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65-07999, Boeing build number B-171, was a CH-47A helicopter. The U.S. Army acceptance date was 23 March 1966. 65-07999 accumulated at 2,394.0 aircraft hours. At some point, 65-07999 was assigned to the unit that would eventually become B Company - "Sugar Bears North", 4th Battalion, 123rd Aviation Regiment, located at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Fort Wainwright was the former historic Ladd Field of World War Two era fame. B Company was the former C Company, 228th Aviation Regiment (16 October 1987 - 24 June 1994). C Company was the former 242nd Assault Support Helicopter Company (ASHC) - "Muleskinners" (located in Alaska from November 1971 through 16 October 1987). When United States involvement in the Vietnam conflict ended, 242nd ASHC was re-located from the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) to Alaska. The aviation unit in Alaska at the time was designated the 236th ASHC, 19th Aviation Battalion (April 1971 - November 1971). When the 242nd ASHC re-located to Alaska and re-formed, the unit name changed from "Muleskinners" to "Sugarbears" and the unit designation went from the 236th ASHC to the 242nd ASHC. At some point, the unit was split into two companies. One company remained in Alaska and became known as "Sugar Bears North". The other company, C Company, 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment, was relocated to Fort Kobbe, Panama and became known as "Sugar Bears South". On 10 July 1970, while assigned to the 242nd ASHC in the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) (South Vietnam), 65-07999 was hit by a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) while at a hover. The aircraft crashed, rolled over, and burned. There were 7 fatalities and 13 injuries. The last known location of 65-07999 was in the Republic of Vietnam. Aircraft status: Shot down in combat. |
