CHANEY ARTHUR FLETCHER

Narrative

During the afternoon, CWO Bobby McKain, pilot, and WO Arthur Chaney, co-pilot, were flying aboard an AH-1G helicopter on an armed escort mission for a reconnaissance team operating west of Khe Sanh. At about 1405 hours, while making a pass on an enemy gun position, they were hit by 37mm anti-aircraft fire from the gun emplacement and the helicopter exploded in mid-air. They were about 1500 feet above the ground when the explosion occurred, separating the tail boom and one main rotor blade from the aircraft. The aircraft spun to the ground on fire and impacted, and seconds later, the ammunition onboard detonated. Other pilots in the area immediately flew to the site and observed the aircraft engulfed in flames with no visible signs of life. Shortly thereafter, they were driven from the area by other heavy automatic weapons fire. Air searches were made, but revealed no signs of the crew. No radio contact was made. War Story: The helicopter crashed in Laos based on the following: (1) An 1/9 Cav MIA Board witness statement from DeRoy J. HARDIE, 1LT which reads as follows: "When the aircraft of CW2 McKain and WO1 Chaney crashed, it landed in Laos. For this reason there was no ground search made. All searching and observation was done from the air." (2) A JCRC message 19 Jan 1976 proposing that McKain/Chaney's loss location should be corrected from Quang Tri Prov, SVN to Laos, and a DIA response dtd 31 Mar 1976 saying that DIA and Army concurred with the recommendation. (3) in 3rd MarDiv ops log for 03 May 68 (TT 1201031016.pdf p27): "#114 - 031530H - From Task Force Hotel: 686383 Huie Cobra down across Laotian border shot down by ground fire exploded in mid air no survivors expected. AO will check out for survivors."