(the herbicide was called "orange" in Vietnam, not Agent Orange. [McCaffrey], 87% of the American people hold Vietnam Vets in high esteem. Shortly after arriving at Ft. Rucker, Alabama, I learned that those of us with the highest flight grades would attend a two-week gun school near the end of training, while the rest learned formation flying. aa..Thus the term SHIT! can also be used to denote a situation where high Pucker Factor is being encountered. The crewmen I flew with on hoist missions (like me, in their teens and early 20s) were absolutely the best, and I wish I could shake every one of their hands and hug them today. x.. Medals are OK, but having your body and all your friends in one piece at the end of the day is better. Epilogue: Most people who see photos of Dustoff Hueys in Vietnam observe only the outside of the aircraft. A constant line of chatter was transmitted from the medic and the Crew Chief to the pilots, who were both on the flight controls in case either was violently incapable of continuing to fly the aircraft. The VHPA publishes six [People], The person who can be seen aiding the refugees was CIA operations officer, Mr. O.B. . Helicopters in The early (65-68) Weapons Team was made up of two pilots, crew chief and a door gunner. Ground troops typically did not enter a sprayed area until four to six weeks after being sprayed. . They also acted as the means of supply of ammunitions, equipment and food. We dont have any place for you to land, so just hang your butts out in the open sky for several minutes so any kid with a bow and arrow can shoot you down, and Gee, those red crosses on your helicopter sure make great aiming points, dont they? Joe Treen, People.com, 21 April 2000. [Parade Magazine]. Thank you for your service. And the answer is: There IS none! Sure, we had a compass and an Automatic Direction Finder, but in the event of an engine failure on the way to the hospital ship, this would have probably been my emergency call. No Pilot that I know of ever went into a combat situation without both. UH-1 Huey Gunship Vs NVA/VC Forces Vietnam 1962-75 is published by Osprey and is available to order here. After training, they entered transport or gunship platoons referred to simply as slicks or guns. Most would complete at least two combat tours. This is a true testament for any theater! tail number N4 7004, were Bob Caron who lives in Florida and Jack We honor the memory of all those who lost their lives in that service. Book review. Get the details for all upcoming vietnam helicopter unit reunions. I wont make it back.. [McCaffrey], MEDEVAC helicopters flew nearly 500,000 missions. Mortality studies show that 9,000 is a better estimate. statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account. Isolated atrocities committed by American soldiers produced torrents of outrage from antiwar critics and the news media while Communist atrocities were so common that they received hardly any attention at all. He he he he . U.S. active certificated pilots - number 1990-2020, Worldwide aircraft fleet age by region 2020-2030, Air traffic - passenger growth rates forecast 2019-2040. The average age for helicopter pilots in Vietnam was in the area of 22 years as I recall. I used to laugh at the occasional Huey slick driver who flew out to let guys from his unit use the shopping facilities on the ships. Most Agent Orange contained .0002 of 1 percent of dioxin. Most 18 year olds only think about girls and what they can get from them. From 1965, around 99 percent of each completed class of students were sent to Vietnam. Most aviators receives about 210 hours of flight time. When you crash, well try to recover your bodies. And two are in Africa: Tanzania (October 1995) and Guinea (June 1995). Show publisher information [People]. the following purposes: To enhance and accredit the cohesiveness, esprit de corps, and traditions of valor of As the Aircraft Commander in control of the helicopter, my eyes never left the tree branches that were touching the nose of my aircraft. members without the express consent of the member. 79% had a high school education or better. The night I was wounded, my new co-pilot Don Study put us right on the deck, but all the while I had visions of my first 30-foot hover when I was a Funny New Guyan FNG. As mentioned earlier, there was little protection from weapon fire for the pilots, and with body parts exposed on a third seat, we were especially vulnerable. . Warrant Officer-1 Al Gaddis was a tall, curly haired kid as I remember him. [People.com] Vietnam 25 Years Later, by Number of helicopter pilot licenses in China 2014-2019; Global share of pilots whose mental health was affected by the pandemic 2020 ; As soon as this statistic is updated, you will immediately be notified via e-mail. The Vietnam Helicopters Memorial Tree was dedicated in 2015 and honors the helicopter pilots and crew members who died while serving in Southeast Asia from 1961 to 1975. While in themselves those landings were not stupid, the way we got there was! The planes doing the bombing near the village were VNAF (Vietnam Air Force) and were being flown by Vietnamese pilots in support of South Vietnamese troops on the ground. (EC), [Home] [ReunionInformation] [Donations] [OurLegacy] [MembershipServices] [RelatedWebSites], This Vietnam Veterans are less likely to be in prison - only 1/2 of one percent of Vietnam Veterans have been jailed for crimes. The platform is the top of the elevator shaft for the building and was not If we had been shot down on virtually any hoist mission, our high hover would not have allowed us to make a safe landing, and many would surely have died. The radioman on the ship would tell them Cleared for a port quarter approach. The silence on the radio was the proverbial pregnant pause, and I could imagine the conversation inside the Huey cockpit. Many times when either our troopers on the ground or another unit was facing enemy fire these brave men would come in with weapons blazing either destroying the enemy or allowing the ground troops to attain and then maintain superior fire power. [VHPA databases], Army UH-1's totaled more than 10,693,902 flight hours in Vietnam between October 1966 and the end of With the front of my Huey still kissing the tree leaves and my crew keeping me posted as to what was going on, I took a quick, curious look out my left window to see where the friendly fire was impacting. We know that it was a .50-cal that got him and not an AK47 bullet because an AK round is not big enough to shoot off the balls of a Dustoff pilot. Most of our Door Gunners and Crew Chiefs were also 18-21 years old. Although many of them had experience of fixed wing aircraft, very different challenges lay ahead when it came to learning the sophisticated, coordinated control techniques required for rotary wing flying. Add to that, it is also the most unforgiving mission flown in a helicopter. The terms Protective Armor and Helicopter are mutually exclusive. was several blocks from the Pittman Apartments. What is important is what you are doing-NOW-to solve our problem. I had no idea of the satisfaction, pride, sense of accomplishment, and even elation that I would feel in the next six months. Always smiling and never hurt anyone, I would guess. They will always be our heroes, our Angels in the Sky.. He was an instructor pilot at Downing Army Airfield at Ft. Wolters, Texas, in May of 1968. They also acted as medical evacuation helicopter pilots when needed. There is a reason why these medevac pilots were called our angels in the sky. We who fought the enemy face to face on the ground, whether infantry or recon, knew that if we were wounded, these guys would do anything necessary, face any danger the enemy could present, to get us out of hell and back to the care we needed. On one particularly difficult night MedEvac in the mountains, all our windows fogged up as we dropped from 7,000 feet through a hole in the clouds to pick up a Soldier with a head wound. After the first of the two injured soldiers was hoisted on board, the din of the covering fire began to register in my head. has no political agenda as is our brother organization, The Vietnam Helicopter Age 60 to 64 --------$350.00 . [McCaffrey]. It is unfortunate that many helicopters never had the opportunity to fulfill their one true mission in life, simply because someone forgot this fact. I guess that woke him up, as the next thing I heard was his rifle plugging away at a mound of dirt just outside his door and about 30 feet down. Since I first heard the phrase that is the title of this article, it struck me that those words were exactly what we did as kids flying helicopters in Vietnam. Even then, there could be no guarantee that the slicks would be able to land and then depart without being targeted by enemy fire. (CACF and Westmoreland), Sociologists Charles C. Moskos and John Sibley Butler, in their recently published book "All That We Can Be," said they analyzed the claim that blacks were used like cannon fodder during Vietnam "and can report definitely that this charge is untrue. Every helicopter flying in Vietnam had one real purpose: To help the grunt. One guy was 19, while the oldest (not counting our Commanding Officer) was the 28-year-old XO, Army slang for the second in command, Executive Officer. Get full access to all features within our Business Solutions. Age 65 to 69 --------$250.00 From 1965, around 99 percent of each completed class of students were sent to Vietnam. He was an assault helicopter pilot, in other words a gunship pilot. I suppose we would have survived; we had water wings! The Vietnam Helicopter Flight Crew Network (VHFCN) is a non profit veterans organization dedicated to the fulfillment of the following purposes: To provide a forum for recreational communications amongst a fraternity of aircrew members who served in Vietnam during the period 1961-75 At the conclusive battle of the war (the Fall of Saigon), the . More realities about war: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - it was not invented or unique to Vietnam Veterans. The pilots and crews of these helicopters were heroes, one and all. A paid subscription is required for full access. Trainees (known as candidates) then commenced the nine month long US Army Primary Helicopter School course at Fort Wolters, Texas, where they endured some extremely robust Preflight training as potential warrant officers. We were unarmed, and experience had taught us that, usually, we were better off to quickly fly to the landing zone, get in and get out as fast as possible while avoiding the bad guys, and fly straight back to the hospital. Others flew fixed wing and some were already in the Army but applied for and were chosen to attend flight school. Funds are paid by Greater Good Charities to benefiting organizations as a grant. You will get a clear sense of what they were up against and how they conducted themselves. Mailing Address: . Not only were we not found to be lacking as youthful aviators, as a whole we far exceeded the expectations. of 21 year old Scotch purchased in 1971 by Brian Novak one of the original In reference to Mr. Walker, would he also be the same pilot that was nick named, Baby Huey in Vietnam? I think I can make it back! was his last message as the aircraft caught fire, rolled inverted and crashed in flames, killing all on board. The others on board simply assumed he was also headed for dinner, but I knew the true meaning of his statement. There was an adrenaline high, too, and a tremendous sense of accomplishment that I have yet to experience since flying my last mission in Vietnam. Whether they took hits at this time or not is speculation, but he tried another tactic. See also The History of the Ranch Hand Epidemiologic Investigation. I have to take one thing back. Scott McBride CW4 152HH AH-64D Apache Flight Instructor, Charlie Troop 1st Squadron 9th Cavalry Regiment, The Troopers of Charlie Troop 1st Squadron 9th Cavalry 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). We especially were concerned about the troops we were there to support. Background [ edit ] On 11 December 1961, the USS Core (T-AKV-41) docked in Saigon with 32 U.S. Army Piasecki H-21 helicopters and 400 crewmen of the 8th Transportation Company (Light Helicopter) and the 57th . We thank God for these pilots and crews who fearlessly went into our hell on our behalf day in and day out, during the Vietnam War. PO Box 8091 . its on the ground . No American had involvement in this incident near Trang Bang that burned Phan Thi Kim Phuc. They gave us classes on what altitudes to fly to avoid certain types of enemy fire small arms or 0.51 cal. There are over 4,945 helicopter pilots currently employed in the United States. Vietnam Veterans were the best educated forces our nation had ever sent into combat. The biggest responsibility of a helicopter pilot was to fly that helicopter in such a manner as to provide support for the men on the ground. Membership is open to all helicopter pilots who flew in Restraining the military in Vietnam in hindsight probably prevented a nuclear war with China or Russia. Knowing that my depth perception left little margin for error on the night approaches (especially), I had to totally concentrate on what I was doing and not relax for a second until we were down on that rockin and rollin ship. sent to. 2/3 of the men who served in Vietnam were volunteers. We fought to an agreed stalemate. One out of every 10 Americans who served in Vietnam was a casualty. herriman high school soccer roster. keep your tail straight . The third seat was for our testicles. EVERYTHING I NEEDED TO KNOW IN LIFE I LEARNED AS A HELICOPTER PILOT IN VIETNAM. (Personally, I have fathered 73 children with two good Dustoff-sized testicles.) Search: Average Age Of Vietnam Helicopter Pilot. He dropped to the deck a couple miles out and then screamed up the hill at 120 knots and tree top level, trying to sneak in past the enemy. al.. After that initial post-service period, Vietnam veterans were no more likely to die from suicide than non-Vietnam veterans. Those of us lucky enough to come home learned from the experience and were, without question, changed men, no longer wide-eyed boys. Myth: The fighting in Vietnam was not as intense as in World War II. This form number DA- 4733-DSC (Dustoff-Sized Cajones), was used to determine which pilots would obtain MedEvac training at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas, upon completion of training at Mother Rucker. dont care. Updated: 7 February 2018 . No matter what the enemy threw at them, they never backed down. Age 75 to 79 --------$100.00 . When I read the quickly handwritten sheet for this particular mission, I knew before we left that it was going to be an insecure hoist. Age 70 to 74 --------$150.00 ab.. Thousands of Vietnam Veterans earned medals for bravery every day. 2/3 of the men who served in World War II were drafted. Magazines are included with VHPA membership and are available to non-members with a If everything is as clear as a bell, and everything is going exactly as planned, youre about to be surprised. "Average Age of Active Pilots in The United States from 2002 to 2020, by Category*. I will always thank Warrant Officer Study for his late-night, picture-perfect landing on the round end of the boat. Prayer may not help . average age of vietnam helicopter pilot. aircraft in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam era and inform them of the existence of the Another Huey pilot explained, We were expected to perform simulated missions like we were in Vietnam. