So you want to be a door gunner on a huey?

[syscom3]

Official US Army training flick.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWqfn95TWjI

 

[fubar57]

Nifty video. Right up to the lizard eating part, I wanted to be a door gunner.

Geo

 

[tyrodtom]

I went thru a program similar to that at Ft. Rucker, Alabama, in 1970.

I don't remember eating any lizards, though with the chow hall food then, you could never be sure just what you were eating.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

I was a door gunner/crew chief. Just not on Huey's but on Blackhawks.

I actually wanted Huey's, but they where phasing them out.

Over 1600 hours in the Blackhawk though including 600+ combat hours. Probably my most favorite job I have ever held. So many great memories.

 

[Tracker]

Great shot. BTW, hope the liquid by your left foot is an oil spill.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Great shot. BTW, hope the liquid by your left foot is an oil spill.

It sure is not from me...

 

[davparlr]

Hats off to all those who volunteered to go into harms way, especially the helo guys. Lotsa guts required.

 

[mikewint]

Always amazed me that no one ever thought to arm those big lumbering Hueys right from the start. Landings were elevator with a cut cable but nothing could get them up rapidly. This must have been filmed early in the war. Some of the M60s still hanging from bungee cords and those "HERE I AM - SHOOT ME" uniforms with patches, rank stripes, bright white name tape and bright yellow US ARMY tape and cleaned and pressed on top of it.
Initially we flew in VNAF H-34s with Vietnamese pilots. Holes cut everywhere to reach components, pink hydraulic fluid everywhere, one exit door made it tough though that big 9 cylinder engine up front provided some ground fire cover. Poor pilots sitting 15ft in the air made great targets

 

[Gnomey]

Nice video! Thanks for sharing.