Boeing CH-47F Chinook helicopter 05-08012 (Shot Down).

05-08012

B Company - "Varsity", 7th Battalion unit patch.

Property of

B Company - "Varsity"

7-101 GSAB

Fort Campbell, Kentucky

2007 - 2009

   05-08012, Boeing Vertol Tab Number M8012, was a CH-47F helicopter. The U.S. Army acceptance date was 29 December 2006. As of 29 December 2006, 05-08012 accumulated 14.0 aircraft hours.

   05-08012 was a new build airframe that utilized the power train components (blades, engines and transmissions, etc.) from 86-01635.

   05-08012 was initially assigned to B Company - "Varsity", 7th Battalion, 101st Airborne Division, located at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

   In the Spring of 2008, 05-08012 was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).

   On or about 17 January 2009, 05-08012 suffered from a hard landing following engagement with the enemy. The aircraft was struck in the left main fuel tank by a rocket propelled grenade (RPG). The left side of the aircraft became engulfed in flames. The number one engine failed due to fuel starvation.

   The pilot was able to fly the aircraft several miles away from the engagement area and land. Upon landing the aircraft rolled onto its right side and was consumed in the post crash fire.

   There was on fatality, SPC Ezra Dawson, 31, of Las Vegas, Nevada.

   As of 17 January 2009, 05-08012 was 2.1 years old.

   As of 17 January 2009, the last known location of 05-08012 was Afghanistan.

   Aircraft status: Shot down.

Press Release

   17 January 2009: Kabul, Afghanistan - One U.S. soldier was killed when a CH-47F Chinook helicopter, tail number 05-08012, made a crash landing in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday, the U.S. military said, adding that small arms fire was involved. It was reported that rocket propelled grenades (RPGs) were also involved. The aircraft was reportedly destroyed in the ensuing post crash fire.

   "One service member was killed today when a coalition CH-47 helicopter ... conducted a hard landing in eastern Afghanistan," the U.S. military said in a statement. "Though the cause of the landing is currently undetermined, small arms fire was present at the time of the incident."

   Spc. Ezra Dawson, 31, of Las Vegas, Nevada, died in Konar Province, Afghanistan when the Chinook helicopter he was in made a hard landing under combat conditions. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

   05-08012 was the first CH-47F helicopter to be lost since the development of the new model airframe.

The following CH-47F Chinook helicopters were original fielded to B Company - "Varsity", 7th Battalion, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky, in mid 2007:

04-08702	04-08703	04-08704	04-08705	04-08706
04-08707	05-08010	05-08011	05-08012	05-08013
05-08014	05-08015	05-08016