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Aero Bonus 320085 1/32 Us Army Helicopter Pilot Vietnam War 1960-1975 at the best online prices at eBay! sent to webmaster@vhpa.org whereupon You were way more mature for your age than 99% of the young men today. Published by on October 31, 2021. No matter what the make up of the team was they flew in helicopters that were made with the intention of dispensing a superior amount of fire power on the enemy. In other words, it took a man with a huge pair of Brass Balls but with the ability to know when to use them but with the brains to know when to hold them. [Nixon] No More Vietnams by Richard Nixon. . . There is only one rule in war: When you win, you get to make up the [Houk]. Caicos Islands, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican . "Average age of active pilots in the United States from 2002 to 2020, by category*." In June of 1967, Marine officers destined to become fixed-wing pilots began reporting to Air Force bases for flight training. Information contained herein shall not be used for commercial Even more demanding was formation flying at night, with navigation lights off, using the glow from the leaders cockpit instruments for station keeping. The Pilots of Charlie Troop 1st Squadron 9th Cavalry Regiment 1st Cavalry Division (AM) were the best Pilots of the Vietnam War and today they are the best men America has to offer. Here is an example done at the 2005 Both immigrated The Naval Air Training Command, located at Pensacola, Florida, could not train enough Marine helicopter pilots to bring the units in Vietnam up to strength. Section 501(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Service. They explained the trajectory of the weapons fired from an aircraft, especially when firing in a turn., Fort Rucker trained 120 aviators on its gunship aerial weapons course for the UH-1B in 1965. There walks a dead man. During a hoist mission, we flew with one finger on a button on the cyclic stick that operated an electric solenoid. Nighttime was even worse. volunteers. Drinking and how not to get caught. That was the unforgiving part. . (One has to realize that there was virtually no protection for the pilots from the front and little from the sides or underneath.) They were immensely important to the troops on the ground as aerial fire power. I enlisted in the (WOFT) Warrant Officer Flight Training. [1996 Information Please Almanac], The 140,000 evacuees in April 1975 during the fall of Saigon consisted almost entirely of civilians and Vietnamese military, NOT American military running for their lives. Business Solutions including all features. Myth: Most Vietnam veterans were drafted. Myth: Most American soldiers were addicted to drugs, guilt-ridden about their role in the war, and deliberately used cruel and inhumane tactics. Please create an employee account to be able to mark statistics as favorites. Even though I had yet to fly my first hour of combat, I had already done many incredible things that my high school and college friends could not even dream of. I would NOT fly unarmed helicopters! Rarely have so many people been so wrong about so much. He flew through the fog and light rain. With a hot mike, everything that was said, every noise, every round fired, every grunt and groan was amplified and transmitted into everyones headset without touching any buttons. There was a down side to the over-sized appendages, however. Were about five miles out. Five miles out from where? View complete answer on zippia.com In fact, after the 5-year post-service period, the rate of suicides is less in the Vietnam veterans' group." to Europe and both have since died. applies to subscribers): Age 80 and above ---$75.00 Ancient U.S. Army proverb. (So I guess that makes three Young and Stupids. The average age of an employed helicopter pilot is 44 years old. If you ask people who live in these countries that won the war in Vietnam, they have a different opinion from the American news media. You will get a sense of what that was like from listening to his stories. That knocked the rotor blades off and the TH-55 went in., Successful candidates then progressed to the Contact Phase at Knox Army Heliport, Fort Rucker, for specific training on the UH-1B, C, and D, followed by the Tactics Phase at nearby Lowe Army Helioport, which prepared them for realistic combat conditions. If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again. [Nixon], The Vietnam War has been the subject of thousands of newspaper and magazine articles, hundreds of books, and scores of movies and television documentaries. The third seat was installed in our combat aircraft to accommodate the well above average size of our family jewels, which were required to complete most of the missions we flew in Vietnam. h.. But come look for us, will ya? Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, Dustoff 7-1-1, were going down over the sea. As they entered a one year combat tour, many pilots heard the ominous rumor that the average life expectancy of a US Army Aviator helicopter pilot in combat was only 19 minutes. Over the course of the war, some 12,000 helicopters of various kinds saw service in Vietnam. When we, as students, first began training in Hueys at Ft. Rucker, Alabama, our Instructor Pilots (IPs) were required to fill out a Department of the Army (DA) form if our testicles were too big to fit comfortably in the standard front seat of a Huey.