Values are as of December 31 each year. directory for dues current members. . The others on board simply assumed he was also headed for dinner, but I knew the true meaning of his statement. Hello. After that initial post-service period, Vietnam veterans were no more likely to die from suicide than non-Vietnam veterans. "Average age of active pilots in the United States from 2002 to 2020, by category*." The first one you will meet is retired Army Col. Douglas Moore, a medevac pilot in Vietnam. 66 founding members. In my mind, the only way I would. Owned and operated by CharityUSA.com, LLC. Get full access to all features within our Business Solutions. U.S. active certificated pilots - average age 1993-2020; . The fall of Saigon happened 30 April 1975, two years AFTER the American military left Vietnam. They were involved in every aspect of that war fighting, from medevac, to ammo, troop and supply delivery, to aerial fire support. (Personally, I have fathered 73 children with two good Dustoff-sized testicles.) But as the Army would have it, during Friday night formation of the middle weekend of gun school, 24 of us, including 12 in the gun school, received orders to attend MedEvac school at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas, immediately after graduation. Five Thousand pilots and crews lost their lives and 3,258 Hueys alone were lost during the war. It has been said many times by Navy and Marine jet pilots that landing on an aircraft carrier is like landing on a postage stamp. . You will come away from this video with a real sense of the quality of heroism that every one of our Vietnam War helicopter pilots displayed on a daily basis. The pilots who were flying this helicopter, 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. I can tell you what in my opinion made the best pilots. No matter what the enemy threw at them, they never backed down. When called upon, a Pilot did not wait for approval from his crew, becuse he knew his crew would never say No. 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. When you crash, well try to recover your bodies. Please call HQ on 800-505-VHPA (8472) to sign up to be a life The VC were surprised and soundly defeated. survival radio, whats that? . It was NOT the U.S. Embassy. Always smiling and never hurt anyone, I would guess. Age 60 to 64 --------$350.00 At least, I believe that is how I would have felt had it been me. [Burkett] Stolen Valor: How the Vietnam Generation was Robbed of its Heroes and its History by B.G. Here are some facts to clear up that poor job of reporting by the news media. The U.S. Embassy and its helipad were much larger. Dario Leone is an aviation, defense and military writer. 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. The average time lapse between wounding to hospitalization was less than one hour. They could rotate around a battle site from above, unleashing punishing weapon support from above. 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. [People], The person who can be seen aiding the refugees was CIA operations officer, Mr. O.B. 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. [3], Battlefield Viet Nam Episode 5 "The Undeclared War", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Operation_Chopper_(Vietnam)&oldid=1133354489, This page was last edited on 13 January 2023, at 10:36. . In June of 1967, Marine officers destined to become fixed-wing pilots began reporting to Air Force bases for flight training. 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. [VHPA 1993] Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association 1993 Membership Directory page 130. 58,169 were killed and 304,000 wounded out of 2.59 million who served. Keeping with the VHPAs tradition that the History Sections theme becomes the theme for that years Membership Directory, the 2023 Membership Directory (D2023) will be a history of U.S. Air Force helicopters in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War (1961 thru 1975).Read more about the planned U.S. Air Force helicopter Vietnam War history sections. Read the latest issue of the Friends of the Vietnam Center Newsletter and subscribe to recieve future newsletters. Donations can be made here https://www.vhpa.org/donate.htm, The VHPA has a membership of over 16,600 (8,700 dues current) helicopter pilots from around the world out of the Warrant Officer-1 Al Gaddis was a tall, curly haired kid as I remember him. Operation Chopper occurred on 12 January 1962 and was the first time U.S. forces participated in major combat in the Vietnam War. Read the latest issue of the Friends of the Vietnam Center Newsletter and subscribe to recieve future newsletters. ad.. [McCaffrey] Myth: The fighting in Vietnam was not as intense as in World War II. If we waited for gunship support, it may be too late for the wounded, so most times we tried to sneak in and sneak out (if thats possible in a clattering helicopter) and complete the rescue before the enemy had TOO much time to shoot us up . 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. Americans who deliberately killed civilians received prison sentences while Communists who did so received commendations. 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. dont care. [VHPA databases], Army UH-1's totaled more than 10,693,902 flight hours in Vietnam between October 1966 and the end of Nighttime was even worse. Company pick-up truck, I was told I didnt pass the depth perception portion of the eye test and would not be issued the license. Many men volunteered for the draft so even some of the draftees were actually Categories . Reunion dates and locations have been announced for the following units: The latest quarterly issue has the agenda and registration details for Vietnam War conference scheduled for March 2-4, 2023 that will focus on the year 1973: The Paris Peace Accords and the Allied Withdrawal from South Vietnam Also included are updates on the Oral History Project and volunteer opportunities.Stay in touch and help us preserve your legacy. [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. q.. Having all your body parts intact and functioning at the end of the day beats the alternative. Communications with the Executive Council magazines, a membership directory and a calendar each year and periodically publishes 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. I wanted that top 20% and focused all my abilities and energy on making gunship training. I think that some of us changed for the better, but some of us did not. Information contained herein shall not be used for commercial Correspondence relating to commercial purposes or solicitations shall only be In fact, not at all, since we usually flew with the doors open, even at night. My opinion is that he was as afraid that he could not complete the mission, as much as he was afraid to die. Myth: The United States lost the war in Vietnam. Yes, most definitely young, but stupid? On what turned out to be his final mission, they were to pick up wounded on a mountain top, but got caught in heavy fire while making their approach. It was misreported then, and it is misremembered now. solicitation purposes, or any correspondence related thereto. Even the AP photographer, Nick Ut, who took the picture was Vietnamese. DID after the U.S. Congress cut off funding. a colleague is looking for a helicopter pilot nicknamed chicken man, who spent some time around Solid Anchor in about 1971. . looking good. years. [Westmoreland], Democracy Catching On - In the wake of the Cold War, democracies are flourishing, with 179 of the world's 192 sovereign states (93%) now electing their legislators, according to the Geneva-based Inter-Parliamentary Union. This freed Marine quotas at Pensacola which could be used to . The death squads focused on leaders at the village level and on anyone who improved the lives of the peasants such as medical personnel, social workers, and schoolteachers. [CACF] (Combat Area Casualty File) November 1993. w.. I tried to use the opportunity to prove to myself that I could accomplish the goals I set for myself and do them well. Drinking and how not to get caught. A hoist mission was just the opposite. who is now retired in Arizona. We put him in the back of the cargo compartment with his M-16 and a helmet, hooked him up to the intercom, and we were off. u.. Everybodys a hero on the ground in the club after the fourth drink. As soon as this statistic is updated, you will immediately be notified via e-mail. The UH-1 evolved from a 1955 US Army competition for a new utility helicopter. Maturity, self-confident, bravery, willing to take chances, courageous, and yes fun-loving are the attributes that make a great pilot. We grabbed some unsuspecting Schmuck and told him to get his weapon and some ammo and run with us to the aircraft. I told my roommate, This is it. Required fields are marked *. So, were we really Young and Stupid? Then I did another Young & Stupid thing. 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. 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. plaque made from the mold for the AH-1G prototype collective grip. A Huey pilot later with the 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion (AHB) at Pleiku, recalled one student who, flush with success after his first solo, decided to see what it was like in the empty instructors seat, but knew he would have to change back to land. 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. The second pilot you will meet is retired CWO2 Allan Potter. [Houk] Testimony by Dr. Houk, Oversight on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, 14 July 1988 page 17, Hearing before the Committee on Veterans' Affairs United States Senate one hundredth Congress second session. Can I pick up Armed Forces Radio on it? What is important is what you are doing-NOW-to solve our problem. If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again. 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. bombers during World War II most often flew missions lasting many hours with The claimed flying aces of the Vietnam War, pilots who shot down five or more enemy aircraft, include 19 North Vietnamese pilots (six MiG-17 and 13 MiG-21 pilots), [1] : 228 and five Americans. of 21 year old Scotch purchased in 1971 by Brian Novak one of the original 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. Myth: Kim Phuc, the little nine year old Vietnamese girl running naked from the napalm strike near Trang Bang on 8 June 1972, was burned by Americans bombing Trang Bang. Read more about the planned U.S. Air Force helicopter Vietnam War history sections. I remember my very first primary flight instructor pointing at him as I listened intently to his every word. ak.. Are you interested in testing our business solutions? ag.. He was an instructor pilot at Downing Army Airfield at Ft. Wolters, Texas, in May of 1968. Over the course of the war, some 12,000 helicopters of various kinds saw service in Vietnam. 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. herriman high school soccer roster. was several blocks from the Pittman Apartments. After the first of the two injured soldiers was hoisted on board, the din of the covering fire began to register in my head. 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. Please support The Veterans Site by adding us to your ad blockers whitelist ads help us to provide food and supplies to veterans. First of all, there was landing on the Navy Hospital ships, USS Repose and USS Sanctuary, in the South China Sea, very near the Demilitarized Zone. Updated: 7 February 2018 We always at least tried to complete the mission and felt that we let someone down if we didnt. Yet undoubtedly every plane in Laos carried opium at some time, unknown to the pilot and his superiors. The Vietnam . Thank you for your service. As MedEvac helicopter pilots, we flew the only Army Hueys equipped with the electric hoist/winch. 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). average age of vietnam helicopter pilot ao.. How could we lose a war we had already stopped fighting? As one of those troopers on the ground, I can honestly say how proud I am to have served with Brave men. Okay, so the Hueys were extremely reliable, and I still love those incredible machines, but for the moment let us discuss navigation equipment on a Huey. members without the express consent of the member. e.. Cover your Buddy, so he can be around to cover for you. The Weapons Team. If you are wearing body armor, they will probably miss that part. In, Federal Aviation Administration. 