Helicopter UH-1C 66-15125

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-15125
The Army purchased this helicopter 0567
Total flight hours at this point: 00000183
Date: 12/02/67
Unit: 135 AHC
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
This was a Recon mission for Armed Escort , Other Aircraft.
While in Target Area this helicopter was Attacking at 0500 feet and 090 knots.
South Vietnam
Helicopter took 1 hits from:
Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. (7.62MM)
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: LNOF, 74304, JSIDR (Lindenmuth Old Format Data Base. Joint Services Incident Damage Report. )

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-15125
Date: 12/05/67
Accident case number: 671205011
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing 1400
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.

Crew Members:
AC W1 QUIETT EL

Accident Summary:

The aircraft was in the process of getting into position when the RPM started bleeding off. The pilot reduced power but the RPM stilled dropped. The pilot then made a forced landing resulting in damage to the aircraft.

This record was last updated on 08/31/98

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-15125
The Army purchased this helicopter 0567
Total flight hours at this point: 00000697
Date: 08/21/68
Incident number: 68082111.KIA
Unit: 135 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 0050 feet and UNK knots.
South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: XS403867
Helicopter took 1 hits from:
Explosive Weapon; Non-Artillery launched or static weapons containing explosive charges. (RPG)
The helicopter was hit in the Engine Compartment causing Fragmentation Damage.
Systems damaged were: PERSONNEL, ENGINE
Casualties = 04 DOI . .
The helicopter Crashed. Aircraft Destroyed.
Both mission and flight capability were terminated.
Burned
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: OPERA, UH1P3, 23401, LNNF, CRAFX, CASRP (Operations Report. Lindenmuth New Format Data Base. Crash Facts Message. Casualty Report. )
Loss to Inventory

Crew Members:
P WO1 BULLOCK HERSHEL JOE SR KIA
P LT CASADIO ANTHONY AUSTIN KIA
CE SP4 FENNELL WILLIAM ERVIN KIA
P PO PHILLIPS OBRIEN CEDRIC KIA
This record was last updated on 05/25/98

The following is crew member information for this incident:

Name: WO1 Hershel Joe Bullock, Sr.
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 08/21/68 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 20.9
Date of Birth: 09/14/47
Home City: Ft Worth, TX
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 135 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 68-503/68-1
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 47W-015
Short Summary: Gunship co-pilot LT. A.A. Casadio, Royal Austrialian Navy.
Aircraft: UH-1C tail number 66-15125
Service number: W3160428
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: unknown
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: pilot
Started Tour: 06/02/68
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
Location: Phuoc Tuy Province III Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
married male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Disciples 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: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 04/12/98

Name: LT Anthony Austin Casadio
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 08/21/68 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Home State: AU
Service: Australian Navy.
Unit: 135 AHC
Service: Australian Navy.
Short Summary: One of 4 Australian helicopter pilots killed in Vietnam.
Aircraft: UH-1C tail number 66-15125
Country: South Vietnam
Location: Phuoc Tuy Province
This record was last updated on 04/12/98

Name: SP4 William Ervin Fennell
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 08/21/68 while performing the duty of Crew Chief.
Age at death: 21.5
Date of Birth: 02/28/47
Home City: Ft Lauderdale, FL
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 135 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 47W-018
Aircraft: UH-1C tail number 66-15125
Service number: 14968106
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 67N2F = UH-1 Helicopter Repairer
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: unknown
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: crew chief
Started Tour: 05/24/67
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Phuoc Tuy Province III Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
married male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Roman Catholic
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 04/12/98

Name: PO O'Brien Cedric Phillips
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 08/21/68 while performing the duty of Gunner.
Service: Australian Navy.
Unit: 135 AHC
Service: Australian Navy.
Short Summary: One of 4 Royal Australian Navy helicopter pilots killed in Vietnam.
Aircraft: UH-1C tail number 66-15125
Country: South Vietnam
Location: Phuoc Tuy Province
Additional information about this casualty:
I was flying astern of 125 when it went down 21st August 1968. I was doorgunner in 127. We were at the proverbial tree top level when I noticed the blades of 125 slow down and the chopper dropping and banking starboard to a small clearing. When it went down, I saw it land in what I think was an old bomb crater. Shortly after it erupted in smoke, small explosions and fired up. Anyway, that's as I remember it. The reason for this email to you, is so can correct a small error in the Gold Book records. Where the listing of deceased crewmembers explains each members allocation, it has been written that Petty Officer Phillips was a pilot. The two pilots already listed there are Bullock and Casadio. Phillips was acting as a doorgunner for that unfortunate day. He did not regularly fly as a door gunner. His duties involved other specifics. Actually, "Darkie", as he was know affectionately by his mates, approached me the previous evening and said he was rostering himself on as doorgunner and giving another Aussie doorgunner a break. We both intended to go to the Aussie ASCO at Nui Dat...that's similar to your PX's...and purchase some tapes for our tape-recorders. Perhaps you could alter the records and place him as doorgunner just to reduce the three pilots listed back to two pilots. I was a permanent doorgunner with the Royal Australian Navy contingent. 'Darkie' was designated Petty Officer Aircrewman. He was too senior for doorgunner and thus put in other areas. He had been advance party in December '67 from Vung Tau to Blackhorse, and was in charge of erecting hootches and other huts. He had only been Gun Platoon Sgt for some two, maybe three weeks, until his demise. He probably did other tasks as well, but I cannot remember at this stage. Terry Brooks...135thAHC ... RANHFV...Oct 1967 - Oct 1968 taipan135@bigpond.com
This record was last updated on 11/05/03

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-15125
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 0567.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
6705   9    9 WFM9AA 135 AVN CO       4THARMY    FORT HOOD        4TH ARMY
6706  25   34 WFM9AA 135 AVN CO       4THARMY    FORT HOOD        4TH ARMY
6707  17   51 WFM9AA 135 AVN CO       4THARMY    FORT HOOD        4TH ARMY
6708  12   63 WFM9AA 135 AVN CO       4THARMY    FORT HOOD        4TH ARMY
6709   0   63 WFM9AA 135 AVN CO       4THARMY    FORT HOOD        4TH ARMY
6710   2   65 WC08AA 135 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6711  89  154 WC08AA 135 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6712  29  183 WC08AA 135 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6801  89  272 WC08AA 135 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6802 133  405 WC08AA 135 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6803 102  507 3380   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY
6804  85  592 3380   BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM
6805  18  610 3380   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY
6806   0  610 WC08AA 135 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6807  87  697 WC08AA 135 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN

Please send additions or corrections to:

Gary Roush
43 Overbrook Road
Painted Post, NY 14870