Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 69-15664
The Army purchased this helicopter 0970
Total flight hours at this point: 00000493
Date: 03/17/1971 MIA-POW file reference number: 1727
Incident number: 71031726.KIA
Unit: 128 AHC
Cambodia
UTM grid coordinates: XU470453 (To see this location on a map, go to https://legallandconverter.com/p50.html and search on Grid Reference 48PXU470453)
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Reference Notes. Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Also: 1727 ()
Loss to Inventory
Crew Members:
P WO1 HESTAND JAMES HARDY REL
P CW3 BAUMAN RICHARD LEE BNR
G SSG HARRIS BOBBY GLENN BNR
CE SSG DIX CRAIG MITCHELL BNR
REFNO Synopsis:
Personnel in Incident: On UH1H: Craig M. Dix; Bobby G. Harris, Richard Lee Bauman,(all missing); James H. Hestand (released POW).Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 30 June 1990 from one or more of the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews.
SYNOPSIS: On March 17, 1971, a UH1H helicopter flown by WO1 James H. Hestand and carrying CW2 Richard L. Bauman; SP4 Craig M. Dix; and SP4 Bobby G. Harris. The aircraft was shot down near Snuol. A medivac chopper lowered a jungle penetrator to men seen on the ground through triple canopy jungle, but was forced to leave the area due to enemy fire and low fuel.
Five ARVN were captured in the same operation and were told by Viet Cong guards that three chopper crew members had just been captured. One was killed in the crash, one was shot in the leg (ankle) trying to escape. The wounded crewmember and two others were finally captured.
James Hestand was captured and was released in 1973. In his debriefing, he reported that Craig Dix was the one who had been shot in the upper right ankle. Hestand stated that Dix was ambulatory and evading capture at the time of his own capture. Hestand also stated that, when last seen, CW2 Bauman was alive, in good condition, and was hiding with Dix. Hestand said that he had seen the body of Harris, whom he believed to be dead because of throat lacerations and a discoloration of his body. Harris had been thrown from the aircraft. Hestand was separated from the others when he was captured, and had no further information on Dix, Bauman or Harris. Defense Department notes indicate that Harris was killed in the crash. Defense Department notes indicate that some intelligence say that Bauman, Dix and Harris are dead, yet other intelligence reports placed Dix in a Cambodian hospital after having been captured, and according to Hestand, the two were alive and well the last time he saw them.
This record was last updated on 12/02/2010
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Date posted on this site: 10/25/2024
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