The army stopped issuing them shortly after the end of vietnam in 75. Buy shuttle door gunner morale patch multicam arid. The early years of the 33rd118th were years when army aviation in vietnam was. Being a door gunner on a slick and a gunship were two very different jobs. The back features the same cutout ribbon and a detailed uh1 huey silhouette, also in the pattern and colors of the vietnam service medal ribbon. Cobras, nicknamed snakes, flew circles 1,500 feet above the scouts, waiting to pounce on whatever the loach found. Door gunner patch high quality marine corps patches for veterans, collectors, and motorcycle vests. First 3 symbols 2 numbers and a letter are the mos. Army helicopter door gunner wings badge and 1st aviation brigade combat aviator patch set, army patches, vietnam patches, assault helicopter company. Shuttle door gunner morale patch acu foliage green 4.
Looking for the ideal vietnam patches to express yourself. The 11th acr blackhorse regiment arrived in vung tau, south vietnam on 7 september 1966 and was commanded by col. Hal 3 was commissioned and decommissioned in vietnam and not known by many except by those that served and by the sailors, and ground forces who owe their lives to their courage and devotion. Here at army surplus world we carry a variety of novelty patches, including the door gunner tab patch. B6857 us army vietnam 25th infantry division door gunner. Vietnam helicopter insignia and artifacts 121st assault. The life expectancy of a door gunner might be a little less than the pilot and copilot, only because hes visible and the pilot and copilot are normally not that visible. Kate wilk, the times episode 1487 of the vietnam veteran news podcast will feature a story about a vietnam veteran who. Jim chancellor helmet from his combat role as a door gunner in vietnam is displayed thursday at iun. Headquarters may 1966 to december 1967, tan son nhut airbase, saigon december 1967 to december 1972 long binh december 1972 to march 1973, tan son nhut airbase, saigon rare crew chief patch measures 3.
Us army helicopter crew door gunner helicopter, us army us army, helicopter door gunner brass pocket insignia helicopter door gunner with no authorised insignia designated for any helicopter crews by the time of the vietnam war until late 60s the airmobile cavalry and usaf crews adpated a series of helicopter crew badges insignias. Milspec monkey shuttle door gunner morale patch swat black. Vietnam helicopter insignia and artifacts 128th assault. Vietnam door gunner for sale military collectibles for sale. Us helicopter door gunner wing sterling sliver air crew. I flew as a door gunner for 8 months and a few days. Army helicopter door gunner wings badge and 1st aviation. This is a term usually referring to those who like to brag about some cool job or experience they have had when it might not actually be true. Shuttle door gunner patch milspec monkey morale patch u.
John is a highly decorated combat veteran who flew over 250 combat missions as a crew chief and door gunner on a huey during the vietnam war, councilman maurice mo hill said. The aircraft proved cumbersome because troops had to exit past the gunners, leading to the development of the d model slick. This shuttle door gunner patch milspec monkey morale patch is for those who use the term space shuttle door gunner. Early aviation unitstransportation companies had no organic door gunners. The left side gunner was the crewchief, seated so he could see the engine instruments in the center of the panel. In vietnam the uh1 huey helicopter was flown primarily in the basic transport slick configuration and the gunship version. Vietnam helicopter helmet for sale war collectibles for sale. The vietnam helicopter crew members association is an international organization for crew members of all types of helicopters flown in vietnam. Door gunner patch at the best online prices at ebay. See more ideas about helicopter, vietnam war, vietnam. Not about generals, colonels, majors and grand battle plans. The concept of the door gunner originated during the vietnam war, when helicopters were first used in combat in large numbers. Vietnam war veteran jim chancellor, of lowell, motions with his hands as he recalls his time as a helicopter door gunner. These are draftees and enlisted 19 year old soldiers that fought for their country.
Image courtesy of bill mc donald, crew chiefgunner 128th ahc tomahawks phu loi. Army aviation and assault helicopter company patches, vietnam. Good ones could spot a suspicious patch of jungle from hundreds of feet in the air. Milspec monkey shuttle door gunner morale patch swat black 4. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. Glen mcpherson was drafted into the military for the vietnam war in august of 1967 and served until february of 1976. You will be very happy with this patch if you end up buying it. Vlach served with the 54th general command as a door gunner on an uh1 huey helicopter. Vietnam veteran dean batten and his helicopter in vietnam. The original personnel who served as early door gunners aboard ch21, uh34, and uh1 helicopters in vietnam, were enlisted men, with a designated and specially trained crew chief serving as both the aircrafts maintenance manager and a door gunner.
