357 Mags in Nam

[AJ]

In, "Flight of the Intruder", author Stephen Coonts, a former Naval aviator (A-6 pilot) armed his main character with a Combat Magnum. Jake Grafton had that gun in several books. The other guy who was shot down with him had a .45 auto.

I think this reflected what the writer saw on his carrier, and used himself. You can probably ask him, via his site.

While in the USAF, I saw several Naval aviators in our dining hall, as they flew through our base. They had what looked to be Victory models or M-10's. All had shoulder holsters.

I know that some units had S&W 9 mm autos, the M-39.

Officers could often buy what they wanted, as could some Special Forces types. I'd be amazed if some didn't wear .357's. An officer in my unit owned a K-38, which he wore on patrol in lieu of the issued Combat Masterpiece. He thought he shot the longer barrelled gun better.

I put two tours in SEA in Marine Intruder Squadrons. Our aircrews were issued .38 Special S&W M10's with a 4" barrel that they carried in shoulder holsters. However, not all used their issue pieces. Some carried .357's and some opted for M1911's.

 

[Moo Moo]

I am continually amazed by the number of special operations folks who served in RVN. If my informal internet survey is any indication, there were 3 other people besides myself who were not "special operators" involved with clandestine and secret missions during my tour there. Since everything was secret, nothing must have happened while I was there......
all records having been written in disappearing ink.

rayb

"may I see your DD 314 please??"

"What color is the boathouse at Hereford?" (Ronin 1998 Reference).

 

[Benchrest1]

The story I got when I bought my 6" Python is it was carried by a Navy LT in Nam.

 

[S-W4EVER]

Alot of officers over there had Browning 9mm in their posession in the mid 60's

We had a shortage on M1911A1's in the first outfit I was assigned to in the ROK and I knew a 1LT that carried his own Browning High Power.

 

[rkittine]

As a fighter pilot I was issued a short barreled Model 19.

 

[BE Mike]

As a fighter pilot I was issued a short barreled Model 19.

That there is funny. I don't care who you are!

 

[Rusty parrot]

Great thread Gentlemen. Thanks for your service and thanks for sharing your stories, it's much appreciated.

 

[Drm50]

I was there 69-70. I had learned to reload as a teenager, and had bought and shot a variety of guns before the Army days, so I knew guns.
I moved around a lot during my tour. I was around both Marine and Army units, ARVN's, and ROK's. I flew a lot, on both Marine and Army choppers of all kinds, and AF C-130's, C-123's, and Caribou's, so you might say I saw a lot of flight crews. I never recall seeing a 357.
45's and 38's is all I recall.
This is the first MENTION of body armor I have ever heard related to the VC or NVA troops. I don't believe that any of them ever wore any.

I suppose it would have been possible to find anything there, since it had been a busy area for decades.
My CO handed me a 1911A1 one day, saying I "might need it to protect him". No paper, no receipt. He also handed me a Mod 37 Ithaca Trench gun and lots of 00 for the same reason. Again, no paper, no receipt. I liked it- one of the old ones that fired as you pumped it if you held the trigger. I loaned it to one of my men, and he let it get confiscated by an MP one sad day. The MP made no charges, and did not even take his name, so he was just flat swiping my Ithaca! We went looking for him, but could not find him.....

I was on a hill that was a sister to MacV & their Arvin counterparts in 1/44 Dusters. The MacV Captain had a Python. You did want to shoot against him for money. Not that he was such a good shot, our 1911s sucked for accuracy. I ended up going to 4/60 Dusters out of Plieku. Got shook down by MPs at Na Trang. I had a unauthorized Thompson in my duffle bag. MPs pulled same game on me. No charges or hassle they just wanted my gun. Both the 1/44 in MR 1 and 4/60 in MR 2 did not care what extra you had but you better be carrying issue weapon too. I saw everything from 22 Derringers to 44mgs. Most all this stuff was Warrant officers, chopper pilots. My Thompson came from pilot rotating out he wanted Chicom pistol to take home so we swapped.

 

[18robert]

i was air force,an e-1, in 1964. voluntered for nam and went. at that time we were consided advisors and did admin process at clark. very little admin in nam. i was air frieght. sent to bien hoa, ( mortor central ) to det 5 8th aieial port. got off the plane, go right to the armory, issued ar15, asked if i was going to be flying, what the heck, siad sure. was issued a .38 special revolverr. later i found a smith model 19 in nickel with half a box of .357, bought it $ 5o bucks. hoarded the ,357 ammo,never found more,shot a lot of .38spec. i'll tell you in those days bien hoa was not a bunch of remf's. i flew a lot with the first air commando,as a loadmaster, no remfs there either.

 

[austintexas]

I was stationed at Phu-Cat in '68-'69. the only handgun I knew about was a SSgt in Civil Engineers had a Ruger 357 magnum he brought with him. He also had a CB with boots and would talk to his wife in California when the atmosphere was right.
SWCA 892

 

[Old cop]

As a Navy Corpsman assigned to a Marine rifle squad in '66 I carried an old 1911. Although I don't recall seeing any personal weapons we heard you had to be at least an E-5 to request permission.

 

[DeafSmith]

Dunno about Vietnam but in WW2 Col. Edson, 1st Raider Battalion, used a S&W .357 on Guadalcanal.

 

[max503]

I was a stoned hippie during the 1970's. I grew up just outside of Great Lakes Naval Base. Mom was a waitress at the officers club.
I worked for an office supply company. One day I delivered a filing cabinet to an office on the base. I couldn't believe my eyes when the guy in the office was this guy I'd seen in pictures. Even then I felt humbled.
That's my war story.