OH-23 

62-03803 

6306

942

OH-23 

62-03808

6305

6706

1151

6707

1215

64

D Troop. Listed as Centaur aircraft on original database. Goldbook entry shows A/C record begins with bailment to Bell Hcptr, Fort Worth with 775 hrs. Oct. 1966, began in-country service with USARV Flt. Det. with 1151 hrs. Jun. 1967,  shows no mention of D/3/4 Cav service and last service listed as ITR CONUS, U. S. Army Avn. Syst. Cmd (AVSCOM) with 2249 hrs. Jan. 1972. 1962 MASN—1908 to Present shows: Hiller OH-23G Raven 62-03808 transferred to Military Aircraft Storage and Disposal Center as XG0135 January 19, 1972 and changed to N81960.

OH-23 

62-03814

6307

6609

959

D Troop. Listed as Centaur aircraft on original database. Combat Incident Report shows while flying recon mission for unarmed recon on 5-1-1966, in executing a left bank at a speed of 70 knots at 1000 feet, OH-23G 62-03814 took 3 hits from small arms/automatic weapons (gun launched non-explosive ballistic project less than 20 millimeter in size, 7.62) resulting in damage to electrical system, main rotor system, tail rotor and structure. Helicopter continued flight and was diverted prior to accomplishing any mission objectives. Goldbook  entry shows A/C record begins with bailment to Bell Hcptr, Fort Worth with 959 hrs. Oct. 1966, in-country service with USARV Flgt Det. with 1567 hrs. Jun. 1967 and last service listed as ITR CONUS, U. S. Army Avn. Syst. Cmd. (AVSCOM) with 2836 hrs. Jan. 1972. DAILY STAFF JOURNAL OR DUTY OFFICER'S LOG, 1 May 1966 shows: ITEM NO. 36, 0845 hours, B Trp-SPOT RPT-A/Slick Plow; B/2 road blocks with; C/50691911-0833; D/Received fire 1 Kilometer from road block-received 1 rd in tail rotor; E/Cont. Mission. 1962 MASN—1908 to Present shows:  Hiller OH-23G Raven 62-03814 transferred to Military Aircraft Storage and Disposal Center as XG0065 Nov. 14, 1971.

OH-23 

62-03818 

D Troop. Listed as Centaur aircraft on original database. Combat Incident Report shows on 1-31-1968 while in orbit at 0300 feet and 070 knots overflying the Tan Son Nhut perimeter, OH-23G tail number 62-03818 took 5 hits from small arms/automatic weapons (gun launched non-explosive ballistic project owes less than 20 millimeter in size, 7.62 backspace) damaging flight controls, fuel system, main rotor system and structure. Aircraft made a precautionary forced landing and was determined capable of one time flight. Passengers on board were Lt. Col. Glenn K. Otis, CO 3/4 Cav. and Captain Charles K. Flint, artillery officer 3/4 Cav. War Story: On page 79, Battle for Saigon, we read that LTC Otis and CPT Flint had transferred from the Huey C&C ship flown by the CO of D/3/4th Cav to the colonel's regular C&C ship, an OH23. Otis preferred the OH23 to the Huey which he considered too fast to really see what was happening on the ground. Flint recalls: "but, holy shit, a '23's just a bubble with a lawn mower engine and there were a lot of bad guys down there.' He was highly concerned as they chugged along at 40 knots, half the cruising speed of the Huey they had originally been shot down in. LTC Otis was sitting to the right of the pilot and Flint to the left. Flint continues: "We made a low pass at about a 100 feet to see what condition C Troop was in and the NVA opened up with AK-47s. There were holes everywhere in the '23 - the engine, the windshield, the whole nine yards - so we did a quick left-hand turn and plunked that baby down right on the west end of the runway." Sources indicate to the VHPA that #62-03818 was the aircraft involved in this event. Gunship Crew Chief SP5 Dwain Adkins (1964-67), provides Photo Album Image #2 of Maintenance Sergeant and crew chief SP5 Harlan Cooper standing beside tailboom of OH-23G 62-03818. 1962 MASN—1908 to Present shows: Unlisted in range of serial numbers from 62-3791 to 62-3831. 

OH-23 

62-03826

6307

D Troop. Listed as Centaur aircraft on original database. Goldbook entry shows A/C record begins with bailment to Bell Hcptr, Fort Worth with 928 hrs. Oct. 1966, first of three in-country service with USARV Flt. Det. with 1415 hrs. Jun. 1967, no mention of D Troop service and last service listed as ITR CONUS, U. S. Army Avn. Syst. Cmd. (AVSCOM) with 2785 hrs. Jan. 1972. 1962 MASN—1908 to Present shows: Hiller OH-23G Raven 62-03826 transferred to Military Aircraft Storage and Disposal Center as XG0053 October 20, 1971 and changed to N67662.

