Unusual Vietnam Hueys

The M-22 Guided Missle System, interesting to note the model it is mounted on

Ok, here's a couple of unusual birds that may not appaer so at first glance.  Who can spot the unique features that BOTH of these birds from the 121st AHC "Vikings" share?

Well either it is very obvious or no one wants to guess.  both of the birds below are B models with Charlie model tails.  Note, however, that the horizontal stabs are the narrower B model type since the rotor system is the same.  I just thought it was neat to finally see a couple of ships with this configuration since I had read about the mod several times, but never had seen an actual example.

" border="0" />

" border="0" />

roger that! 

are we going in circles here?  I'm not sure...

it's quite clear that A: 

there was no factory produced d/h model gunships or anything more than m-23 gunmounts issued from Bell? or aftermodified by Army??.  where did the m-23 mounts come from??

 B: there was a pleathura of custom modifications per unit/company/battal. to increase the firepower of slicks and other instances of non-gunship role dedicated D/H model hueys in SEA....meaning that there was operational D and H model Hueys performing multiple types of  ordinace delivery aside form transport roles.

???

hoo rah! hoo yah!!  

B

Sadly i cant find any other pics of her, The photo is from a collection taken by members of the 15th Field Artillery Regiment.

Using the info provided with the photo all i could come up with was that Its a helo from Alpha Company 1/9th Air Cav and the Crew Chief 1LT James Schlottman and gunner SP5 Larry D Wright, were both awarded the Distinguished Service Cross on the 2nd October 1966.

I think its common knowledge that the US Army didnt use the UH-1D/H's officially as Gunships, and untill now i thought that Australian units were the only units in Vietnam to mount external armaments on their slicks but this photo proves that atleast one American unit did actually convert their slick into a "gunship" So now if you wanted to place the M60 quads on the outside of your UH-1H/D model and put the US decals on it, you could do so knowing its still an accurate representation of a US helicopter that served in Vietnam!

Anyway heres the link to the page with the picture.

http://www.landscaper.net/people.htm

Andy

Andy, 

That's a great pic. It looks like they've cut a big square out of that 1/4 door to fit the ammo belts through and cut the Pintle post mount down. Do you have any more pics?

Nice find.

Rich

Andy,

  Great pic, man!  That is definitely a M16 gun system with twin 60C's and the door gunner has a "free" 60 on a bungee (notice the M23 system mount is present as well).  I have NEVER seen a ship like that.  Definitely not a firefly.  Do you have the address of the web site?  Good stuff!

     Ray

Just came across this picture, thinking it was a bushranger i clicked for better view it turns out its a slick from 1/9th Air Cav in 1966. 

I cant make it out to clearly but are those m60 flex guns mounted behind the pilot door???? If its something else i would love to know what ? if its guns then it kinda throws a spanner in the works in our huey thread about the US not using UH-1Ds and Hs as gunships in Vietnam!!!

Andy

grandadjohn wrote:

Believe that to be an electonic sensor dropped in an area and used to monitor activity

Can anyone identify this system?

Slim Pickens setup here:

http://www.68thahc.com/Photos/P_Matusz_050.jpg

another great site for Huey eye candy...http://www.68thahc.com/index.htm

and for my final entry...the mother lode...a link to all other links of what looks like every known RVN helicopter company with a website.....grab a beer and start surfing!!

http://www.heli-vets.net/links1.html

Yep, everyone figured out that it was a system to deliver flares.  Specifically, the XM19 system.  Here is the official TACOM description:

The XM19 was a Research and Development project for dispensing MK45 flares from the UH-1B/UH-1C/UH-1D/UH-1H "Huey". The XM19, consisting of 24-tubes mounted in the aircraft cargo compartment, was capable of launching up to 24 three-foot long 2,000,000 candle power MK45 flares. Sighting was visual.

  Continuing the tradition of posting more pics, here is a .50 cal UH-1B gunship.  Anyone know the details on this bird?  Interesting camo pattern as well!  Keep the pics coming.  Don't make me post all the wierd Huey stuff.  I know there are lots of other interesting and unusual birds that we haven't seen yet.

   Ray
 

Bounce: Great site by the way, thanks!  Lot's of older systems and unusual configurations.  Very cool! 

