UH OH! Who was watching! It was an AH-1G Cobra at Duc Hoa airstrip in the middle of the night....pouring down rain....the hook would not release properly....that is my story and I am sticking to it! Picked it up down near Vinh Long after it had been shot down....took some rounds in the engine which caused a forced landing.
In those days....Cockpit glass for Cobra's was as scarce as Hen's Teeth. Engines were dime a dozen.