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It's the morning of April 30, 1975, and a lone CH-46 Sea Knight responding to a radio call lands on the rooftop the US Embassy in Saigon. At 7:53am, it lifts off with the remainder of the embassy's Marine detachment, and the pilot announces over the radio; "Flight command, this is 'Swift 2-2, the last eleven are out!" And so ends America's involvement in the Vietnam War.
The rooftop helipad is scratchbuilt as best as I could duplicate it from the US Embassy.
As always all comments and critiques are greatly appreciated.
Great job. I like it. Sounds like you may have been part of that.
Hello!
Sure is an important piece of history of the Vietnam War. Can you tell me more about the helipad? How did you research the markings, what do they mean?
Thanks for sharing and have a nice day
Paweł
All comments and critique welcomed. Thanks for your honest opinions!
www.vietnam.net.pl
lurch Great job. I like it. Sounds like you may have been part of that.
No Lurch, I was not there. All this info is due to extensive research. Glad you like it.
Pawel Hello! Sure is an important piece of history of the Vietnam War. Can you tell mem more about the helipad? How did you research the markings, what do they mean? Thanks for sharing and have a nice day Paweł
Sure is an important piece of history of the Vietnam War. Can you tell mem more about the helipad? How did you research the markings, what do they mean?
Hey Pawel, glad you like it. As for the helipad, it was scratchbuilt mostly with bass wood and square wood dowels. I was able to find a picture of American visitors to the abandoned embassy rooftop, years after the war, and saw the helo landing markings but it seems 'flickr' is not able to support that format for posting here. Here is a picture of the Marines on the roof from the previous day.
Very nice. It looks great and captures the event well.
Here is how it looked on that day; 30 Apr 75.
Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!
Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty
"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell
Thanks and yes I know, I have that picture. From the red smoke deployed, and the figures on the rooftop it looks like its coming in for a landing.
BTW those ARE the correct ID numbers on the rear rotor housing.
I'm posting 3 more pics of the other side of the chopper and helipad. I'm hoping that the photo of the embassy rooftop comes through. That picture was taken on Dec. 1994, 19 1/2yrs. after the war ended.
Pawel Hello! Sure is an important piece of history of the Vietnam War. Can you tell me more about the helipad? How did you research the markings, what do they mean? Thanks for sharing and have a nice day Paweł
Hey Pawel, I found someone who could change the picture mode to jpeg. It's the only info I have on the markings on the helipad.
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