OH-23 

62-03828

6308

D Troop. Goldbook entry shows A/C began  in-country service with USARV Flt. Det. with 481 hrs. Jun. 1967,  bailed to Bell Hcptr, Fort Worth, Texas with 651 hrs. Aug. 1967, no mention of D Troop service, remained CONUS asgnd. 355th Avn Co., 4th Army, Fort Sill with 918 hrs. Nov. 1967, returned RVN 13th Cbt. Avn. Bn. with 1280 hrs. Aug. 1968 and last service listed 306th Trans. Co., 8th Army, Korea with  1452 hrs. Apr.1971. Centaur 15 CW2 Mackie A. Web, OH-23G Scout Pilot (Jun 67-June68), provides a 1968 My Page Photo #4 of OH-23G 62-03828 sitting in a hanger awaiting maintenance with the left side M2 Skid Gun Mount with gun removed. 1962 MASN—1908 to Present shows: Unlisted in range of serial numbers from 62-3791 to 62-3831. 

OH-23 

62-03829

6308

6706

1059

6707

1114

55

D Troop. Accident case number: 670614071 costing $12,055, 0 fatalities, 0 injuries; A/C hours at time of accident: 1114; Date: 6-14-1967; Unit: USARV Flt. Det. [sic]; Crew Members: W1 R. J. Edwards (Roy J. Edwards); Accident Summary: On short final, the aircraft turned violently to the right. Executed a hovering autorotation but landed hard. Suspect maintenance error because the tail rotor cable failed. Goldbook information shows A/C began in-country service with USARVFlt. Det. with 1059 hrs., bailed to Bell Hcptr, Fort Worth, Texas  with 1150 hrs.  Apr. 1968 and last service listed as ITR CONUS, U. S. Army Avn. Syst. Cmd. (AVSCOM) with 1637 hrs. Jan. 1972.  A/C 829 Crew Chief Dwight L.Byrd (May 65-Mar. 67) and CW 2 Robert "Bob" Dunbar (Mar. 66-Apr. 67), pilot. 1962 MASN—1908 to Present shows:  Hiller OH-23G Raven 62-03829 transferred to Military Aircraft Storage and Disposal Center as XG0115 Dec. 17, 1971.

OH-23 

63-12840

6609

6609

D Troop. Listed as Centaur aircraft on original database. Loss to Inventory Accident case number: G339 costing $53,963,  0 fatalities, 1 injured; Date: 9-10-1966; Station: RVN; Crew members: Pilot M. Lyons (Michael O. Lyons); Accident Summary: Clutch failure on tail rotor, RPM lost, aircraft struck the ground with excessive rate of descent resulting in aircraft sustaining damage from hard landing, loss to Inventory and no other information provided. OH-23G Crew Chief Dwight L.Byrd (May 65-Mar. 67) My Page Slide Show Image DB-25 and Centaur 26 Gun Pilot CW 2 Robert "Bob" Dunbar (Mar. 66-Apr. 67) My Page Slide Show Image BD-262 shows end result of hard landing for OH-23G 63-12840. 1963 MASN—1908 to Present shows:  Unlisted in range of serial numbers from 63-12765 to 63-12901.

OH-23 

63-12848

6407

D Troop. Listed as Centaur aircraft on original database.  Goldbook information shows A/C record began with bailment to Bell Hcptr, Fort Worth, Texas with 416 hrs. Oct. 1966, began in-country service with USARV Flt. Det. with 859 hrs. May 1967, no mention of D Troop service and last service listed with 19th Avn. Co., 8th Army, Korea with 2484 hrs. Jun. 1970. 1963 MASN—1908 to Present shows:  Unlisted in range of serial numbers from 63-12765 to 63-12901.

OH-23 

63-12849

6407

D Troop. Listed as Centaur aircraft on original database.  Goldbook information shows A/C record began with bailment to Bell Hcptr, Fort Worth, Texas with 608 hrs. Oct. 1966, began in-country service with USARV Flt. Det. with 962 hrs. Jun. 1967, Combat Incident Report dated 10-24-1967, at A/C hrs. 1374, occurred when Goldbook information shows in 3rd month of bailment to Bell Hcptr, Fort Worth, Texas, no mention of D Troop service, asgnd. to 355th Avn. Co., Fort Sill, 4th Army for a total of 582 hrs. Nov. 1967 through Jul. 1968 and last service listed ITR CONUS, AVSCOM with 2310 hrs. Jan. 1972 with 2 separate tours RVN. 1963 MASN—1908 to Present shows:  Hiller OH-23G Raven 62-12849 transferred to Military Aircraft Storage and Disposal Center as XG0101 Dec. 13, 1971.

