If y'all have any interest in not so hair raising stories-
I was assigned as a 'slick' driver to a Cobra company in IV Corps 1969-1970, Can Tho. No combat assaults, very little 'ash' and trash, a plum assignment at a time when the bad guys were recovering from Tet.
The company had 3 Cobra platoons, nominally 6 (8?) AH-1Gs per platoon, pilots to man each and a couple spare Snake drivers. The company mission was to provide guns to whoever needed them at that moment, mostly Vietnamese forces from Ruff Puffs and CIDG, up to regular ARVN and VNAF operations, Air Force and Navy Binh Tuy, Sea Bees across the river, Navy operations off the Sea Float (not a lot of that, the Seawolves were pretty stingy with their fights...).
The company provided perimeter air for the base and immediate area, at that time called 'Firefly'. Later this expanded to "Nighthawk" operations out and about the entire IV Corps AO, mixed teams of a Nighthawk slick and one or two guns, either Cobras or Charlies. Some interesting moments on that type mission, but this post is about a different ongoing, routine assignment, that was termed 'Night Phantoms'.
"Night Phantom" was always a Cobra fire team, the slick as a flare ship, and often an OV1 Mohawk either during the active phase or immediately preceding it, providing a list of possible target sites. The team would leave base in daylight, fly to an outlying airstrip, operate overnight and return the next morning.
After a night of fun and frolic from the Camau airstrip, we were briefed to strike a VC arms depot in the northern U Minh Forest. Probably a little exaggerated calling it a depot, but the U Minh was mythical for the stuff the bad guys kept there. Anyhow, half an hour before dawn, I launch the Slick, setting a course for the target coordinates. The Snakes will come later and faster to be overhead the strike as I get there. Nothing unusual or exciting, Charlie didn't like to shoot at us unless absolutely necessary, thhis was just another 'thang'. Just as the strike was winding up, team lead rolled in hot to shoot his last rockets, but took accurate fire this time, one or two AKs. Again, nothing exceptional the Delta was pretty quiet.
The wingman is on his covering run as the lead breaks away from the target, and the lead front seat comes up on the radio- "Everybody, 'Number 10 is hit'"
"How bad? Can you tell?"
"No, the airplane is sound but he doesn't answer, he's not flying and I can't see him."
"Head to the airstrip, I'll call for medics to meet you". Camau had some US at the base in town, most significantly a SEAL team and their support are there.
By the time I land at the Camau air strip ramp, they are pulling Number 10, limp and 'dead guy grey' out of the back seat of the Cobra. My crew chief jumps out as soon as my skids touch, runs over as they're laying Number 10 out on the stretcher, runs back to my bird to grab some tools and them runs back to Number 10's Snake and the stretcher. Cool-down complete, I shut down. Baby-san walks back to our aircraft, looking kinda happy, which is welcome. The medics are still working on Number 10.
I ask "How is he?"
"Man, he's the luckiest (individual) on the planet. The AK round came into the cockpit from dead in front, went over the front seat's head hit the rocket sight and came apart. Most of the ball, the lead especially went up and out the top but the bullet's jacket hit Number 10 right between the eyebrows. Lots of blood but it didn't penetrate his hard head. Knocked him out. The medics used my needle nose to pull the frags out. He's gonna get a ride back to Binh Tuy, but he'll be back on the line soon."
A week later Number 10 and I are in Hong Kong. Number 10 is sporting a 2x2 gauze bandage and working it, not shamelessly, but definitely to his advantage...and mine too, as his wing man. "What happened you, man, get shot between the eyes?" Laughs.
"Yeah." After that, it gets kinda hazy, a frequent result of the free drinks....
Last edited by Devil 49; 11th Aug 2019 at 18:22.