Re: Vietnam photo
 

Think back to the kickoff of the Cambodia deal....it looked like a scene out of the Wizard of Oz....sky full of things headed West and recovering to about fifty refuelling points. Talk about grid lock!

Robbo,

Most lifts were probably company unit sized ops....about 12-16 lift birds, two gunteams maybe three gun teams of two birds each....and one C&C aircraft. Throw in an Air Force FAC maybe...sometimes the Chinooks were along if it was a Firebase move where artillery was being positioned.

AirCav Troops moved one organic platoon of infantry and supported them with gunship platoons.

Air Mobile units....worked in all sizes of units...platoon, company, battalion,brigade, division....with the main tactical unit being the Infantry Battalion.

Cobra pilots were selected out of flight school for their inability to fly formation thus being unfit to be Slick Pilots.....right, Nick?

Re: Vietnam photo
 

Thanks SASless.

When you talk about moving a Firebase, would you still have the 12-16 other aircraft along ? Would the troops be there to secure the new area ? Or would the arty be moved into a position that was known to be secure, so the guns and troops would 'just' be along to suppress any surprises ?

Re: Vietnam photo
 

I read "Low Level Hell" , it was really good to me...

Re: Vietnam photo
 

Robbo,

Usually the troops were inserted...established a perimeter...then the artillery would be moved in....the area was usually secure when the Chinooks arrived with the artillery...only a few minutes after the first troops were on the ground. I have done initial assaults with the Chinook but that was very rare. When we did that we were on the tail end of the Huey formation which put a lot of troops on the ground in a hurry.

The photo was of Miss Patches, one of the aircraft I flew. It had a magnet hidden somewhere inside it that attracted lead.

My favorite aircraft was named Miss Mynookie.

Re: Vietnam photo
 

Thanks for the bit of history. Thanks for your time in service.

Re: Vietnam photo
 

SASless, again thanks.

What photo are you referring to ?

Re: Vietnam photo
 

Robbo,

I posted a pic...it worked fine for the first viewing...on the second time back a website logo had appeared in place of the pic....thus I deleted it. Dunno what is going on...but will re-post it later if I can.

It was a pic of my favorite old girl...Miss Patches, a Chinook that had more than a few patched holes.

Re: Vietnam photo
 

SASless said:
"Cobra pilots were selected out of flight school for their inability to fly formation thus being unfit to be Slick Pilots.....right, Nick?"

No SASless, we were selected by our inability to tell one target from another, and the concurrent willingness to shoot anything. Combined with the amount of ammo we carried, the results were a lot of holes in things.

Re: Vietnam photo
 

I've spent a whole day in Changi waiting for that response (how sad is that?). Pleased to see the level of observation one comes to expect these days was rewarded!

btw the Tiger was worth the wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:uhoh: )

Re: Vietnam photo
 

All becomes clear now:
Nick said:
“No SASless, we were selected by our inability to tell one target from another, and the concurrent willingness to shoot anything. Combined with the amount of ammo we carried, the results were a lot of holes in things.”
And SASless said:
“The photo was of Miss Patches, one of the aircraft I flew. It had a magnet hidden somewhere inside it that attracted lead.”
And:
“It was a pic of my favorite old girl...Miss Patches, a Chinook that had more than a few patched holes.”
So some “ blue on blue” in those days Nick?

I bet Geronimo never realized it was you! :D :E

Re: Vietnam photo
 

So we assuming the bloke in the foreground is a nurse then?

I'll get my coat.....

Re: Vietnam photo
 

finalchecksplease,
I knocked in the chin window of Huey once with the concussion from a 2.75" rocket burst. He was extracting some Rangers, and the bad guys were close. He thanked me later, drafty flight home and all.

Regarding SASless and the holes in his Chinook, I never had a chance to put them there, but I told him later I now have a 30-06 and could make amends......

Re: Vietnam photo
 

You had to know someone to get those things. Marines never got them (H&S 1/9/3)

And there were 5 Cigarettes in a C Pack...No cigars. Full packs in 5/1 Rats

Re: Vietnam photo
 

Lordy...grant me patience! And...I want it righ now!

No Blue on Blue...sorryo...it was a case of the bad guys having a good day....granted it could have been outsourced because the Cav Cobra guys were busy waxing their mustaches and creasing their Stetsons just so.

Bert....SP (supplement pack) were issued in addition to C's....but probably held back by the H and S pogues in the rear.

Nick's account is more than true....despite my pin sticking...I am here because of some gunship pilot's good work. What a thrill seeing rockets passing under the nose from one side to the other....while on short final...mumbling something like a Gregorian Chant over the radio....loosely translated as "You do see the gunpit on my left side Gunslinger? I would be most appreciative if you could distract his attention for the next few seconds if you can, please?" and the whole time knowing either the Gunship Pilot got the bad guy boresighting his recently imported Chinese big bore machinegun using me as the big as a barn target, or it was going to be an exceedingly bad day for the visitors.

I have sent a case of beer to the Gun Platoon hooch on occasions.

Re: Vietnam photo
 

Back to the captions:
Three men front right
"Put that cigarette out you stupid b***ard, the gooks will smell it!"

Re: Vietnam photo
 

heard over comm "Last one down buys the beer!"

Re: Vietnam photo
 

Interesting tales from the Vietnam years.
Thanks guys.
Hope you'll share some more.

Heliport.

Re: Vietnam photo
 

Heating canned rations...Chinook style.

Place can in the exhaust of a engine...fire up the APU...motor the engine for about a minute....shut off the APU....retrieve can...open...enjoy.

Place can on lip of combining tranny....wait 10-15 minutes....retrieve can...enjoy you inflight meal.

Place a small piece of C-4 (about the size of a sugar cube) on the armor plate behind the cargo hook hatch, put match to it...and hold can over the flame using a pair of pliers. Again..savour a hot meal.

Warnings....

Do not stomp on the burning C-4 if any remains burning after heating your meal....could alter your dancing steps for life. Also...don't let any mature adult see you using this method as you are surrounded by 7200 pounds of jetfuel and a very expensive helicopter. The Safety Officer would have a coronary!

The inflight method had some cautions too....

One afternoon, rations cooking on the combining gearbox....over Indian Country....a very loud "BOOM!" sound came from the rear end of the aircraft. Immediate aerobatic maneuvers undertaken...calls of "Where's it coming from...you guys see where it came from" "Anyone hurt?" "Smoke out?" "Shoot back if you see'em!"

No response....then finally after another round of questions...which determined no one hurt...it was not ground fire....and no damage incurred.

That begged the question....."What was it?" Flight Engineer walks to the cockpit licking his fingers....and says..."Hmmmmmm....Beans and Franks I think!"

One must punch a small hole in the top of the can being heated or it might just give you a bit of a scare.

Re: "Low level Hell" and "Loach"
 

I have somewhere around 28 Viet Nam pilot books. Low Level Hell is absolutely the best one.
I just got Loach. Looks pretty good.
Clayton A.

Re: Vietnam photo
 

Other suggested readings...

Snake Pilot by Randy Zahn

Xin Loi Vietnam by Al Sever

A Code to Keep by Ernie Brace

Brennan's War
Headhunters
Hunter Killer Squadron all by Matthew Brennan

Rattle 17 by Chuck Gross

Into Cambodia by Keith Nolan

The Battle of An Loc by James Wilbanks

Five Years to Freedom by Nick Rowe

When Hell Was In Session by Jeremiah Denton

For Self and Country by Rick Eilert

The Killing Zone
Aftermath both by Frederick Downs