Vietnam Nose Art

Hey that was my ship I was flying gunner that day because Ward out ranked me. As far as I Know that was the last day it flew. I heard theycouldn't get it out and blew it then had to go back and get what was left of the smoke system it was the Spartans SMOKE. ItBrings back lots of memories I was in Sigon for a week after that then evacted to Japan for another week them back to the WORLD Fort Ordfpr a couple of months. We came out of the LZ it was hot as hell we pulled torque to see if we had enough power and if it would bleed off every thing checked out. the LZ was cut for us to land in I rember it was about 30 or 40 feet deep. After we came up thru the trees we gained forward airspeed and started to climb and then a big bang then silence. Kiwi was busy and I hit the mike on the intercom and he told me to get off he was tring to get out a MAYDAY. We ended up about a click away from the LZ it took the RVNs about 30 or 40 minetes to get to us where could I get these pictures you refered to. WO1 Dansecs was new I don't remember that much abouthim but I flew a lot with Kiwi and pulled A lot of flight line time with Ward I haven't heard from or talked to any of them sience. thanks for posting

Here is my contribution to this thread. BUC-3 #66-00623 at the concrete wash pad Bikini Beach circa 1969. Currently restoring this one to static.

Just when did Army aviation go to an all OD nose from the standard two color black drab and OD and whether this was an incountry decision based on unit SOP or a DOA mandate. Thanks.

Don't quote me on this, but I think the all green nose was implemented soemtime between 72 and 73. I have no idea whose idea it was, but I'll try to find out.  Chances are it was DOA mandated as stateside birds began sporting all green noses at the same time or slightly before it was commonly seen in country.  Personally I like the black antiglare nose myself.  That was a very good question, thanks.

    Ray
 

Guys,

Sorry I've "ignored" this post previously, had good intentions of digging out some pic's of our 174th birds but have been busy with house remodeling then the hard drive crashed on the home computer.  Hope to get back "online" and post some nose art and Shark "side panel" art.

In regard to the all OD noses, it appears that happened on the 1968 model Hueys when they were painted in the almost flat "brown" OD.  There just wasn't a glare as on the previous higher gloss paint jobs.  I crewed 69-16650 and it was all OD.  There are pictures of the previous Maint. Bird, Witch Doctor 68-16340 and it had an all OD nose but sported the nose compartment door with Witch Doctor art of 67-17410 and it had a black anti-glare panel.  I'll try and produce those pictures when I get back home. 

I just had a couple Joe Kline prints customized to Witch Doctor 650 and Shark 242 "Easy Rider".  I had him put both types of Witch Doctor nose art as "postage stamp" art in the left corner as well as the side panel art not visible in the Shark print as "postage stamp" art also.  They look great hanging under the tips of a set of Huey tail rotor blades!  I got my son's old bedroom for my "stuff" after putting down 1300 sq. ft. of wood flooring!    

Looks like a slight wrinkle in my 1968 being the year of the all OD nose on Hueys.  I found a pictue of 67-17543 that has an all OD nose!  Dolphin "slick" of the 174th AHC  Notice flak jackets laying in chin bubbles. 

Below is 67-17410 with the original Witch Doctor Art with black ani-glare panel

Bleow is 68-16340 with "410's" nose cover.  Notice OD nose.  This bird was shot down in Laos http://www.174ahc.org/mike-3.htm

Bleow is 69-16650 with second Witch Doctor art.  Notice OD nose.

 

 

Mel,

  There is a reason I said "don't quote me" in that post of mine. thanks for setting me straight on this one.  After doing a little digging, I have found that many if not most units did adopt the OD nose during the 68-69 timeframe, but a few did not.  Here are some examples of what I found for several different units where I knew the approximate date of the photos.  

First, 101st AB. These pictures were all taken between 69-70:

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Looks like the one above just got a new tailboom and the OD is definitely different from the rest of the bird. 

This one is from 1971

So as you can see, even in 69, some had OD noses and some did not.

 

Here's one from the 118th in 69, still has a black nose:

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Here's a 155th bird from 70 showing an all OD nose:

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Here's some 162nd birds.  First pic is 68-69 all others are 70 or 72:

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As you can see the 155th appears to have adopted  OD noses between 68 and 69 just as Mel said.

The 170th AHC appears to have had both black and OD noses in the unit at the same time.  The first pic is supposedly about OCT 69 (black nose) the other July 69 (OD nose) and finally a bird from NOV 69 (another OD nose):

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Here's the 176th Muskets and they had black noses at least into 71 when these pics were taken:

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 Two pics from the 189th from 1969 show both OD and black noses:

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Based on the above photos, I'd say most units were shifting to the oD noeses by 69, but you really need to know the individual unit and aircraft you are interested in to know for sure.  Definitely interesting.  What do you think. Mel?

