Excel Database #2 shows UH-1C 64-14173 Heavy Weapons “Hog” received fire in engine compartment. Aircraft crashed. Destroyed by artillery fire [aircraft destroyed by 500-pound bomb delivered by an F-4]. The crew, 1LT Charles Johnson (Centaur 40), CW2 Mackie A. Webb, copilot, Crew Chief SP4 David L. Christiansen and Gunner SP4 Ernest Paul Bartnik were recovered by armor. CW2 Webb took a round across the top of the head and Bartnik, age 20, received shrapnel wounds in the back when the aircraft was shot down Feb. 21, 1968. Lieutenant Johnson reported “Bartnik was absolutely the most calm and collected Air Cavalry Trooper on the ground that day. His previous experience with A Troop was a great help to us. I forget the exact number of enemy that Bartnick was able to take out but I recall him firing single rounds, not automatic fire, with an M16 and it helped to reduce the amount of incoming pointed in our direction.” Ernest Bartnick died at Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon 27 Mar 1970. VHPA Vietnam War Helicopter Incident for date 680221 shows: AR UH-1C 64-14173 355 AVN 1 Hits. 2-21-1968 Loss to Inventory Combat Incident Report, 355th Avn. Co. [Tarhe], total flight hours 684, shows UH-1C 64-14173 took one hit from ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size (7.62MM) while attacking at 200 feet and 40 knots resulting in crash from damage to flight controls, main rotor system, engine, hydraulic system, transmission, aircraft destroyed and no casualties mentioned. VHPA Goldbook [obviously inaccurate] entry shows began in-country service with 170th Avn. Co. with 453 hrs. Oct. 1966, departed for CONUS with 684 hrs. Mar. 1967 and last listed with 355th Av. Co., 4th Army, Ft, Sill, OK with 684 hrs. Jan. 1968. 1964 MASN—1908 to Present shows: Bell UH-1C Iroquois 64-14173 written off February 22, 1968. See the story.

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SP5 Dwain Adkins, Gunship Crew Chief D Troop 1964-67, provides photograph of right side of UH-1C/B 65-09444 Heavy Scout Gunship mounting the half of the XM16 armament system consisting of four 7.62 M60C machine guns and two 2.75-inch 7-shot rocket pods. Dale Dow’s Centaur Aircraft 66-73 Excel Database #2 shows UH-1C 65-09444 Heavy Scout Gunship.

D Troop. My Page shows Robert F. "Bob" Taylor, former crew chief of UH-1C Huey Gunship #65-09444. Upgraded from a B model. He was the second crew chief of UH-1C Huey Gunship #65-09444. MASN for 1965 shows: Bell UH-1C/B Iroquois 65-09444 converted to UH-1M.

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D Troop. In Memoriam Page shows SP5 Paul Davidson was door gunner for UH-1C Huey "Heavy Scout" #65-09462. He died March 28, 2013.

SP5 Thomas "TJ" Lange was crew chief of 462 Jan 1967 to May 1968. TJ died 12 Nov 2011

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SGT Norman W. "Norm" Clark, Door Gunner D Troop 1967-68, provides My Page Twin Photographs showing 24 pod rocket system on each side of his UH-1C 66-00513 "Heavy Hog"in 1967.

D Troop. My Page also shows image of Terry Vaughan working on Doug Olsen's UH-1C Huey "Hog" #66-00513. MASN for 1966 shows: Bell UH-1C Iroquois 66-00513 converted to UH-1M; Transferred to Lexington, NE Transportation Museum.

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It was a replacement and was crewed by Paul Turner Gunner and SP5 Earl W. Goodall Crew Chief

Dale Dow’s Centaur Aircraft 66-73 Excel Database #2 shows UH-1C 66-00520 Heavy Weapons “Hog.” 15 August 68 Accident with crew Aircraft Commander Tonny B. Wolfe and Pilot CW2 Michael J. Galloway. On 15 August 68, 2310 hours, the aircraft commander and pilot terminated their mission by refueling then intending to return to the maintenance area. The aircraft still had a basic load of 3,000 rounds of door gun ammo 6,000 rounds of mini-gun ammo, and 14 rockets, all evenly distributed. After taking on 1040 pounds of fuel, calling for clearance to depart POL, WO Galloway attempted to lift the aircraft to a hover. At this time, the aircraft initiated a steady smooth movement to the right rear. WO Gallaway made a cyclic correction to no avail, at which time the aircraft commander WO1 Wolfe, responded with full forward left cyclic which had no effect. The collective was then bottomed as the main rotor struck the ground to the right of the aircraft. The aircraft rocked back and forth several times to its left front spreading the skids, ripping the aft portion of the tail section from the aircraft, and separating the transmission. No injuries were sustained during the accident. MASN for 1966 shows: Bell UH-1C Iroquois 66-00520 converted to UH-1M.

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NOTE: All data acquired from images found in the Centaur List of Photo Albums, Slide Shows, Yearbooks, My Page entries and Rosters War Stories Essays/Discussions, are cross referenced with chart provided by VHPA found in War Stories Discussions-Centaur Aircraft Tail Numbers augmented by a database of unknown origin provided by Tom Dooling.

Also check out Aircraft Names without tail numbers and the Aircraft History Section - see just photos