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Diary of a Scout Pilot


Dan Hilliard, Banshee 12
THE FOLLOWING NOTATIONS WERE ENTERED INTO AN UNTITLED , PERSONAL NOTEBOOK KEPT BY DAN HILLIARD, BANSHEE 12 (AERO-SCOUT PILOT 1969-1070). WITH DAN'S PERMISSION THE NOTATIONS WERE COPIED WITH LITTLE OR NO CHANGES TO THE ORIGINAL ENTRIES, TO PRESERVE THE HISTORICAL DOCUMENTATION OF THE THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS OF AN AERO-SCOUT PILOT IN B TROOP 2/17TH CAVALRY REGIMENT DURING THE VIETNAM WAR. I HAVE TAKEN THE LIBERTY, WITH DAN'S PERMISSION, TO ADD THE TITLE "DIARY OF A SCOUT PILOT"

- Jim Matthews

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DiaryDatesDiary Entries
3 May 1969In Country.
13 MayTo 'B' 2/17 101st ABN.
13 May(Remembered 25 May) Felix Knight shot down west of the A Shau. 3 PHs A/OK. In Laos.
15 MayTo Tam Ky.
17 MayPurple Heart in action West of Tam Key w/ Lt. Burns.
19 MaySanson shot down (?) west of Tam Ky. A/OK with 3 PH.
19 MayD 1/1 Cobra received 1 .50 cal. Pilot killed A/C WIA.
22 MayMullins takes 2 -.50 cal. rounds OK/3 PHs.
24 MayMedevac lost M/R west of Tam Ky - possibly removed by a .50 cal. 4 killed.
25 MayTed Burns shot down & pulled. A miracle - aircraft demolished. Ted w/broken leg. OBS leg & back. C.E. Rodriguez severe back injury.
(Remembered) 13 May - Felix Knight shot down west of the A Shau. 3 PHs A/OK. In Laos.
25 MayPryor took 1 .50 cal. Barnes w/PH (frag in leg).
27 MayCpt Livingston took hit in fuel cell of C&C OH-6.
31 May Sanson took 3 hits. 1 in bubble, 1 in skid, and 1 in rt fuel cell area.
2 JuneRibbet? Jones got hit, so did Mullins A/OK.
Dolin got shot down is his "B" model - nerk nerk - 1 WIA /
Our Blues got hit bad, at least 5 KIA and 4 WIA. /
Word has it that Chuck has started using nerve gas...ain't that sweet?
3 June A precautionary for Sanson.
4 JunA Huey went down SW of Tam Ky - apparently lost it's M/R - 4 crew members dead. Aircraft reduced to a pile of ashes - Suspect aircraft was hit by an RPG or friendly arty.
8 Jun Rocket attacks in the AM at Chu Lai - Hit a hospital - killed a nurse, wounded others.
9 JunJohnson got hit on a gun run by what was apparently a HE or tracer - took frags in the neck. - OK.
12 Jun First day in the AO by myself - Received fire while looking for a mortar -
Received minor shrapnel damage from rockets.
13 JunARA Cobra was hit near the mountain and crashed inbound to Tam Ky. Pilot KIA. A/C WIA.
Medevac forced down by fire. A/OK.
23 Jun .50s .50s EVERYWHERE and they couldn't hit anyone! nerk nerk.
29 Jun Found out that Jones was shot down in the A Shau with an RPG. Reported OK.
29 JunMullins had drive shaft failure on short final to Tam Ky. Put it down OK.
- Heard that Szaugl got shot down in the A Shau.
30 Jun Dixon got hit flying C&C with Gary - His leg is pretty screwed up - My crew chief nearly died (Wells).
1 JulC.E Hughes received M-79 shrapnel in hand - - So did fuel cell...
1 JulHolditch missing on test flight (2000).
2 JulThe aircraft was found North of Chu Lai in the water, broken up with Holditch, Sgt Tovey and Spec. Schneider deceased. It was Holditch's 3rd tour ////
During the search - Johnny Sprott had drive-shaft failure on downwind to C.L. East. He crashed in the water. AOK.