   Ray
 

 

 

 

 

 

Ray,

My "theory" is that they came from Bell with the black anti-glare panel up until a certain time frame and then after that some Units may have painted the OD nose with black.  Some crew chiefs actually waxed their birds and if you notice a lot of black noses are almost gloss.  Not much of an anti-glare property if it's glossy.  Good assorment of pictures which showed a few chin bubble, window and green house replacements evident by the lack of paint or a different shade or color.  The one with the different color tail boom was just the zinc green chromate they didn't paint and they just installed the old tail rotor drive shaft covers and sync elevators.  We had one just like it!  Paint jobs were a low priority when you needed birds flying.

Mel,

  I kinda thought that was a zinc chromate tail boom, but didn't want to embarass myself by saying so.  Thanks for clearing that up.  I totally agree based on conversations with my dad and other Vietnam veterans that you just used what was expedient or, in some cases, changed things to your liking.  Thanks for the input and the photos.  Always good to see more Sharks and Dolphins!

     Ray

I thought these photos might be of some interest to anybody building the Dragon's 1/35 Loach. OH-6A 17270 belonged to the E troop 1st squadron 9th cavalry. Dragon provides decals for this bird, but did a pretty inaccurate job on the nose art. These images were taken in fall/winter 1970 at Lai Khe, Vietnam:

 

 Note that the "star" tactical designator of the Echo troop had not yet been painted on the doghouse, as opposed to the last image.

 

 

The little "reaper" undergoing engine maintenance with the Echo troop star designator applied.

 

Enjoy the pics,

 

Marko

Marko,

  Great pics!  Thanks for those.

    Ray

I CREWED TOP TIGER TAIL 67-68

 

BUMP!

I thought I would share a little "replica" nose art of some 174th AHC birds I have done for our Reunions.  I did the Dolphin art back in 2003 and took a little artistic license and left off the "When you are out of Schlitz you are out of Beer!" and painted in a Bud Light can and painted in 174th AHC across the top.  I plan on redoing this one and paint on the slogan and Schlitz can for next year. 

 

The Witch Doctor I just finished last week and I'm off on the colors a bit but was trying to get it done for our Reunion next week.

 

The Ace of Spades was side panel art on two gunships the first being lost in Laos in 1971.

 

My "collection" with flanking Joe Kline customized prints of my Witch Doctor "650" and Shark Easy Rider "242"

So this is what I've been up to besides work and not building models!

I'm sure the guys attending the Reunion next week in Ft. Walton Beach will enjoy the replica art!    Anyone in the AO is welcome to come by the Beach Front Best Western and say "Hi!" the weekend of May 1,2,& 3.

No comments?  I can take a hint!  I'm outta here!

Whoa there Mel!  I just missed this post and when you bumped it, I didn't get a e-mail notification because it was an edit.  That is one fine looking living room wall you got there!  How'd the reunion go? Did Mr. Brackenhoff happen to make it?

   Ray

The 176th AHC was my Brothers unit in Vietnam. He served there from 1969-1970. That units website is practically a gold mine for anyone wanting to build a Vietnam War Huey.

Absolutely incredible! Other than the fact that you have two avionics compartment covers and I cant find one, envy, you've done a great job!!! That Joe Kile shark print absolutely kicks the proverbial rear end! I'd love to have that on my wall. As a matter of fact, could you take a picture of that Americal frame with the caricature sharkmouth on it? Im a graphic artist with a background in comics and caricatures...and wouldnt you know I work in Information Technology.

You just need a real gunship Mel. Seriously. 

I never even realized Vietnam era choppers carried nose art, this thread has been informational

Funny nose art story for me.  Too lazy to retype right now so here is a link to the ARC forum where I posted originally.  It is in regards to the Special Nose Art Edition 1/35 Academy UH-1C.  I'm still getting a huge kick out of it.  Also explains my username!

 

http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=186553

Guys, this topic has been a huge help to me and a good read. I'm working on finding pictures for my Vietnam War website and I'm working on the 12th Aviation Group. Most units have one good website but some unit's sites have aged and lead to dead links. I'm a re-enactor so dead links often mean dead history for that unit. Anyways thanks for all your posts and thank you to those that posted and those that served their country in combat.

 If anyone has them handy I still have a few holes in my work. I'm desperate for pictures fromthe 235th Aerial Weapons Company, Co A/82d Avn Bn "Wolfpack" , 17th Avn Co (Post CV-2 Caribou given to the USAF and got Hueys), anymore 195th AHC and 361st AHC (Escort). Slightly off topic but I need pictures of 244th Avn Co (Surv)(OV-1 Mohawks) "Delta Hawks" and 271st Avn Co ASHC "Bartender" and "Innskeepers" Chinooks. Believe it or not I have 19 pages just of links done and over 40 hours worth of work into this big hunt. If anyone wants a list of all the links leading to photo galleries please let me know or isthere a place to post them here?Thanks for any help :)

JollyRoger201. You're right in that lots of unit pages no longer exist. There are newer ones popping up now thankfully. I've got very few images from the 235th AWC. They are sorely lacking in representation.

Here's something I threw together the other night in Photoshop when I went through my 174th AHC gallery. Shark mouth nose art aside the 174th had some great presence with quarter panel, nose, tail and vertical fin markings.

And here's some I worked on today when editing footage and converting it to 3D film format.

335th Camo slicks 1966

Marko,

These are for you.