ANNEX
C (Aviation Support) to After Action Report 3-68. (Samurai V)
1.
GENERAL
a.
Aviation support was provided by the 281st Assault Helicopter Company (-) to
Detachment B-52
(PROJECT
DELTA), 5th SFGA during the period 18 Apr through 18 May 1968. The
operation
was supported by twenty five officers and sixty enlisted men. There were six
UH-1H
helicopters
and four UH-1C helicopters. The operation was supported in the following
manner.
(1)
Total Flying Hours:
UH-1H
643.2
UH-1C
279.9
UH-1D
65.0
TOTAL
988.1
(2)
Total night flying time (included in total) 4.2
(3)
Total tasks flown 716
(4)
Total sorties flown 1603
(5)
Number of passengers flown 2143
(6)
Weight of cargo flown 32.3 tons
(7) Number of aircraft hits (enemy fire) 3
(8)
Aircraft lost to enemy fire 1
(9)
Aircraft turned in due to enemy fire 0
(10)
Casualties
KIA 4
WIA 3
MIA 0
(11)
Total RECON patrols supported 19
(12)
Total Roadrunner patrols supported 16
(13)
Nung platoon operations 2
(14)
MSF company operations 1
(15)
Ranger operations 2
(16)
Ammunition expended:
7.62mm
614,771
2.75
rockets 5,458
40mm
grenades 5,117
(17)
During this time, two CH-46 helicopters from 3 MAF were utilized and on
occasion,
two
UH-1E gunship helicopters, as the situation required.
a.
One aircraft was lost as the result of enemy ground fire. The following is a
resume of
the incident.: 8 May 1968: During the support of an infiltration, the gunship had just
completed
a pass over the LZ, giving suppressive fire, when it exploded in mid-air and
fell
burning
to the ground in pieces.
2.
PROBLEM AREAS:
The
only problem encountered was towards the end of the operation. the temperature
often exceeded
100
degrees, which increased the density altitude, which in turn decreased the
weight that could be
carried
by the aircraft.
3.
COMMENTS: None
ACKNOWLEDGE:
ALLEN
MAJ
OFFICIAL:
s/Ruskauff
RUSKAUFF
MAJ, CO