8 Jul Pryor got hit in the trans. drive shaft.
Sanson got hit with shrapnel in the eng. compartment
13 Jul Sanson shot down trying to snatch some packs and weapons.... DUMMY - .
15 Jul Took my first hits. 1 through the pedestal; wiped it out and 1 almost got my head. A/Ss got 4 KBAs in same place shortly thereafter. (AK-47AP).
16 Jul Li'l Griffin LOH shot down - 3 KIAs. It was burning before it hit.
21 JulWhile Neil Armstrong and crew were walking on the moon Pryor took 7 or 8 hits from AK's - AOK
24 JulMullins picked up the pilot of an F-4 that went in South of the hill.
25 JulHuey shot down on the hill - 1 WIA.
25 Jul F-4 crashed South of Burke's Hill. Mullins to the rescue.
26 Jul Learned that Clime and Manhowald were killed - Ain't life a bitch?
30 JulReceived my 2nd hits - 2 in the fuel cell - 5 minutes later Sprott was shot down by the same dink that shot me. AOK - 5 KBA in same area later.
31 Jul Barnes took 7 hits .... 1 of which was in the helmet - CLOSE!
Late Jul(Remembered 28 Sept) Pryor discharged a mini at Tam Ky - injured 2 slick C.E. and 1 slick.
1 Aug1 of our Hueys was hit in the T/R.
1 Aug (appx)(Remembered 26 Sept) Russell had T/R failure at POL Tam Ky.
2 Aug 0-2 and CH-47 had a midair near Professional 6 killed.
3 Aug Little Griffin LOH went down to .50 cal. AOK.
5 Aug1 of our Hueys [at 3,000 ft] received 2 .50 cal hits in the tailboom.
6 AugByers had engine failure in 001 - McGuired out with Cooper and King - The Huey doing the McGuiring hit a tree [w/] one blade.
7 Aug Sanson shot down. Got hit in the foot. Lasater went down for unknown reasons. 10 Blues WIA [2] KIA when they shot some C-4 by accident.
12 Aug Rocket attack killed a seabee at Chu Lai and damaged some choppers at the 176th. Ground attack around midnight & rockets at 5'oclock.
13 AugAmmo dump went up by rocket.
14 Aug POL went up at Chu Lai by rocket ---
15 Aug Learned that Rosenow was KIA about 10-11 Aug in a D 1/1 Cobra North of Tam Ky - Pilot fixation also...Milt Remmler has the distinction of being the 1st KIA for 68-43 (probable)...and Dixon was KIA in a snake.
BACK TO EAGLE
16 Aug 3 Rockets hit 326 Engineers. 24 WIA 4 KIA.
21 Aug158th Cobra had M/R separation North of Eagle 4 K's - Pilot & A/C killed.
24 Aug2 rockets hit between us & Div HQ.
25 AugCpt Pugh went down with antitorque failure. UH-1H - AOK.
- EAGLE SWINGS -
30 AugSprott took a hit in the cockpit...he'll learn someday -
3 SeptHO CHI MINH DEAD
14 SeptCpt Allen had eng. failure South of Rockcrusher. Injured his back - totaled the A.C...
Cpt Woodie was cut on the arm.
17 Sept 69 Sprott shot down North of the Pike. 3 Purple Hearts. AOK.
19 SeptMatthews shot in the back on the Flt Line - OK.
22 Sept Scott Kerr had T/R failure in AH-1G. Failed in trans. apparently. Crashed on top of Bach Mau. Kincaid w/broken leg. Kerr slightly injured.
26 Sept Roberts took a hit...30 cal.
(Remembered) 1 Aug (appx) - Russell had T/R failure at POL Tam Ky.
28 SeptFedder killed... The class gets smaller.
(Remembered) Late Jul - Pryor discharged a mini at Tam Ky - injured 2 slick C.E. and 1 slick.
3 OctDally hit the water in a UH-1H - incident damage.
6 OctDolin took a hit off Eagle's perimeter.
12 Oct WO1 Tittle got waxed - W.P.B. F/A
13 Oct Bailey hit a revetment in UH-1H.
13 Oct Northrop took 1 hit.
19 Oct Marbury took a hit in M/R.
20 Oct Woodie burned his had with smoke grenade - Medevaced to Japan.
24 Oct158th Cobra went down near Boyd.
1 NovKeeler rolled up a slick at the base of Thor.
11 Nov Pinar took a hit in the bubble ...dumb dumb.
13 NovPinar took a hit in the engine compartment.
13 NovByers hit in the leg.
13 Nov Pinar shot down west of Spear.
13 Nov Roberts took 2 hits - 1 in fuel cell. 1 in M/R head.
14 NovNorris took a hit in the chin bubble.
(Learned) Jerry Young KIA in that cobra near Boyd.
17 Nov Larcomb had hydraulic failure - OK
13 Dec Dally rolled up a slick south of Airborne
22 Dec Johnson shot down off of Airborne. .50 cal.
22 Dec Dvorchak make a precautionary near Birmingham.
25 Dec Carried out a KIA to the 85th Evac for Cpt Allen. Also found 18 graves for him and a large ammo cache.
4 Jan Olan Arc Lite near Tiger Mountain. Took AAA (100mm?)
6 Jan Pinar shot down in 616. Gauthier died 21 Jan of wounds - Pinar evaced to Japan. OK.
MacLendon took one hit.
13 Jan Northrop hit once evacing a LRP team near Khe Sahn. ONCE MORE IN HEAD.
14 Jan Took 2 hits North of Fury. Roosa WIA.
18 JanEdwards hit in the swash plate and 1 blade.
The gooks are set for Tet - 27,000 w/23mm and roads no less.
19 Jan Dvorchak had trans. seizure in the revetment. Ribbet!
22 JanLivingston and Shelters shot down East of Aloui - Shelters OK. Livingston seriously injured.
25 JanLeQuieu took on hit in the chin bubble west of Airborne.
31 Jan Partridge teamed up with LeQuieu to crash ENE of Pistol / Partridge killed. LeQuieu OK - Crispy Critter.
Feb 11-16 C&C took one in the fuel cell / Dlugolecki took 1 in the tail ' Baker took 1 in the fuel cell / A Shau.
17 Feb HO took a .50 in the M/R. and AK in the tailboom.
19 FebGot my first .50 cal. South of the Razor Back. ARA helped.
25 Feb A Troop rolled up one of our LOH in autorotation - Div. School.
28 Feb Maint. left a tie down on a slick / got the T/R.
5 MarNorthrop took 1 hit North of Rendesvouz.
14 MarMarbury took 1 West of Blaze - Major.
15 Mar Edwards took 1 through the fuel cell near Rendesvouz.
23 Mar Edwards had T/R & engine failure ...splat.
26 MarDonnelly took 3 hits near the A Shau Strip.
2 Apr Chevas ran into Brooks...1 M/R &1 T/R Xed.
5 Apr Cpt. Howe got hit in the heart w/SA/AW. DOA @ 85th Evac. Donnelly was pilot. Took 1 hit in the armor seat.
7 AprBaker set off a mine @ Anzio - Frags anyone? LOH.
7 Apr Baker had an engine chip light near Anzio.
8 Apr (PM) slick had a M/R strike @ Quang Tri.
9 Apr Donnelly took 1 in the skid Faring - Davis took one in the FM compartment.
9 AprThompson took a hit in the skids.
9 AprDavis took one in the FM radio. A Shau.
15 Apr Sensing's C.E. got hit in the leg near Blaze.
15 Apr Brooks took hits near Veghel 1 grunt WIA.
17 Apr Davis shot down by A Shay Strip with RPG - C&C picked up Davis & Dalton to 85th Evac. C&C took 6 hits.
17 Apr Dvorchak hit in rt calf. 14 hits on aircraft.
Moriarty's gunner hit in leg - Baker took fire and made a precautionary. No hits.
26 Apr Sensing took 1 .50 cal in the M/R & 1 AK near Canon.
27 AprEdwards battery blew.
27 Apr DEROS

HOW'S THAT FOR AN ACTION PACKED YEAR?

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