Helicopter
UH-1H 67-17818

Information on U.S. Army helicopter
UH-1H tail number 67-17818
The Army purchased this helicopter 1068
Total flight hours at this point: 00000587
Date: 05/04/69
Incident number: 690504122ACD Accident case number:
690504122 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: B/227 AVN
The station for this helicopter was Quan Loi in South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 4 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing 0
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated:
Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database.
Army Aviation Safety Center database. Also: OPERA (Operations Report)
Summary: Mid-air with 67-19529. Both carshed and burned.
Loss to Inventory

Crew Members:
AC WO1 LEMASTER MICHAEL EUGENE KIA
P 1LT BRITTON WILLIAM DAVID KIA
CE SGT THOMAS ROBERT LEE KIA
G SGT STUBBS BILLY RAY KIA

This record was last updated on 06/30/00
The following is crew member information for this incident:

Name: 1LT William David Britton
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 05/04/69
while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 24.4
Date of Birth: 12/25/44
Home City: Buckatunna, MS
Service: reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: B/227 AHB 1 CAV
Major organization: 1st Cavalry Division
Flight class: 68-524/68-44
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 26W-112
Short Summary:
Mid-air on short final to LZ included Le Master, Flagella, and Remmler.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17818
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 1981 = 19 Rotary Wing Aviator (Unit Commander)
Primary cause: Mid-Air
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: weapons
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: pilot
Started Tour: 04/03/69
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
Length of service: 01
Location: Bien Hoa Province III Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
married 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: officer
This record was last updated on 07/25/98

Name: WO1 Michael Eugene Le Master
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 05/04/69
while performing the duty of Aircraft Commander.
Age at death: 22.0
Date of Birth: 05/19/47
Home City: Ft Worth, TX
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: B/227 AHB 1 CAV
Major organization: 1st Cavalry Division
Flight class: 68-509/68-13
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 26W-110
Short Summary:
Mid-air on short final to LZ included Remmler, Britton, and Flagella.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17818
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 100B = Utility/Observation Helicopter Pilot
Primary cause: Mid-Air
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: aircraft commander
Started Tour: 08/27/68
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Location: Bien Hoa Province III Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Episcopal (Anglican)
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 07/25/98

Name: SGT Billy Ray Stubbs (posthumously promoted)
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 05/04/69
while performing the duty of Gunner.
Age at death: 18.7
Date of Birth: 08/05/50
Home City: Lakeside, AZ
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: B/227 AHB 1 CAV
Major organization: 1st Cavalry Division
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 25W-002
Short Summary: Mid-air on short final to LZ.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17818
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 67A1F = Aircraft Maintenance Apprentice
Primary cause: Mid-Air
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: weapons
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: door gunner
Started Tour: 12/15/68
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Bien Hoa Province III Corps
. Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
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:
non-battle dead Category of personnel:
active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 07/25/98

Name: SGT Robert Lee Thomas (posthumously promoted)
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 05/04/69
while performing the duty of Crew Chief.
Age at death: 22.1
Date of Birth: 03/11/47
Home City: Columbia, TN
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: B/227 AHB 1 CAV
Major organization: 1st Cavalry Division
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 25W-001
Short Summary: Mid-air on short final to LZ.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17818
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 67N20 = UH-1 Helicopter Repairer
Primary cause: Mid-Air
Compliment cause: weapons
Started Tour: 01/13/69
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 03
Location: Bien Hoa Province III Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
married male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Presbyterian
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 07/25/98

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter
UH-1H tail number 67-17818
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 1068.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST    COUNTRY
6810   0    0 3300   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND               PACIFIC
6811  98   98 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
6812 111  209 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
6901  84  293 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
6902 105  398 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
6903 119  517 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
6904  70  587 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN