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64-13157 was
the tail number for the Chinook that crashed on May
10, 1972 ,
when 34 soldiers died. 5
were crew members of the Chinook from the
362nd
Aviation Company,
21
were members of Skull platoon, including
3 from CP:
Skipper, and both
the company and battalion RTO's. 7 soldiers were
from
A Company, 1/12th Cav,
and
1 trooper
was from the 11th ARM Cav Regiment.
United 157 was part of a
flight of four Chinooks that picked up infantry troops
from the 3d Bde, 1st Cav at the Sandy Pad at Bien Hoa
Army Base. The troops were being taken to Vung Tau for a
three day incountry R&R. As 157 neared Long Thanh North
airfield, other Chinooks in the flight described 157 as
exploding like a lightbulb flash. Since there had been
an increase in NVA activity at An Loc, the aircraft was
thought to have been shot down. The remaining CH-47's
sped from the area. It was learned later that the
Chinook had a material failure of a blade retaining pin.
5 crewmen and 29 soldiers were lost.
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