Nick,
I enjoyed your recount of the what we had to fly and the overloaded, under-powered aircraft. I flew with the 101st, 4/77 ARA. And, I'll say it for you; Yes, I have a Purple Heart because of the skin rash from my oxygen mask. We operated Charlie Models (UH-1C), heavy hog (M-3 kit-48 rockets) and an M-5 Chunker (40mm) on the nose. Engine was the T53-L11. About two months before Hamburger Hill we were issued the AH-1G. 76 rockets and two 40mm. The only differance was we still needed around 800 to 1000 feet to bounce into translational lift, but could cruise at 110knots instead of 80 knots.
Both aircraft made a pilot develop good control touch, or die.
Ah, those were the days..Thank God they're gone.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned the novel CW2! Written by Layne Heath, who did two tours, the first with the 158th,located down the runway from us at Camp Evans (located just north of Hue). I found it more accurate than Chickenhawk. Hawk was more a list of events that would usually not happen to one small unit.
It's been four years snce my last VHPA. Time to go back and collect more stories.
Griffin33F