average age of vietnam helicopter pilot

There, the new guys learned how to apply their recently found skills to combat situations. s.. Myth: The media have reported that suicides among Vietnam veterans range from 50,000 to 100,000 - 6 to 11 times the non-Vietnam veteran population. 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. The second pilot you will meet is retired CWO2 Allan Potter. In fact, not at all, since we usually flew with the doors open, even at night. The longer you stare at the gauges the less time it takes them to move from green to red. It does not have to be war related. All of these, however, are better than extraction by Medavac, even if it is technically, a form of flying. Statistics about the Vietnam War - VHPA Here is an example done at the 2005 There were many of the Warrant Officers that were in their 18,19, and 20s. If so glad to know youre well. Read the latest issue of the Friends of the Vietnam Center Newsletter and subscribe to recieve future newsletters. 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! If the rear echelon troops are really happy, the front line troops probably do not have what they need. I made a pedal turn (U-turn) about 200 feet in the air, probably over some bad guys, and hovered back in over the trees. average age of vietnam helicopter pilot - saiservicecentre.in NEW 2008 HASBRO GI Joe Helicopter Pilot Wild Bill 25th Anniversary FREE af.. You will meet and hear the stories of three U.S. Army helicopter pilots who flew missions in Vietnam in this video. and flew his bird to the top of Monkey Mountian. I did well enough to make the school, along with about 25 of my classmates. Whatd he say? Hell, I dont know. May 18, 2021. I have posted your reply to Steve on here so he will be able to read it. One pilot lost a testicle to a .50-caliber round and was able to father only 44 children (at last count) after returning from overseas. Over 900,000 patients were airlifted (nearly half were American). Mailing Address: He flew through the fog and light rain. ak.. 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. ao.. The average infantryman in Vietnam saw about 240 days of combat in one year thanks to the mobility of the helicopter Warrant Officer Shelly Berryman flew Huey helicopters in Vietnam War But it also exposed American servicemen and women to a chemical that now has them dying on average 13 years earlier than their counterparts who did not serve in . 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. [Nixon]. Most were 19 or 20 years old, with a few experienced old men per platoon in their late twenties. There is an explanation We always at least tried to complete the mission and felt that we let someone down if we didnt. The U.S. Embassy and its helipad were much larger. I never forgot the reverence with which that statement was made, as I began to form a survival plan of action in my mind. average age of vietnam helicopter pilot. Any combination of these can be deadly. Larry Clark and Mike Law in 1990. Operation Chopper (Vietnam) - Wikipedia The gunships that were escorting him told Al to put it on the ground right away because of the serious leak. They could often see what we could not and helped keep the enemy off of us and to even the odds for us, so to speak. It would instantly cut the cable should any part of the lift apparatus get snagged in the trees or in any other emergency situation. The early (65-68) Weapons Team was made up of two pilots, crew chief and a door gunner. Average Age Statistics of Pilots: Are We in a Pilot Shortage? Helicopter Pilot Demographics and Statistics In The US - Zippia "Average Age of Active Pilots in The United States from 2002 to 2020, by Category*. There are over 4,945 helicopter pilots currently employed in the United States. http://www.air-america.org. We must now hover over the trees or rocky terrain, while we let out up to 150 feet of quarter-inch cable with a jungle penetrator or a Stokes litter attached to it. am.. Do not fear the enemy, for your enemy can only take your life. 2/3 of the men who served in Vietnam were volunteers. Dustoff pilots with their unique seating arrangement is where that statement originated. [People], The evacuees were Vietnamese not American military. It was the Pilots mission to fly as low and as slow as he could allowing the observer and the Door Gunner to watch for signs of the enemy or to allow the enemy to fire at them. The Vietnam War helped medical progress in this area. Oh, Sugar! (Not my exact word.) Get the details for all upcoming vietnam helicopter unit reunions. EVERYTHING I NEEDED TO KNOW IN LIFE I LEARNED AS A HELICOPTER PILOT IN VIETNAM. 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. We still got there in a hurry, but once there, we hovered over the trees like a target at the County Fair 25-cent target-shooting booth. The DA-4733-DSC should not be confused with the much more common DA-4734-GSTT (Gunship Sized Tiny Testicles), where other pilots made up for their lack of size with big guns and big wrist watches. k.. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. These new battalions eventually formed a sort of modern-day cavalry for the Army. Overview and forecasts on trending topics, Industry and market insights and forecasts, Key figures and rankings about companies and products, Consumer and brand insights and preferences in various industries, Detailed information about political and social topics, All key figures about countries and regions, Market forecast and expert KPIs for 600+ segments in 150+ countries, Insights on consumer attitudes and behavior worldwide, Business information on 60m+ public and private companies, Detailed information for 35,000+ online stores and marketplaces. Our single-engine UH-1H Hueys did not float in the water very well. [McCaffrey], The oldest man killed was 62 years old (TAYLOR, KENNA CLYDE). sent to. Would love to chat with Bruce Huffman. of 21 year old Scotch purchased in 1971 by Brian Novak one of the original . come left . It was misreported then, and it is misremembered now. Not only were we not found to be lacking as youthful aviators, as a whole we far exceeded the expectations. "The problem is that those who think the Vietnamese haven't cooperated sufficiently think there is some central repository with answers to all the lingering questions," notes Gen. John Vessey, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Reagan and Bush administration's designated representative in MIA negotiations. it will be forwarded to the appropriate VHPA representative. Army Flight School was about 9 months long, this was the shortest calendar time. Refining close formation skills was an immediate requirement, as airborne assaults could involve a tight gaggle of up to 40 helicopters, including ten gunships. The total of non-pilot crewmembers killed was 2,704, according to records of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots' Association. Normally, one has to push a button to talk over the intercom in a military aircraft, but on a hoist mission, we turned it to hot mikes, because we all needed our hands for other things. The platform is the top of the elevator shaft for the building and was not bombers during World War II most often flew missions lasting many hours with If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again. The most common ethnicity of helicopter pilots is White (82.0%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (6.8%), Unknown (5.5%) and Asian (2.7%). a31 road closure alton; cdw insurance for rental cars; hygro cotton bath towels; Hello world! The best of the best: the portal for top lists & rankings: Strategy and business building for the data-driven economy: Industry-specific and extensively researched technical data (partially from exclusive partnerships). members without the express consent of the member. Phil Marshall, DMZ Dustoff 711, 237th Medical Detachment (Helicopter Ambulance) Camp Evans and Quang Tri, Vietnam 1969. Or, to hear veteran helicopter pilots describe their personal experiences in the line of duty, click here. . who is now retired in Arizona. Categories . I and many more just like me can only say Thank You for all that you did. The BSR (Bang Stare Red) Theory states that the louder the sudden bang in the helicopter, the quicker your eyes will be drawn to the gauges. . November 14th, 2013 at 5:45 pm Dave Shannon (crewmember, 92nd AHC) Says: I always liked the subdued look of combat zone attire, as opposed to anything shiny or glittery. Maturity, self-confident, bravery, willing to take chances, courageous, and yes fun-loving are the attributes that make a great pilot. But this time he definitely took hits in a .50-caliber crossfire, and as he peeled off from the mountain, fuel was streaming from the aircraft. . 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. The average infantryman in Vietnam saw about 240 days of combat in one year thanks to the mobility of the helicopter. Myth: The war was fought largely by the poor and uneducated. hostile fire exposure versus battle area exposure. He was not strapped in. Please do not hesitate to contact me. 58,169 were killed and 304,000 wounded out of 2.59 million who served. The VHPA is a social organization only and My opinion is that he was as afraid that he could not complete the mission, as much as he was afraid to die. i.. Chicken Plates are not something you order in a restaurant. Myth: Agent Orange poisoned millions of Vietnam veterans. zatarain's chicken fry mix ingredients New Lab; brown service funeral home obituaries; orange high school graduation 2021; the dragon paper airplane; average age of vietnam helicopter pilot. No Pilot that I know of ever went into a combat situation without both. but it cant hurt. The Air Cav was just what the name implies. That sinister-sounding term was coined after the war) Orange was sprayed at three gallons per acre that was the equivalent of .009 of an ounce per square foot. 