" border="0" />
 

Great link! Thanks Bounce

EDIT, scrap that,.. fantastic link! has some great pictures of prototype door mounted miniguns and original drawings and pictures of nighthawk birds, Thank you very much Bounce. They will help loads with my scratch building

Andy 

yeah, my guess was flares from seeing a few different configs...but the flares look the same..heheh...I've been browsing a bunch of Unit sites....I just saw one last night where some type of flare tripped inside the huey...they kicked it out and eventually put the fire out with extinguisher...I'll try to find it again...

EDIT...must be different flares...yes??..here it is:

http://25thaviation.org/diamondhead/id438.htm

Looking forward to the pics, Chuck.  Continuing with the unusual Huey configurations.  Who can ID this system? 

       " border="0" />
 

I'll root around through my pictures and see if I have one.  The MWO was not a mandatory catagory MWO as I recall. The entry in my "B's" historical records at NASA Ames did not contain much info and may have applied to certian aircraft by either "time," or by "serial number." Probably by "serial number" as tail booms were normally a "condition" item. 

I know what you mean about some not being moded, when I was at Ft. Riley there were a couple there that were not moded (circa spring 1972). (I guess the entrals of the goat were not favorable for them.. ;)

Regards,

Chuck

"To add to the confusion factor, sometime about 1969 the Army issued an MWO (Modification Work Order) to install "C model" tail booms and sync elevators on all "B models". In the case of the guns paint and or other beautification was done as time permitted because the guns flew a much heavier schedule than those of us in slicks. Many gunships flew a while with with just zinc chromated tail booms."

  Chuck,

    I know that there were B models that had the tail booms replaced with C model booms after a failure, but there were still plenty of B's flying around without the upgraded tailbooms at the war's end.  You don't happen to have a copy of the MWO do you?  I will make a point to look for it if I get to go to Ft. Rucker this summer.  Also, do you have any pics of gunships with only zinc chromated tail booms.  I would definitely like to see that!  By the way, no matter what modifications were made to them, B models can be distinguished from C's by the fuel filler cap which is on the right on B's and on the left on C's.  Of course, there are many other differences between the two, but that's the only one I don't thunk could be changed.

    Ray
 

Hmmmm, now that you mention it, they look like LAU-10 five-inch rocket warheads, which look to be modified with bands around their circumfrence allowing the mounting lugs for dropping.

More recently, I am wishing I still had a flightline to walk out to and check a stores panel....... sigh. Civilian life sucks.

--Andy

Bounce19712 wrote:

ok..I give up..what are they?   "liberated" air force ordinance and pylon?

I'm having fun so I won't give it away just yet.  Here is a hint though:  I believe that the entire system was only carried on Marine UH-1Es but the warhead was also carried on Marine Cobras (what do Marine Cobras carry that other Cobras don't (aside from bombs, sidewinders, sidearms, and Hellfires).  The system name is still on Marine Cobra NARCAD (armament select) panels - that was a clue for Andy.

A note on Beer Wagon, it is a "Falcon" gunship from the 3rd plt of my old out fit the 335th AHC "Cowboys" at Dong Tam. We shared the field with the "Emus" a joint Austrailian/American helicopter company. Their guns were the "Tipans" named after the snake. The Falcons took their emblem from the "Atlanta Falcons" football team, with the addition of red paint on the Falcon claw to simulate blood.

The white tirangle with the pentagon inside indicates the battallion, in this case the 214th out of Vinh Long. The pentagon was different colors for different companies. The 335th for example carried a blue pentagon.  Also of note, the drive shaft cover atop the tail boom, the 42 degree box cover and the verticle fin covers were painted black on our company aircraft. And the stinger cover (a flexable fiberglass piece which faired the end of the tail boom to the verticle fin) was usually painted to a platoon color. During my tour, yellow was first plt, white was 2nd plt, and the guns were black.

To add to the confusion factor, sometime about 1969 the Army issued an MWO (Modification Work Order) to install "C model" tail booms and sync elevators on all "B models". In the case of the guns paint and or other beautification was done as time permitted because the guns flew a much heavier schedule than those of us in slicks. Many gunships flew a while with with just zinc chromated tail booms.

regards,

Chuck 

ok..I give up..what are they?

"liberated" air force ordinance and pylon?

supercobra wrote:

Try this - what is the white thing and the four things next to it:

Something that makes four booms :)

Try this - what is the white thing and the four things next to it: