Vietnam Picture

[imntxs554]

There's Nothing like it...Doors Open with just a Lap Belt...Then every now then you get a Cowboy Pilot and you will have pretty Cool Flight...Even in Las Vegas you can take a Ride in a B 407 and those pilots can take you for a ride, but nothing like in the Service.

[Paul S.]

Tan Son Nhut was the big air base at Saigon as I recall where all the big stuff came in. Our little place was Dawsons Field. Please correct me if I am wrong with my old memory. Tan Son is now the main Saigon airport - or whatever it's called now but it ain't Tan Son Nuht or Saigon!

All correct Mate. The USAF essentially ran the place from what I saw. Air Vietnam had commercial flights in and out as well. Tan Son Nhut was a massive complex that also home to Camp Alpha (which we went through going back and forth to Oz for R&R), the ARVN Airborne school, Hotel Three, and the Air America base and heaven only knows what else. I rode an Air America Dakota from Vung Tau to Saigon once. They were very professional blokes to fly with and not the 'cowboys' the movie made them out to be.

[imntxs554]

CH-53E Super Stallion assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462 (HMH-462) Forward Operating Base Price, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Dec. 17, 2013

[Sentryduty]

CH-53E Super Stallion assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462 (HMH-462) Forward Operating Base Price, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Dec. 17, 2013

Looks like a well built FOB judging by the runway surface. I spent a lot of time pounding around Helmand in 2006, from Lashkar Gah to Sangin, to Musa Qulay, and aside from the Brit base at L-G there was nothing that nice. Also, about Brit mess food at L-G, baking your "fried" eggs in the oven? Why!? Ungodly bouncing eggs, and greasy breakfast bangers... gak! ...FOB Robinson was the nearest safe harbour, and even that place was just a big collection of Hesco's.

[imntxs554]

Looks like a well built FOB judging by the runway surface. I spent a lot of time pounding around Helmand in 2006, from Lashkar Gah to Sangin, to Musa Qulay, and aside from the Brit base at L-G there was nothing that nice. Also, about Brit mess food at L-G, baking your "fried" eggs in the oven? Why!? Ungodly bouncing eggs, and greasy breakfast bangers... gak! ...FOB Robinson was the nearest safe harbour, and even that place was just a big collection of Hesco's.

Darren, I knew you would like this one and had thought you could give some nice info on it. This is a Sweet one isn't it ? but those eggs I agree.....YUK !!!

[henry r]

that is a stunning photo. thanks for posting.

[Sarge]

There's Nothing like it...Doors Open with just a Lap Belt...Then every now then you get a Cowboy Pilot and you will have pretty Cool Flight...Even in Las Vegas you can take a Ride in a B 407 and those pilots can take you for a ride, but nothing like in the Service.

NOE is a blast! We've been so low as to have raise a bit to get over rice paddy dies - this at 85/90 knots. This was while I was flying door gunner.
Later when I became one of the guys they were dumping in the middle of nowhere I sat in the door with my feet on the skids as i was always one of the first out of the A/C - which usually happened at what I estimated to be 6' off the ground as we were coming in. This cleared the way for the rest of the guys to have a clear exit on touch down. It also gave us 4 guys (2 out each door) on the ground for suppresive fire if it was a hot LZ.
Sarge

[browningautorifle]

We've been so low as to have raise a bit to get over rice paddy dies - this at 85/90 knots.

Yup, YAHOO!...

i was always one of the first out at what I estimated to be 6' off the ground as we were coming in.

How would you like to try that nowdays, on those knees? That would be different? I think about that stuff now...

[imntxs554]

U.S. Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 9th Cavalry Regiment stand on the skids, prepared to jump as a UH-1D Huey helicopter approaches a landing zone during Operation Thayer II in Binh Dinh province, 300 miles northeast of Saigon, in December 1966. Members of the 32-man reconnaissance company would jump as the helicopter hovered at low altitude so that the chopper didn't spend time on the ground in an unsecure area.

[Sarge]

Damm, they got the whole load out on the skids. We never did that, only 2 on each side.
With only 4 guys still in the bird at touch down it was almost touch and go, the bird was on the ground such a short time.
Sarge

---------- Post added at 04:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:25 PM ----------

Yup, YAHOO!...
How would you like to try that nowdays, on those knees? That would be different? I think about that stuff now...

Unassing the bird at 6' wasn't much, if any, different than a parachute landing.
Yep, my knees do have a tendency to give me minor problems occasionally. That from several hard landing while on jump status.
Of course I never learned anything from all of that cause I still jump!!!
Sarge