Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1B tail number 62-02046
Date: 06/10/65
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
for Air/land Assault , Hot Area.
While on Landing Zone this helicopter was Landing at 0250 feet
and 060 knots.
South Vietnam
Helicopter took 1 hits from:
Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic
projectiles less than 20 mm in size. (14.5MM)
Systems damaged were: STRUCTURE
The helicopter Continued Flight.
The aircraft continued and accomplished all mission objectives.
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was
created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis
Center Helicopter database. Also: UH1P1, 01159, JSIDR (Joint Services
Incident Damage Report. )
Eyewitness account of James W. "Bill" Griffin from
his personal diary: "The B-52 were to hit an area about 6
miles West of Ben Cat and we are to lift the 5th Recon in to check
the damage inflicted by the heavy bombing. We picked up the troops
at Phou Loi and started for the L.Z. when Charlie One dropped
below the formation and said that he had a momentary loss of power
and was going into Ben Cat. I tried to follow him but the formation
was ahead of me and I lost sight of him. I arrived at Ben Cat
and he was not there, so I gave him a call and he said that he
was coming on in. About this time Mr. McCune, who was flying with
me said that he saw a helicopter fall and saw a large burst of
flames on the ground about 2 miles south of my position. I headed
to the site and circled the wreckage and drew heavy automatic
weapons fire in the vicinity. I could see that no one could have
escaped from the crash so I went back to Ben Cat and landed. The
people on the ground stated that this was the same spot that accounted
for another aircraft the day before. Capt. Altomonte(this flight
surgeon was involved in almost all operations.)the flight surgeon
said that there were about four machine guns opened fire everytime
that any aircraft flew over this position. Killed in the crash
were Lt. Foley, WO Toulouse, plus 8 ARVN and the crew-chief and
gunner who were new in the company and I didn't even know them.
It appears that the helicopter broke into pieces before hitting
the ground. Sure is a mess! 3 Sep 1965"
Information on U.S. Army helicopter
UH-1B tail number 62-02046
Date: 09/02/65
Incident number: 0C810ACD Accident case number: 0C810 Total Loss
Accident
Unit: 118 AHC
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was LOSS TO INVENTORY
for Close Air Support
While Enroute this helicopter was at Level Flight at 1700 feet
and 075 knots.
South Vietnam
Count of hits was not possible because the helicopter burned or
exploded.
Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic
projectiles less than 20 mm in size. (12.7MM)
Systems damaged were: PERSONNEL
Casualties = 04 DOI . . Number killed in accident = 12 . . Injured
= 0 . . Passengers = 8
The helicopter Crashed. Aircraft Destroyed.
Both mission and flight capability were terminated.
Burned
costing 193648
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. Survivability/Vulnerability
Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: OPERA,
UH1P1, 01370, CRAFX, CASRP, JSIDR (Operations Report. Joint Services
Incident Damage Report. Crash Facts Message. Casualty Report.
)
Loss to Inventory
Crew Members:
P WO1 TOOLOOSE DALE LEROY KIA
P 2LT FOLEY DOUGLAS LEE KIA
CE PFC ZELINKO GEORGE ALLEN KIA
G CPL GILL DAVID EUGENE KIA
Passengers:
X2 UNK, PAX, 5
X2 UNK, PAX, 5
X2 UNK, PAX, 5
X2 UNK, PAX, 5
X2 UNK, PAX, 5
X2 UNK, PAX, 5
X2 UNK, PAX, 5
X2 UNK, PAX, 5
This record was last updated on 09/20/98
The following is crew member information for this incident:
Name: 2LT Douglas Lee Foley
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 09/02/65 while performing
the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 30.1
Date of Birth: 07/15/35
Home City: Ridgeway, VA
Service: AT branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 118 AHC
Major organization: other
Flight class: 65-5
Service: AT branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 02E-072
Short Summary: Pulled out of formation because of a governor problem.
Killed near Ben Cat with WO1 Dale Tooloose AC. Crew - Gill & Zelinko.
Aircraft: UH-1B tail number 62-02046
Call sign: Thunderbirds
Service number: O5406455
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 1981 = 19 Rotary Wing Aviator (Unit Commander)
Primary cause: Hostile Fire
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: weapons
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: pilot
Started Tour: 06/30/65
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
Length of service: 12
Location: Unknown Province
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
married male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Baptist - other groups
The following information 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 07/29/94
Name: CPL David Eugene Gill
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 09/02/65 while performing
the duty of Gunner.
Age at death: 23.8
Date of Birth: 10/28/41
Home City: Evansville, IN
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 118 AHC
Prior Unit: 25 INF DIV
Major organization: 25th Infantry Division
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 02E-073
Short Summary: Pulled out of formation because of a governor problem.
SHOTGUN TDY from 25 INF DIV.
Aircraft: UH-1B tail number 62-02046
Call sign: Thunderbirds
Service number: 16686763
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 11B40 = Infantryman
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: weapons
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: door gunner
Started Tour: 06/07/65
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other
aircrew
Length of service: 04
Location: Unknown Province
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Protestant - no denominational preference
The following information 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 07/29/95
Name: WO1 Dale Leroy Tooloose
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 09/02/65 while performing
the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 30.7
Date of Birth: 12/07/34
Home City: St Louis, MO
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 118 AHC
Major organization: other
Flight class: 64-4W
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 02E-073
Short Summary: Pulled out of formation on 118 AHC lift because
of governor problems. Killed near Ben Cat. w/ 2LT Douglas Foley.
Crew Gill & Zelinko?
Aircraft: UH-1B tail number 62-02046
Call sign: Thunderbirds
Service number: W3151979
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 062B = Helicopter Pilot, Utility and Light Cargo Single Rotor
Primary cause: Hostile Fire
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: weapons
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: co-pilot
Started Tour: 04/10/65
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other
aircrew
Length of service: 10
Location: Unknown Province
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
married 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: battle dead Category
of personnel: active duty Army Military class: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 07/28/94
Name: PFC George Allen Zelinko
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 09/02/65 while performing
the duty of Crew Chief.
Age at death: 23.1
Date of Birth: 07/16/42
Home City: Chicago, IL
Service: component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 118 AHC
Major organization: other
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 02E-073
Short Summary: Pulled out of formation because of a governor problem.
Aircraft: UH-1B tail number 62-02046
Call sign: Thunderbirds
Service number: 55797249
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 76G20 = Signal Supply And Parts Specialist
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: weapons
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: crew chief
Started Tour: 06/27/65
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other
aircrew
Location: Unknown Province
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
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: battle dead Category
of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 07/29/95
Please send additions or corrections to:
Gary Roush
43 Overbrook Road
Painted Post, NY 14870