A Gun Ship and Smoke Ship Pilots

[Retired W4]

The 187th Assault Helicopter Company (Crusaders) was located in Tay Ninh, in the middle of War Zone C. Our Gun Platoon was known as the Rat Pack. This photo was taken shortly before I arrived, as we had all brand new AH-1 Cobras then and this is a Charlie model Huey gunship. My good friend Gerry K. took the picture.

In 1969 we were still using a smoke ship for most of our assaults and other high risk missions. In one, Jerry T. and I are relaxing during a no-fly day (no flight suits) near the company area. Karen says I look like Robbie Douglas from My Three Sons in the picture. We both flew Smokey.

 

[Lee Barner]

Oh the memories your threads bring back. memories of my time at An Loc with the Air Cav. thanks. Lee

 

[Retired W4]

An Loc

Less than a year after I left The siege began at An Loc. The bad guys wanted to make that town the Viet Cong capital of South Vietnam. They did not succeed, but the town was pretty much leveled in the process. The reports and pictures showed the complete destruction. The SVN government wanted no part of a permanent base for the VC there.

 

[lihpster]

My father worked with a guy who flew helicopters in Vietnam. Once when they were eating lunch and refueling, he brought out some pictures from back then. One arieal picture showed a series of ridges running perpendicular to the viewers point of view. On one of the closest ridges there was a line of explosions from one side to the other. Except for a small gap in the line where about 2 ridges back there were some small puffs of smoke. The pilot said that it was a rocket attack on the ridge line by several helicopters. When my dad asked about the gap he said, "Oh. Those are my rockets. Hard to shoot and take pictures at the same time."

 

[Retired W4]

The guy who took the Rat Pack Picture, Gerry. He has long since retired and is living in Hawaii where he was born.

 

[llowry61]

Your wife is right !

 

[Rudi]

The 187th Assault Helicopter Company (Crusaders) was located in Tay Ninh, in the middle of War Zone C. Our Gun Platoon was known as the Rat Pack. This photo was taken shortly before I arrived, as we had all brand new AH-1 Cobras then and this is a Charlie model Huey gunship. My good friend Gerry K. took the picture.

In 1969 we were still using a smoke ship for most of our assaults and other high risk missions. In one, Jerry T. and I are relaxing during a no-fly day (no flight suits) near the company area. Karen says I look like Robbie Douglas from My Three Sons in the picture. We both flew Smokey.

That's better than Beaver Cleaver.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Yup! Just like Robbie.

 

[Retired W4]

That's better than Beaver Cleaver.

I guess.