service: component of the U.S. Army. Unit: C/227 AHB 1 CAV Major organization: 1st Cavalry Division Service: U.S. Army. The Wall location: 21E-092 Aircraft: UH-1D tail number 63-12958 SSN: 277400210 Country: South Vietnam MOS: 67N20 = UH-1 Helicopter Repairer Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea Compliment cause: vehicular accident Vehicle involved: helicopter Position in vehicle: passenger Vehicle ownership: government Started Tour: 12/01/66 "Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew The initial status of this person was: non-hostile missing - bonified Length of service: * Location: Binh Dinh Province II Corps. Military grid coordinates of event: CQ555705 Reason: aircraft lost or crashed Casualty type: Non-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: non-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-1D tail number 63-12958 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 0864. Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 6610 23 1181 WAAVC0 COC 227ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6611 28 1209 WAAVC0 COC 227ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6612 26 1235 WAAVC0 COC 227ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6701 0 1235 WAAVC0 COC 227ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6702 64 1299 WAAVC0 COC 227ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6703 136 1435 WAAVC0 COC 227ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6704 60 1495 WAAVC0 COC 227ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6705 92 1587 WAAVC0 COC 227ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN
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