The helicopter becoming an instrument of war, the army had to have a means where it could maintain tactical and administrative control of all of its divisional and nondivisional helicopters and fixedwing aircraft in vietnam. Having those wings did pose a problem for me, but they are noted on my dd 214 as an award. The same was said about the french plantations throughout vietnam. Alternatively, the saying could also be interpreted as someones dream job. Inspired designs on tshirts, posters, stickers, home decor, and more by independent artists and designers from around the world. He signed up, but was never trained as a door gunner. The scene in full metal jacket with the crazy door gunner. In vietnam, these helicopter scouts saw combat up close. See more ideas about vietnam war, vietnam war photos and military. Door gunner 35th infantry rgt 118th aviation co, vietnam.
Any person that runs is a vc anyone that stands still is a well disciplined vc full metal jacket. Amazing vietnam helicopter door gunner group sign in to follow this. Vietnam door gunner shoulder patch vietnam shoulder. The photoreal printed unit patch tops the vietnam service medal ribbon with huey door gunner cutout letters on the front pocket area. I also received a vietnam service medal with a bronze star attachment quadruple. They were short of gunners on helicopters, because the life expectancy was somewhere between and.
I received an air medal with a cluster, i flew as a doorgunner over 125 aerial missions in hostile territory. Order your door gunner tab patch from army surplus world today. Us helicopter senior door gunner wing sterling sliver air crew. Through the eyes of a door gunner lu ann franklin times correspondent feb 19, 2016 feb 19, 2016. Thats we with a viking gunship i was a door gunner on in 1969. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. Hand made 121st patch made by momasan in soc trang. Operation hickory 715 october 1966 produced the first enemy casualties inflicted by the 3rd squadron and elements of the 919th engineer company. Amazing vietnam helicopter door gunner group page 4. Vlach recalls days as helicopter door gunner in vietnam news. Vietnam war patch, us thunder horse gunner 250 air cavalry. Aviation brigade vietnam theater made full color patch us army helicopter. From my earlier post you will see i was awarded my wings while in vietnam in 69.
What was the life expectancy of a door gunner in vietnam. Wear your milspec monkey patches in the field or just for fun. Order your door gunner tab patch from army surplus. Loaches, usually with a pilot and observer and sometimes a door gunner aboard, flew as little as 10 feet above the treetops at between about 45 and 60 mph, scouting for signs of the enemy. This vietnam door gunner shoulder patch usually ships in 15 business days. Door gunner in the vietnam war air cavalry rustys time machine. Inside rack 40, shelf athanks for shopping nchsinc. The door gunner position originated in vietnam was originally the task of. This patch is one of my favorites with the many i have a space shuttle door gunner. Vietnam us helicopter senior door gunner wing sterling.
Reproduction vietnam era us army patch 25th infantry division door gunner machine embroidered on cotton. Vietnam war this helicopter gunner is a walking arsenal as he makes for his. Its what happened to you, decorated vietnam war veteran jim. B5738 us army vietnam 101st airborne door gunner patch ir38e. The aircraft used were the uh1a and b models with a gunner in each door. The old 3digit mos system was still in transition pmos primary military occupational specialty.
Sewor embroidered patch diy accessory appliques with professional fabric glue, sew oniron on patche. If you were a crew chief, gunner, pilot, aero medic, flight engineer, pj, oscar, or other flight specialist, we would like to invite you to join vhcma. Details about door gunner 35th infantry rgt 118th aviation co, vietnam war patch. What was it like to be a door gunner on a huey gunship in. Spk art usmc marine corps gold red mos 0331 machine gunner patch hook fastener backing compatible emblem badge diy craft. Bell uh1 army marine huey door guns gunner m60 machine gun vietnam era wood helicopter mahogany wooden model. We dont share your credit card details with thirdparty sellers, and we dont sell your information to others. We in shotgun 1 didnt have a patch, nor did we ever hear of the 118th. Bill mc donald poses by his huey before air assualt 1967. Army helicopter door gunner wings badge and 1st aviation brigade door gunner patch set the 1st aviation brigade served in vietnam from may 1966 to march 1973. The hookandloop backing allows them to easily attach to hats, coats, or packs. Vlach recalls days as helicopter door gunner in vietnam.
Door gunner stickers featuring millions of original designs created by independent artists. Buy milspec monkey shuttle door gunner morale patch swat black. New 12 gi joe vietnam door gunner helicopter 16 dragon ultimate soldier dam. The seawolves of hal 3, an all volunteer squadron do not have a long history or tradition going back to korea or ww ii. The specialty a soldier was assigned to do enlisted mos enlisted mos levels 15. I also have af crew wings from my time as a triple 1,gunner 52s and crew on spooky c47 gunships. Please enjoy this vietnam door gunner shoulder patch. It is the same patch used by the united states armed forces and is of the highest quality. Door gunner 35th infantry rgt 118th aviation co vietnam war patch. This is a photo i took of tiger country choppers from the far side of the field.