How many helicopters were lost in vietnam

As the helicopters flew low over the thick jungle canopy, one of them burst into flames, hit by ground fire from an unseen enemy. The Huey, unable to halt its descent, crashed through the trees and into the ground.

Two of the soldiers aboard survived, escaped the burning wreckage, and were rescued; two of them were killed instantly: Specialist 5 Johnny Arthur and Specialist 4 Louie Montoya.

While the United States used helicopters in the Korean conflict, the infant technology was not yet up to the task of moving large numbers of troops, wounded, vehicles, supplies, and more. By the time of the Vietnam War, helicopters had become vital military machines. But like any other aircraft, helicopters were vulnerable to ground fire. According to the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, a total of 11, helicopters were shot down or crashed during the war, resulting in nearly 5, American pilots and crew killed.

One of those Hueys was shot down on June 10, , tail number It was crewed by four men attached to the U. On that day, about 20 miles southwest of Phu Nhon, the crew was along on a rescue mission for a team of South Vietnamese Army rangers who had been trapped by Viet Cong forces.

As the pilot, First Lieutenant Robert E. Goolsby, began to scout for landing zones, he and his copilot, Warrant Officer Steve A. Watson, realized their engine was on fire. At some point, someone below had gotten off a lucky shot and critically damaged the UH-1C.

Witnesses reported seeing flames spurting from the helicopter at approximately feet in altitude before it lurched into the trees below, followed by the sound of the crash. The two others aboard, crew chief Johnny Arthur and gunner Louie Montoya, never made it out of the wreckage as the entire aircraft became engulfed in flames.

Goolsby pulled himself free from the helicopter but he was severely wounded. With facial lacerations, broken back vertebrae, several broken ribs, and dislocated joints, he was barely able to move himself, yet he helped pull Warrant Officer Watson away from the fire.

The second gunship in the flight, still overhead, hovered just at treetop level to see if they could spot any survivors. Shepard broke his arm in the resulting fall. Arthur and Montoya were officially listed as missing in action until their remains were recovered several days later. They were reclassified as killed in action on June 21, He was 21 years old. Louie Gooch Montoya was also He came from Covina, California.

The copilot, Steve Watson, survived the war but passed away in The pilot, Goolsby, also survived the war and now resides in Georgia. Owing to a paperwork error, and despite his horrific wounds, he did not receive his Purple Heart until Specialist 5 Johnny Arthur, U. Army VVMF. Specialist 4 Louie G. Montoya, U. Arthur sitting in the cabin of a UH-1 Iroquois "Huey" helicopter, unkown date. Hueys in flight, circa National Archives. Home » Week of June Week of June Air Force RF-4C Phantom reconnaissance aircraft were on a mission over North Vietnam when alarms, warning of the approach of surface-to-air missiles SAMs , began blaring inside their cockpits.

One SAM reached the His platoon had just been ambushed by a large number of Viet Cong forces to their front. But the sound of the lone rifle Albanese honed in on came from his left Week of November 21 On November 21, , a joint team of 92 U.

Air Force Special Operations troops and 56 Army Special Force personnel conducted one of the most daring and dramatic missions of the Vietnam War when they raided a Vietnamese prison facility Week of November 14 Early in the morning of November 11, , soldiers of the U. The North Vietnamese Army Week of November 7 On November 8, , elements of 1st Battalion, d Infantry Regiment, d Airborne Brigade were on a search-and-clear operation in the infamous Iron Triangle region, northeast of Saigon, when they stumbled Week of October 31 On the evening of October 29, , U.

Army soldiers assigned to A Company, 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division—leading a contingent of Montagnard local forces—worked to secure a helicopter landing zone in a small clearing of the Loc Week of October 24 October in Southeast Asia is the middle of typhoon season, and on October 20, , two intense typhoons were churning off the coast of the South Vietnamese Central Highlands.

The resulting high winds, sheets of rain, and Week of October 17 On October 17, , elements of the U. Two understrength American companies found themselves Jackson heard of a unit of Marines at a remote outpost near the Laos border in dire need of ammunition and supplies.

The convoy assigned to deliver them, however, would need to go by a dangerous route, Week of October 3 On October 2, , U. Air Force Captain Kenneth E. The two men successfully dropped their As he and his two crewmen made a low pass over a target, their OH-6 was hit by small arms fire and crippled Through over two hours of intense Week of September 5 On September 4, , the U.

When his company reached a waypoint on top of a hill, Week of August 22 American Special Forces suffered more Green Berets killed and wounded in a single attack on August 23, , than any other day in history.

More than sappers infiltrated the Special Forces camp situated on the southern coast of Da Nang, killing 16 Green All from No.

Both from No. Claimed by US air to air combat only [9]. Military Wiki Explore. Popular pages. Project maintenance. Register Don't have an account?

Aircraft losses of the Vietnam War. Edit source History Talk 0. Air Force History and Museums Programs. The addition of guns and rocket pods allowed these helicopters to provide counter-reconnaissance capabilities, taking out enemy recon units. Observation helicopters and transport helicopters were occasionally used for search and rescue operations during the Vietnam War.

Search and rescue helicopters require the ability to fly long distances and hover for extended periods. They also need to provide defensive fire when landing in combat zones. It was typically equipped with two M60 machine guns and could hold up to 25 passengers. Most military helicopters end up serving multiple purposes. For example, a helicopter may offer transport, ground support, and recon capabilities.

These multi-mission helicopters are often agile, lightly armed, and capable of holding additional passengers or cargo.

There are many examples of multi-use helicopters in Vietnam, but the Bell UH-1 Iroquois Huey is the most recognizable. The Huey was released in and has served as a utility, attack, and transport helicopter. It could hold 14 troops or up to six medical litters and medical crew.

The large passenger space made it a common choice for transport and medical evacuations. However, it was also often fitted with armaments, such as M60 machine guns or rocket pods. Along with the fact that the Huey could take off and land almost anywhere, it became suited for any role required. They were commonly equipped with a pair of torpedoes or a chin-mounted minigun. However, they were originally used to help rescue airmen at sea.

The Kaman SH-2 Seasprite is one example of an anti-submarine helicopter. The SH-2 was originally developed in due to the need for a ship-based helicopter on Navy ships. The original design lacked armaments and was operated from aircraft carriers. The Navy also used unmanned helicopters in Vietnam. It was based on a single-seat roto-cycle and controlled remotely by two operators on the warship. One operator controlled the flight while the other controlled the armaments.

Cargo helicopters are specialized transport aircraft primarily intended to hold supplies and equipment. They come in a variety of sizes and are often classified as medium-lift or heavy-lift cargo helicopters.

The CH had a tandem-rotor design, allowing it to provide the lift needed for hauling cargo. It also featured a powered cargo door that doubled as a loading ramp, providing quicker access to the cargo.

Along with supplies, the helicopter could seat up to 55 troops. The Mil Mi-8 is another medium-lift helicopter used during the Vietnam War.

While smaller compared to the CH, the Mi-8 offers more range, traveling up to miles. The smaller helicopter was also more agile and often equipped with side-mounted PK machine guns.