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. THE UNITED STATES DID NOT LOSE THE WAR IN VIETNAM, THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE Most 18 year olds only think about girls and what they can get from them. After training, they entered transport or gunship platoons referred to simply as slicks or guns. Most would complete at least two combat tours. After the first of the two injured soldiers was hoisted on board, the din of the covering fire began to register in my head. time than any other aircraft in the history of warfare assuming you count actual 01/09/2013. To seek out, using whatever means available, individuals who piloted rotary wing Drinking and how not to get caught. We all volunteered to do something that only a year or two before we could not have even dreamed that we would be doingsomething that only a very few could ever experience; something for which only a very few could even qualify. $99) To contact the magazine editor aviator@vhpa.org. n.. m.. No matter what you do, the bullet with your name on it will get you. And what was even stupider, I suppose, was the fact that if the doors were closed when we reached the water, we opened them so we could get out easier if we did go down. Event date is used instead of declared dead date for some of those who were listed as missing in action). From 1965, around 99 percent of each completed class of students were sent to Vietnam. How old was the average helicopter pilot in Vietnam? - Quora It wasnt easy, and I will now confess that my depth perception almost was not good enough to pass my initial flight physical, but I made it. We were an easier target during the day, but unlike at night when we kept all the lights off, we could see what we were doing! As the Aircraft Commander in control of the helicopter, my eyes never left the tree branches that were touching the nose of my aircraft. The most incredible, dangerous, high pucker factor, exhilarating thing a man can do with a helicopter is to pull an insecure hoist mission, day or night. VHPA Aviator magazine If you lose you When you crash, well try to recover your bodies. Boeing and Read More, I will say this - and I know a lot of other Navy guys that Read More, The Defense Security Cooperation Agency has not specified whether the weapons are intended for Taiwans Read More, Models of the F-19 Stealth Fighter started to appear in the eighties and were available Read More, The USAF plans to begin production in fiscal 2025, with the first E-7A expected to Read More, UH-1 Huey Gunship Vs NVA/VC Forces Vietnam 1962-75, Boeing, US Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopters Achieve 5 Million Flight Hours, Equivalent to Flying nonstop for more than 208,333 Days or 570 Years and Nine Months, Taiwan to get 100 AGM-88B HARM missiles and 200 AIM-120C-8 missiles for its F-16 fleet, USAF awards Boeing E-7A prototype contract: the Wedgetail will replace the E-3 AWACS, US Navy Nuclear Propulsion Plant Operator explains when a submarine reactor can be run at higher than 100% (and why the 105% on the reactor ordered in The Hunt for Red October movie would not be worth any risk to the ship and crew), Former US Navy F/A-18 pilot explains why although during his era the Hornet was the best airplane on the carrier his fun meter was most pegged flying the A-4 Skyhawk, The Stealth Fighter that Never Was: How the Secret Development of the F-117 led to the Birth of the Misleading F-19. [McCaffrey] Speech by Lt. Gen. Barry R. McCaffrey, (reproduced in the Pentagram, June 4, 1993) assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to Vietnam veterans and visitors gathered at "The Wall", Memorial Day 1993. 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. The American military was not defeated in Vietnam. The average time lapse between wounding to hospitalization was less than one hour. confidential. Updated: 7 February 2018 Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, Dustoff 7-1-1, were going down over the sea. Servicemen who went to Vietnam from well-to-do areas had a slightly elevated risk of dying because they were more likely to be pilots or infantry officers. We HAD no survival radios in those aircraft. Please use the membership application form to submit Soviet Union. You were a good friend and much appreciated by my parents. It was an average age for most of the other Army helicopter pilots I flew with in the 237th Medical Detachment in northern I Corps near the DMZ. Three of the five newest democracies are former Soviet republics: Belarus (where elections were first held in November 1995), Armenia (July 1995) and Kyrgyzstan (February 1995). (EC), [Home] [ReunionInformation] [Donations] [OurLegacy] [MembershipServices] [RelatedWebSites], This Steve DaCosta, Cavalier15, June67-June68. Without that commitment, Communism would have swept all the way to the Malacca Straits that is south of Singapore and of great strategic importance to the free world. Myth: The American military was running for their lives during the fall of Saigon in April 1975. Myth: The United States lost the war in Vietnam. Only a few privileged people, other than the crew members themselves, know an obscure fact that there were actually three seats in the cockpit of a Dustoff helicopter, rather than two seats, as mounted in all other Hueys. Whether they took hits at this time or not is speculation, but he tried another tactic. 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 Transportation Company (Light Helicopter). It was a well known (and very true) fact that during an emergency exit from an aircraft, if you dont have it strapped to your body, you wont take it with you. I knew that if Don got in trouble on the approach, I could not be of much help because of the gunshot wound in my left arm, but we were Young and Stupid and we made it. . All of these, however, are preferable to cold rice balls, even if they do have the little pieces of fish in them. Myth: Most American soldiers were addicted to drugs, guilt-ridden about their role in the war, and deliberately used cruel and inhumane tactics. Here are some facts to clear up that poor job of reporting by the news media. survival radio, whats that? . Federal Aviation Administration. [VHPA databases], Army UH-1's totaled more than 10,693,902 flight hours in Vietnam between October 1966 and the end of [Nixon] No More Vietnams by Richard Nixon. .j.. The VC knew the points in an assault where the helicopter was most vulnerable, so thorough prepping by gunships and strike aircraft was essential. rotary wing aircrews that flew in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam Era. The cables going out . l.. Deaths Average Age Enlisted: 50,274, 22.37 years Officers: 6,598, 28.43 years u.. Everybodys a hero on the ground in the club after the fourth drink. The average age (according to General William C. Westmoreland before the Third Annual Reunion of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association (VHPA) at the Washington, DC Hilton Hotel on July 5th, 1986) was 26 The average man who fought in World War II was 26 years of age. Oh, were we Young and Stupid on hoist missions, too; the second Y & S thing we did! Epilogue: Most people who see photos of Dustoff Hueys in Vietnam observe only the outside of the aircraft. See an example of our magazine, The Topics cover the entire spectrum from Vietnam to . For more information see 66 founding members. Member He was an instructor pilot at Downing Army Airfield at Ft. Wolters, Texas, in May of 1968. It is far better that you fear the media, for they will steal your HONOR. [1996 Information Please Almanac] 1995 Information Please Almanac Atlas & Yearbook 49th edition, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston & New York 1996, pages 117, 161 and 292. The average infantryman in the South Pacific during World War II saw about 40 days of combat in four years. They could rotate around a battle site from above, unleashing punishing weapon support from above. Shoot, I had NO idea! While it may be possible to ward off this natural event some of the time, it cannot, despite the best efforts of the crew, always be prevented. A Scout team consisted of a pilot, a Door Gunner and an observer. Sometimes, being good and lucky still is not enough. Others flew fixed wing and some were already in the Army but applied for and were chosen to attend flight school. Search: Average Age Of Vietnam Helicopter Pilot. . The incident in the photo took place on the second day of a three day battle between the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) who occupied the village of Trang Bang and the ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam) who were trying to force the NVA out of the village. Loud, sudden noises in a helicopter WILL get your undivided attention. I can throw a rock in there, its so close! was the rest of my thought. Always make sure someone has a P-38. ai.. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set 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. How to get a day off of work or which college offers the best ability to party. 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 honor the memory of all those who lost their lives in that service. Membership is open to all helicopter pilots who flew in c.. NEVER get into a fight without more ammunition than the other guy. Caicos Islands, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican . Whether their responsibility was to fly the troops into and out of battle, become the Medical Evacuation bird when required, be the forward eyes of the ground troopers or provide them fire support when needed. Get full access to all features within our Business Solutions. If you are allergic to lead, it is best to avoid a war zone. Learn how your comment data is processed. I just tapped him gently on the shoulder and whispered, Hey, Buddy, Im as far back in the elevator as I can get now. I knew what he was really saying. They also acted as medical evacuation helicopter pilots when needed. As a result, less than one percent of all Americans wounded who survived the first 