War Story.....you want a War Story.....well here is a War Story for you!
Vietnam, Chinook crew, mission to move Vietnamese Rice farmers to/from rice fields including their food, water, tools, and Water Buffalo's for pulling plows.
US Army good planning included an Army Veterinarian to assist in the handling of the Water Buffalo's.
Plan had the Vet injecting tranquilizers into the critters....then we used the Winch on the aircraft to drag the animals up the ramp and into the cabin of the aircraft.
At the DZ we would use a Jeep to drag the animals off the aircraft.
What could possibly go wrong.....right?
About halfway to the DZ....Buff woke up and decided to go elsewhere as he had heard about Chinooks or something,
He was half awake....probably had a Migraine from the drugs....and his hearing was causing him some problems....and perhaps was feeling a bit queasy from the drugs and motion of the aircraft....not to mention his scraped hide from being dragged into the aircraft.
Plainly.....he was not a happy camper.
As he sought a way out of his predicament....he developed an attitude....a decidedly aggressive attitude.
It is possible to get five people into the cockpit of the Chinook.
The Door Gunner....last man in the queue to the Cockpit yells....."I am gonna shoot him!" and draws his Colt 1911 .45 Pistol.
The Flight Engineer yells to the Gunner (knowing about the armored plated forehead of a Buffalo)....."Don't shoot him in the front of his Head....." BANG!
Now we have a really upset Buffalo intent upon getting into the cockpit along with the Crew.
After a bit the Buff went to the Ramp and tried to jump but got hung up on the plumbing.
We landed at the DZ....removed the Buff....by acting like Rodeo Clowns and sent him on his way.
Thence forward.....we used cargo nets to haul the Plow Pullers.