As I recall, the life expectancy was very short for a door gunner. I worked with a guy in the Navy, that thought about volunteering for the position, then changed his mind when the chopper came back to the carrier with blood spattered everywhere. LRP was another position with a short life expectancy, or a heavy dose of PTSD.
Wasn't just door gunners -- it was every crewman on a Huey. None of them had any armor other than the chicken plate they wore. There wasn't any crewman anymore likely to die, but if both pilots bought it, everyone was dead. Period.
Nice vid, thanks. A lot of people forget the contribution the ANZAC's made in the Vietnam war, supporting our allies the USA. Not me though. I give them my grateful thanks for their service.
I stay in touch with a couple of my crew chiefs and door gunners from "a place long ago." Except for their past demonstrations of uncommon valor, they seem perfectly normal to me. regards, Alemaster
Back in 1978 i was in Air Traffic Control school at Fort Rucker Alabama. We had to learn how to control traffic at Landing zones in the Field. We were flown out to them by student pilots. I got to sit in the Door Gunner seat flying at treetop level. With nobody shooting at you it was the best seat in the house especially when they banked 90 Degrees and you were hanging by your seat belt.
Everybody wanted to door gun at least now and then. There is nothing, nothing, as adrenalin inducing as rolling in and holding down the trigger on an M60 while flex guns and rockets fire three feet from you. Most of the time you're shooting up the jungle, but somebody saw a VC with a weapon down there somewhere, and that means target. It's one of those things, if you haven't done it, it's unexplainable. I was not an assigned gunner, but did fly 64 missions.
As I recall, the life expectancy was very short for a door gunner. I worked with a guy in the Navy, that thought about volunteering for the position, then changed his mind when the chopper came back to the carrier with blood spattered everywhere. LRP was another position with a short life expectancy, or a heavy dose of PTSD.
ReplyDeleteWasn't just door gunners -- it was every crewman on a Huey. None of them had any armor other than the chicken plate they wore. There wasn't any crewman anymore likely to die, but if both pilots bought it, everyone was dead. Period.
DeleteGot to know a guy who did three tours as a door gunner in Vietnam. Man, was he one messed up PTSD motherfucker.
ReplyDeleteI was in that AO in 1969, The Aussie troupes would kick ass and take names. Only the Koreans to the north were tougher.
ReplyDeleteNice vid, thanks.
ReplyDeleteA lot of people forget the contribution the ANZAC's made in the Vietnam war, supporting our allies the USA.
Not me though. I give them my grateful thanks for their service.
And for a little bit more Huey, have at it... https://vimeo.com/18278657
ReplyDeleteHad a friend who survived as a door gunner and finished his service as a DI....
ReplyDeleteI stay in touch with a couple of my crew chiefs and door gunners from "a place long ago." Except for their past demonstrations of uncommon valor, they seem perfectly normal to me. regards, Alemaster
ReplyDeleteBack in 1978 i was in Air Traffic Control school at Fort Rucker Alabama. We had to learn how to control traffic at Landing zones in the Field. We were flown out to them by student pilots. I got to sit in the Door Gunner seat flying at treetop level. With nobody shooting at you it was the best seat in the house especially when they banked 90 Degrees and you were hanging by your seat belt.
ReplyDeleteEverybody wanted to door gun at least now and then. There is nothing, nothing, as adrenalin inducing as rolling in and holding down the trigger on an M60 while flex guns and rockets fire three feet from you. Most of the time you're shooting up the jungle, but somebody saw a VC with a weapon down there somewhere, and that means target. It's one of those things, if you haven't done it, it's unexplainable. I was not an assigned gunner, but did fly 64 missions.
ReplyDeleteWell described SgtBob. Thanks for your service and Welcome Home Brother. Alemaster
DeleteIt beats the shit out of just riding and hoping for the best! Being able to shoot back, no matter how ineffectively, is a HUGE morale booster!!!
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