AIRMMCPORET
Plan “A” Retired
Your dad had a hell of a career.🇺🇸⚓️👍
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Daughter seeks deciphering re: 96 year old USMC Pilot
- Thread starter gobatp
- Start date
gobatp
Well-Known Member
I'm starting to realize that, Yes he did. I had a hell of a good time this evening showing him this site and the pictures I had uploaded and the comments they received. I also showed him the attached and he said it was okay to post it here; the posting of the Vietnam CH-53 accident. He said he and his crew walked to a site that was US military (please excuse my lack of military terminology) and that they were greeted by those on duty with the comment - "Lucky you guys made it up here - you just walked through a mine field!" Dad said they spent the night there and the next day a crew came to repair the failed system so they then flew the CH-53 back to the base. The dates are not consistent so that has me puzzled but these are one in the same incident as far as I can tell.
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Wow. Looking through that message traffic, I was struck by the fact that he had over 4,300 total flight hours. A little over 180 hrs in the CH-53A overall, and a little over 140 hrs in the last 90 days.
Also, the weather...300 ft ceiling and 1 mile visibility with heavy rain. And they absorbed 30 rounds of small arms fire.
Thanks for posting, and god bless your pops!
Also, the weather...300 ft ceiling and 1 mile visibility with heavy rain. And they absorbed 30 rounds of small arms fire.
Thanks for posting, and god bless your pops!
I think you can separate those two docs. One is a report on a specific aircraft incident. The other is an award write up of his complete tour in Vietnam (Bronze Star w/ Combat Distinguishing Device)
CH-53A crash. Could be Camp Pendleton or highlands of Vietnam. I can’t see a number to research.
+1 on a model, Looks like a rollover mishap. I'm guessing this is stateside - given how clean the fuselage is and absense of weapon mounts, wear and tear of SEA, etc. This looks like a mishap investigation photo.
Honestly, as a former CH-53E driver, I'm surprised by the lack of fluids coating the fuselage...Hopefully everyone made it out safely.
hlg6016
A/C Wings Here
My guess would be check flight on a hangar queen? That girl does not even have a soot trail on her yet.
Sikorsky built ~150 A models in late 1960's - these were rolling off the line at a pretty healthy clip - like 10 per month. I doubt there were hangar queens. And it was the first aircraft of its kind design wise in Marine Corps service - I suspect a lot of tough lessons were learned with the tricycle gear and rear ramp / long tail. This was before NATOPS and a standardized FRS syllabus. Squadrons often converted and "made it up along the way".
Marines and NAVAIR had big plans for the CH-53A that never played out - e.g. IMC formation station keeping, etc. and the Air Force saw the potential. Some good reading here in the beginning that covers the early Marine CH-53A development.
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gobatp
Well-Known Member
This is awesome! Thanks so very much. I'll see dad later today and look forward to hearing his thoughts on your observations and jokes - will share. I look forward to reading - On a Steel Horse. Thanks for sharing this - I have a son that will really enjoy reading this too.
Hanger Queens huh? 😏
Hanger Queens huh? 😏
The hangar queen never wants to fly...
If you feel it's appropriate, please share this camouflage paint job of a CH-53 during the Desert Storm era.
