A/C 67-18458 Information Submitted by John LeCates

Several aircrews flew from Chu Lai to Vung Tau on March 7, 1968 in A/C 67-18455 to pick up some new B Model Chinooks. After a night at the Grand Hotel we proceeded to the air field to see the new B Model Chinooks. After a visual inspection A/C 67-18458 was signed into the 178th ASHC inventory by flight engineer Dick Janousek on 03-08-68 at the Vung Tau Airport.

Aircraft 458 always had a front transmission chip detector problem. There were several emergency and unscheduled landings because of a chip detector warning light. Runups and oil sample tests came back clean and cleared A/C 458 for flight. A/C 458 was grounded on 05-12-68, the day of the Kham Duc evacuation, waiting for oil sample results.

While on a normal resupply mission north west of Chu Lai in early April 1969, Boxcar 458, commanded by Warrant Officer Ronald E. Olivotti and piloted by WO/1 Nile L. Harter encountered intense hostile fire resulting in a round ripping into the aircraft's transmission and warning lights, and dropping pressure gauges signaled the end of the flight.

Downed aircraft were not new to the 178th ASHC, but the incidents that took place in this situation were. The immediate report forwarded back to the 178th maintenance team was that the aircraft definitely would have to be recovered by a CH54 "Skycrane," because of its weight and flying condition. Maintenance men, Chief Warrant Officer Alfred J. Romaszowski, and 1st Lieutenant William R Thibeault realized that the aircraft could not be recovered by a CH54 until the following day, decided to go to the disabled Chinook. They realized that the aircraft was in a very conspicuous location and its chances of lasting the night in the barrage of mortars that was sure to come were very slight despite the hasty security that was established around the aircraft.

After evaluating the damage, Mr. Romaszowski offered an extraordinary solution. Hoping that no real damage was done to the interior of the transmission, he fashioned a wooden plug for the gaping hole and the transmission was refilled with oil. SP/6 John W. Teid and SP/5 Melvin C. Young volunteered to crew the ship as CW/3 Ramaszewski and 1Lt. Thibeault attempted to fly it out. The engines were started and looked well except for one blinking chip detector warning light; Romaszewski decided to make the attempt.

The ailing transmission caused the flight to be made at a low level while emerging from the enemy infested area without the benefit of door gunners. Mr. Romaszewski had selected to take minimum crew, and both Specialists Reid and Young were occupied at holding the wooden plug to keep it from being shaken loose by the vibration of the massive transmission. Specialists Reid and Young both suffered burns on their hands from holding that all important homemade plug in the transmission of ailing "Boxcar 458."

On May 15, 1969 Boxcar 458 was lost while in a 50 ft. hover over LZ Professional. It took six hits. Three in the aft transmission and three in the control closet. The Chinook was destroyed by fire, but there were no casualties. See related story by Earl Evans on aircraft A/C 458 and A/C 483.