NOTE FROM JR WRIGHT SNAKE 23  C/227th

Guys,

Crew Chief William L. Dornbergh was killed when his ship caught a cargo
net during a take off and rolled to the right and fell to the ground on
its left side and caught fire.

There were 7 fatalities, the other 6 being infantry type.
Helicopter 65-10089

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 65-10089
The Army purchased this helicopter 0866
Total flight hours at this point: 00000787
Date: 05/26/67
Incident number: 670526051ACD Accident case number: 670526051 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: C/227 AVN
South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 7 . . Injured = 1 . . Passengers = 6
costing 228554
Loss to Inventory

Crew Members:
AC O2 JC ROWLAND
P W1 GA FLOWERS
CE SP4 DORNBERGH WILLIAM L JR KIA
G E3 GA CAPUTO

Passengers:
 1LT FISHER EDWARD STEPHAN, AR, PX, KIA; PFC ALLEN CHARLES DELMAR JR, AR, PX, KIA; PFC SURLES
LOREN CLEVELAND, AR, PX, KIA; SP4 CUSHING DAVID ROY, AR, PX, KIA; SP4 CACCIOLA DOMENICO, AR, PX,
KIA; SP4 RUDDELL ALAN JAMES, AR, PX, KIA;
 

Accident Summary:

As the aircraft started out of the LZ, the pilot was given all clear. The aircraft started up and the skids caught on a cargo net.
The aircraft started falling to the right and suddenly fell to the ground on the left side and rolled. A small fire was
extinguished
 
 

The following is crew member information for this incident:
 

Name: PFC Charles Delmar Allen, Jr.
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 05/26/67 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Age at death: 20.0
Date of Birth: 06/04/47
Home City: Columbus, OH
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 1 CAV
Major organization: 1st Cavalry Division
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 20E-109
Aircraft: UH-1D tail number 65-10089
Service number: 11702812
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 11B10 = Infantryman
Compliment cause: unknown
Started Tour: 04/26/67
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
Location: Unknown Province
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Roman Catholic
The following information 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: SP4 Domenico Cacciola
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 05/26/67 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Age at death: 21.0
Date of Birth: 05/22/46
Home City: New York, NY
Service: component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 1 CAV
Major organization: 1st Cavalry Division
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 20E-110
Aircraft: UH-1D tail number 65-10089
Service number: 51606437
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 11B20 = Infantryman
Compliment cause: weapons
Started Tour: 03/18/67
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Unknown Province
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Roman Catholic
The following information 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: SP4 David Roy Cushing
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 05/26/67 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Age at death: 20.6
Date of Birth: 11/02/46
Home City: El Paso, TX
Service: component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 1 CAV
Major organization: 1st Cavalry Division
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 20E-114
Aircraft: UH-1D tail number 65-10089
Service number: 54370795
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 91A10 = Medical Corpsman
Compliment cause: unknown
Started Tour: 10/18/66
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Unknown Province
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Methodist (Evangelical United Brethren)
The following information 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: 1LT Edward Stephan Fisher
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 05/26/67 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Age at death: 24.7
Date of Birth: 09/09/42
Home City: Eagle Rock, CA
Service: IN branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 1 CAV
Major organization: 1st Cavalry Division
Service: IN branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 20E-114
Aircraft: UH-1D tail number 65-10089
Service number: O5329190
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 71542
Compliment cause: weapons
Started Tour: 03/04/67
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
Length of service: 03
Location: Unknown Province
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
married male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Church of Christ
The following information 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: officer
This record was last updated on 07/30/95
 
 
 

Name: PFC Loren Cleveland Surles
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 05/26/67 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Age at death: 21.0
Date of Birth: 05/20/46
Home City: New York, NY
Service: component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 1 CAV
Major organization: 1st Cavalry Division
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 20E-126
Aircraft: UH-1D tail number 65-10089
Service number: 51611801
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 11B10 = Infantryman
Compliment cause: weapons
Started Tour: 02/13/67
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
Location: Unknown Province
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died while missing
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Episcopal (Anglican)
The following information 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: SP4 Alan James Ruddell
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 05/26/67 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Age at death: 20.7
Date of Birth: 09/03/46
Home City: Marshfield, MO
Service: component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 1 CAV
Major organization: 1st Cavalry Division
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 20E-124
Aircraft: UH-1D tail number 65-10089
Service number: 55840719
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 11B10 = Infantryman
Compliment cause: weapons
Started Tour: 07/14/66
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Unknown Province
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Methodist (Evangelical United Brethren)
The following information 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: SP4 William L. Dornbergh, Jr.
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 05/26/67 while performing the duty of Crew Chief.
Age at death: 24.6
Date of Birth: 11/04/42
Home City: Modesto, CA
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: C/227 AVN
Major organization: 1st Cavalry Division
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 20E-113
Aircraft: UH-1D tail number 65-10089
Service number: 19704300
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: *
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: weapons
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: crew chief
Started Tour: 12/30/66
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 04
Location: Unknown Province
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: unknown or not reported
The following information 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 65-10089
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 0866.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
6610  48   80 WAAVC0 COC 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
6611  90  170 WAAVC0 COC 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
6612  72  242 WAAVC0 COC 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
6701 103  345 WAAVC0 COC 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
6702 109  454 WAAVC0 COC 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
6703 130  584 WAAVC0 COC 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
6704  77  661 WAAVC0 COC 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
6705 126  787 WC5GAA 610 TRANS CO     VIETNAM                     RVN
 
 

Please send additions or corrections to:

Gary Roush
43 Overbrook Road
Painted Post, NY 14870
 

Email address: roush@servtech.com

Aircraft:  UH-1D  65-10089
Date:  26 May 67