Helicopter
UH-1H 68-15589

Information on U.S. Army helicopter
UH-1H tail number 68-15589
The Army purchased this helicopter 0469
Total flight hours at this point: 00002502
Date: 02/20/71
Incident number: 71022049.KIA
Unit: B/227 AVN
South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: YU394385
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated:
Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database.
Also: OPERA (Operations Report)

Summary:

As 589 approached the LZ they crossed a clearing and were shot in the port fuel
cell with a B-40 rocket.
Loss to Inventory

Crew Members:
P CPT HEAD DAVID NEIL KIA
CE SP4 MALONE WILLIAM WALTER KIA
G SP4 CORONADO ROBERT KIA
AC CW2 LEARY TIMOTHY E RES

Passengers:
1LT CLEARWATERS CHRISTOPHER L, AR, PX, KIA;

War Story:

I was present at the action that took this aircraft. My name is Bill Clemons and I
was the CE on aircraft UH-1H 68-15452 B/227 AHB 1 CAV. Bill Malone was my best
friend, he was 19 years old from Waco Texas. Capt. Head was new in country and
this was his first combat mission in the AO. The CP was WO Timothy Cleary from Calif.
He was returned stateside for treatment and discharge. The gunners name was I
believe Alverado, also from Calif., he died later as a result of his injuries.
589 was flying CC in support of a LRRP company doing security work around firebase
Snuffy. My aircraft was flying resupply missions between firebases in the area.

At approx. 1400 hrs 589 was executing a tree top hop between unsecured LZs in
single canopy jungle. Normal SOP directed ascending above small arms range prior
to descending to the next LZ. Capt. Head,at the request of the LRRP commander
executed the tree top jump instead of following SOP. As 589 approached the LZ they
crossed a clearing and were shot in the port fuel cell with a B-40 rocket.

SP Malone died instantly, Capt. Head was killed when the rotor blades struck the
cockpit, WO Cleary was ejected out the front in his armored seat and survived,
SP Coronado was ejected out the starboard side by the concussion and died in the
hospital from burns. On a personal note, Bill Malone was an avid skydiver and we often
discussed what we would do in the event of a major airborne failure. He said he would
take his final freefall jump and enjoy it to the end. He never got the chance.
While packing Capt. Heads belongings for shipment home one of his brother Officers
found an unfinished letter to his wife. In it he told her that he had signed up for a
combat mission (he was our new flight officer) to show everyone he wasn't afraid
to "fly the AO".

WO Cleary was an outstanding pilot whom I had flown numerous combat missions
with. He was the regular AC on 589 and was flying second seat in deference to
Capt. Head. I didn't know Coronado too well. He was a quiet person who did what was
asked of him, always to the best of his abilities. He took my place as gunner on 589
after I was assigned as CE on 452. I miss them all.
Thank You, Bill Clemons CE 452 B/227 AHB 1 Cav 70/71

This record was last updated on 08/24/00
The following is crew member information for this incident:

Name: 1LT Christopher L. Clearwaters
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 02/20/71 while performing
the duty of Passenger.
Date of Birth: 07/15/47
Home City: Seattle, WA
Service: IN branch of the regular 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: 05W-123
Short Summary:
As 589 approached the LZ they crossed a clearing and were shot
in the port fuel cell with a B-40 rocket.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 68-15589
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 1542 = 15 Infantry Unit Commander
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: vehicular accident
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: passenger
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 08/02/70
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
The initial status of this person was: no previous report
Length of service: *
Location: Phuoc Long Province III Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: YU399383
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
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: officer
This record was last updated on 06/01/00

Name: SP4 Robert Coronado
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 02/20/71
while performing the duty of Gunner.
Died 1 days later on 02/21/71.
Age at death: 21.6
Date of Birth: 07/09/49
Home City: Dallas, TX
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: 05W-128 Short Summary:
As 589 approached the LZ they crossed a clearing and
were shot in the port fuel cell with a B-40 rocket.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 68-15589
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 45J20 = Aircraft Armament Repairman
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: 04/06/70
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
The initial status of this person was: no previous report
Length of service: *
Location: Phuoc Long Province III Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: YU399383
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - died of wounds
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 06/01/00

Name: CPT David Neil Head
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 02/20/71
while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 26.1
Date of Birth: 01/11/45
Home City: Arkansas City, KS
Service: IN branch of the National Guard component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: B/227 AHB 1 CAV
Major organization: 1st Cavalry Division
Flight class: 69-36
Service: IN branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 05W-124
Short Summary:
As 589 approached the LZ they crossed a clearing and
were shot in the port fuel cell with a B-40 rocket.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 68-15589
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 4823 = 48 Aircraft Maintenance Officer
Primary cause: Hostile Fire
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: vehicular accident
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: pilot
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 04/12/70
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
The initial status of this person was: no previous report
Length of service: *
Location: Phuoc Long Province III Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: YU399383
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
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:
battle dead Category of personnel:
active duty Army Military class: officer
This record was last updated on 06/01/00

Name: SP4 William Walter Malone
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 02/20/71
while performing the duty of Crew Chief.
Age at death: 20.9
Date of Birth: 03/17/50
Home City: Waco, TX
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: 05W-125
Short Summary:
As 589 approached the LZ they crossed a clearing and
were shot in the port fuel cell with a B-40 rocket.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 68-15589
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: 08/24/70
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
The initial status of this person was: no previous report
Length of service: *
Location: Phuoc Long Province III Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: YU399383
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Methodist (Evangelical United Brethren)
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 06/01/00

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter
UH-1H tail number 68-15589
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 0469.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST    COUNTRY
6904   0    0 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS      ITR CONUS              AVCOMITR
6905  13   13 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
6906 166  179 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
6907 108  287 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
6908 113  400 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
6909 101  501 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
6910  89  590 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
6911 131  721 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
6912 167  888 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
7001 146 1034 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
7002 126 1160 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
7003 193 1353 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
7004 146 1499 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
7005 163 1662 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
7006 105 1767 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
7007 133 1900 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
7008 104 2004 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
7009 131 2135 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
7010 112 2247 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
7011  96 2343 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
7012  90 2433 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
7101  69 2502 WAAVB0 B 227TH BN       VIETNAM                     RVN