1969 Please do not hesitate to contact me. 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. Also passed from President to President is a plaque with past Presidents' names on it. The average age of the 58,148 killed in Vietnam was 23.11 years (Although 58,169 names are in the Nov. 93 database, only 58,148 have both event date and birth date. Later, the crew became a two-man pilot team. Is that AM or FM? The VHPA is a social organization only and The early (65-68) Weapons Team was made up of two pilots, crew chief and a door gunner. reunion. n.. Traditions: The VHPA has developed some traditions over the sent to webmaster@vhpa.org whereupon of what you can do online at https://www.vhpa.org/memhelp.htm#ODA, To preserve the legacy of all Vietnam Helicopter Pilots, an endowment has no political agenda as is our brother organization, The Vietnam Helicopter Innocent people get killed. ?any tips. Shoot, I had NO idea! website may contain information that VHPA considers proprietary and (So I guess that makes three Young and Stupids. fund has been established at the Vietnam Center and Archives at Texas Tech average age of vietnam helicopter pilot. 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. It can be expressed in its mathematical formula of S (suction) + H (height) above ground) + I (interest in staying alive) + T (# of tracers coming your way). Others flew fixed wing and some were already in the Army but applied for and were chosen to attend flight school. 5. Always make sure someone has a P-38. With the patient finally on board, the Radio Operator with the ground unit Rogered our departure message with a Thanks a HELL of a lot, Dustoff!. Instead of landing and changing seats he tried to do it in mid air. rules. You will get a clear sense of what they were up against and how they conducted themselves. As explained by Peter E. Davies in his book UH-1 Huey Gunship Vs NVA/VC Forces Vietnam 1962-75, many US Army pilots volunteered for combat simply because they wanted to fly the UH-1. 20002023 The Veterans Site and GreaterGood. Mortality studies show that 9,000 is a better estimate. As a Premium user you get access to background information and details about the release of this statistic. This is a true testament for any theater! Vietnam Veterans were the best educated forces our nation had ever sent into combat. Soviet Union. 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. The additional weight of patients on the end of the hoist as they were lifted off the ground further complicated the stability of the aircraft. $36/year subscription. To all of the brave Pilots and their crews, I can say but three things. Membership is open to all helicopter pilots who flew in It is far better that you fear the media, for they will steal your HONOR. No American had involvement in this incident near Trang Bang that burned Phan Thi Kim Phuc. As the Aircraft Commander in control of the helicopter, my eyes never left the tree branches that were touching the nose of my aircraft. Those Hueys were their horses and they rode into battle en masse, to deliver their troops and evacuate the wounded. Most of the Commissioned Officers were older. 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. [People], The evacuees were Vietnamese not American military. There is an explanation 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. 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. In order to be Old and Wise, one must first be young and stupid. Based on the data, more than 30% of the current for-hire pilots fall within the age range of 50 to 64. [Nixon] No More Vietnams by Richard Nixon. Publi le 12 juin 2022 par . . While there are still officially more than 2,200 cases, there now are only 55 incidents of American servicemen who were last seen alive but aren't accounted for. "Average Age of Active Pilots in The United States from 2002 to 2020, by Category*. Black fatalities amounted to 12 percent of all Americans killed in Southeast Asia - a figure proportional to the number of blacks in the U.S. population at the time and slightly lower than the proportion of blacks in the Army at the close of the war." pilots in the Vietnam War. Search: Average Age Of Vietnam Helicopter Pilot. . Steve DaCosta, Cavalier15, June67-June68. The further you fly into the mountains, the louder the strange engine noises become. Fast Contour flying as close to the ground as possible to avoid ground fire was also mastered. [People]. We are now Older and Wiser, and for that I am very thankful. Access to this and all other statistics on 80,000 topics from, Show sources information To retrieve the data click on 2020 Active Civil Airmen Statistics. 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. sent to. of fuel, ammunition and other supplies because of a lack of support from I have posted your reply to Steve on here so he will be able to read it. [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. As a result, less than one percent of all Americans wounded who survived the first 24 hours died. We HAD no survival radios in those aircraft. (EC), [Home] [ReunionInformation] [Donations] [OurLegacy] [MembershipServices] [RelatedWebSites], This 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. We honor the memory of all those who lost their lives in that service. no, seven! When sprayed on dense jungle foliage, less that 6 percent ever reached the ground. its on the ground . r.. When I found out that I was assigned to be a MedEvac pilot, I was devastated. ah.. Nobody cares what you did yesterday or what you are going to do tomorrow. Learn how your comment data is processed. Flag, John A. Jelich, Wisconsin, Cecelia Jelich Frost, Killed in Action, Rosary, KIA, Gold Star Family, Gold Star Wife. 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. advertising and other information. Book review. When we were on short final approach over the landing zone, I heard small arms fire and my brand-new Crew Chief yelled Were taking fire!, I pulled power into the rotor system to get out of there as quickly as I could, when the radio operator on the ground called out Dustoff, where are you going?. ab.. Thousands of Vietnam Veterans earned medals for bravery every day. 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.