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89-00177, Boeing D model kit number M3331, was a CH-47D helicopter. The U.S. Army acceptance date was 31 October 1990. As of 28 September 2001, 89-00177 had accumulated 1,872.3 D model hours and 6,537.3 total aircraft hours. 89-00177 was a conversion from the original C model Chinook 68-15819. On 21 November 1989, 89-00177 was inducted into the D model program, conversion complete on 12 October 1990, and initially 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 "Sugar Bears" 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 11 July 2007, 89-00177 was transferred to B Company - "Flippers", 3rd Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division at 7,794.3 aircraft hours. 3-82 was activated in April, 2006 and has its lineage from the 159th Aviation Regiment. On 31 January 2008, 89-00177 was transferred to B Company - "Pachyderms", 6th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment at 8,143.4 aircraft hours. Data from Historical Records. As of 1 January 2008, this aircraft was 39.3 years old. As of 26 April 2008, the last known location of 89-00177 was Jalalabad, Afghanistan, assigned to B Company - "Pachyderms", 6th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment and attached to 2nd Battalion, 17th Cavalry Regiment, Task Force Out Front. Aircraft status: Flyable. |