OH-23 

63-12850

D Troop. Listed as Centaur aircraft on original database. A/C OH-23G 63-12850 does not appear on the VHPA "Vietnam Helicopter History CD"  1963 MASN—1908 to Present shows:  Unlisted in range of serial numbers from 63-12765 to 63-12901.

OH-23 

63-12860

6408

D Troop. Combat Incident Report dated 8-30-1967, unit Bell Hcptr [sic], A/C hrs. 1597, shows during armed recon mission in South Vietnam OH-23G 63-12860 was attacking at 400 feet, unknown airspeed, and took 1 hit from small arms/automatic weapons projectiles less than 20mm in size (7.62MM) in the main rotor system, A/C continued/accomplished all mission objectives, Chu Chi recovered aircraft for $256 and aircraft was repaired in theater [no Daily Logs available for period]. Goldbook information begins with bailment to Bell Hcptr, Fort Worth, with 804 hours Oct. 1966, began in country service with USARV Flt. Det., with 1315 hrs. Jun. 1967, bailed to Bell Hcptr at 1597 hrs Aug. 1967, during known Centaur use A/C was asgnd. to 355th Avn. Co., Fort Sill, 4th Army, asgnd to Trp. B, 25th Avn. Bn., 25th Inf. Div. with 2463 hrs. Nov. 1968 and last entry shows asgnd to 360th Trans. Co., Korea, 8th Army with 2987 hrs. Apr. 1971 [no mention of Centaur use]. Combined Photo Albums of Centaur 10/Scout platoon leader 1st Lt. Leland "Smokey" Burgess (1967-68), and Centaur 17 OH-23G pilot CW2 Walter Cooke (67-68), provides Images #10 & #36 showing OH-23G 63-12860 in flight. Sergeant Jack W. Lorensen, Light Scout Crew Chief D Troop (65-66), served as crew chief for OH-23G 63-12860 during his tour, indicating A/C served prior to Goldbook entries. Centaur 15 W01 Mackie Webb, OH-23G Scout Pilot (Jun. 67-Jun. 68), My Page Image #3 provides a 1968 photograph of him sitting in his new OH-23G 63-12860 armed with the M2 skid gun preparing for liftoff. 

OH-23 

64-15201

6505

6802

671

D Troop. Loss to Inventory Combat Incident Report shows while operating aircraft in South Vietnam during recon for armed recon mission at 500 feet level flight and 70 knots on 2-17-1968, OH-23 G 64-15201, from the 355th Avn. Co. [sic], took 10 hits from small arms/automatic weapons projectiles less than 20mm in size (7.62MM) in the cockpit at UTM grid coordinates XT528347 resulting in destroyed aircraft from crash and 3 personnel wounded. Goldbook information shows initial entry for 64-15201 being assigned to Acft. Maint. Div., Ft. Leavenworth, 5th Army with 304 hrs. Oct. 1966, in country service with HQ Co., 1st Fld. Frc.-RVN with 422 hrs. Jul. 1967, last listed with 355th Avn. Co, 4th Army, Fort Sill with 671 hrs. Jan. 1968 and no information regarding service with D/3/4 Cav. Dale Dow’s Centaur Aircraft 66-73 Excel Database #2 shows OH-23 64-15201 received hostile fire and crashed resulting in Scout Platoon Leader Centaur 10 1st Lieutenant Leland H. "Smokey" Burgess Jr., Crew Chief Billy Knighton and Gunner Harry B. Swiencki all wounded in action 17 February 1968. See story.

OH-23 

64-15255

6305

6711

2

D Troop. Listed as Centaur aircraft on original database. Total loss or fatality Accident case number: 671109091 costing $53963,  0 fatalities, 0 injuries; Date: 11/09/1967; Unit: D/3/4 Cav., 25 Inf.; Station: Chu Chi, South Vietnam; Crew members: Pilot W1 D. K. Gunn (Deryl K "Pete" Gunn); Accident summary: Fuel exhaustion at night with two hours of flight time. An autorotation was made in a rough area resutling in loss to inventory and no other information provided.