24 hours died. statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account. The average age for helicopter pilots in Vietnam was in the area of 22 years as I recall. average age of vietnam helicopter pilot - cbeconsulting.net 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. Maybe it was only three miles . Both immigrated Thanks for posting the memories. Most of our Door Gunners and Crew Chiefs were also 18-21 years old. Those trainers were so small you could lean in them to make the thing turn. Parameters for authorizing operating a US Navy submarine reactor plant above practicable design limits is Read More, Additionally, 1.3 million of those five million flight hours were accomplished during combat. In September of 68 1LT Bruce Huffman had his crew disembark fron his ship and had it loaded with ammo, C-rations and batteries for the radio. They were Kim's cousins not her brothers. 1969 From 1957 to 1973, the National Liberation Front assassinated 36,725 South Vietnamese and abducted another 58,499. Burkett and Glenna Whitley, Verity Press, Inc., Dallas, TX, 1998. Published by on October 31, 2021. Small, two seat TH-55 Osages were also used. One point I want to make is the the Crew Chiefs and Door Gunners were the and are still the best as well. 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. Laura Ungaro, I enjoyed reading this very much, many good memories were recalled. (The CACF is the basis for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, i.e. During his two tours in Vietnam, Col. Moore flew 2,752 combat medevac mission and transported 2,952 wounded men back to the medical help they needed. [Westmoreland], 97% were discharged under honorable conditions; the same percentage of honorable discharges as ten years prior to Vietnam [Westmoreland], 85% of Vietnam Veterans made a successful transition to civilian life. [VHPA 1993], The helicopter provided unprecedented mobility. Age 65 to 69 --------$250.00 Hello, I enjoyed Reading the blog. At least, I believe that is how I would have felt had it been me. If we didnt do it, the next guy would, and we would have been found to be personally lacking what it took to complete the mission. . Many of these brave men went from High School to Flight School. He he he he . [1996 Information Please Almanac], There were almost twice as many casualties in Southeast Asia (primarily Cambodia) the first two years after the fall of Saigon in 1975 then there were during the ten years the U.S. was involved in Vietnam. Thanks Tom H. AKA,Cavalier 16, 68/69, Brought a tear to my eye. As soon as he stepped from the left side to the right, the aircraft tipped. Thanks for the memories. Event date is used instead of declared dead date for some of those who were listed as missing in action) [CACF] See also The History of the Ranch Hand Epidemiologic Investigation. [2]:3, This operation heralded a new era of air mobility for the U.S. Army, which had been slowly growing as a concept since the Army formed twelve helicopter battalions in 1952 as a result of the Korean War. This is a true testament for any theater! Did you know the average life expectancy of a US Army Huey pilot in We lost a lot of Pilots but we also lost a lot of Crew Chiefs and Door Gunners. 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. It happened many times, and their names are on The Wall in Washington, D.C. One particular mission I recall was a day hoist. average age of vietnam helicopter pilot. For the latter, a specially equipped H-13 had optional blanked out external vision. He is the Founder and Editor of The Aviation Geek Club one of the worlds most read military aviation blogs. 79% had a high school education or better. Every helicopter flying in Vietnam had one real purpose: To help the grunt. Further proof of these facts can be found at a recent Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association (VHPA) reunion. Required fields are marked *. of fuel, ammunition and other supplies because of a lack of support from Recent reports in the news media that an American commander ordered the air strike that burned Kim Phuc are incorrect. In action, gunships sometimes left their lights on for night missions, for according to another Huey pilot, We had a doctrine that wed rather have the enemy shoot at the gunship than at the lesser armed slicks.. In all, a very scary time for our country. When I returned to the states later and applied for my military drivers license so I could drive the. Put some fire in that bunker! I yelled to Private Whats-His-Name. a.. Once you are in the fight, it is way too late to wonder if this is a good idea. Business Solutions including all features. We are now Older and Wiser, and for that I am very thankful. Damn Navy talk! The hospital ship would then radio to the helicopter again, Just come in from the left and land to the back of the boat. It always got an immediate Roger!. ?any tips. 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.

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