Photographs of the CH-47 Chinook helicopter

in the Republic of Vietnam

 

 

         
A Boeing-Vertol CH-47 Chinook arrives on board the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Hancock (CVA-19) during "Operation Frequent Wind", the evacuation of South Vietnam, in April 1975. The CH-47 was most probably from the Vietnam Air Force, although it wears the tail code

             A Boeing-Vertol CH-47 Chinook arrives on board the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Hancock (CVA-19) during "Operation Frequent Wind", the evacuation of South Vietnam, in April 1975. The CH-47 was most probably from the Vietnam Air Force, although it wears the tail code "YH" of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463 (HMH-463), which was based on the Hancock for "Operation Frequent Wind". The Marines did not operate the Chinook. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image.

 

 

         
As Saigon fell, Ba Nguyen, a Vietnamese pilot, gathered his family and his comrades in his helicopter and flew away from the city. The only direction to go was out to sea. He was running out of fuel when he spotted a solitary ship below. It was the USS KIRK. Once the passengers were out of the big Chinook, the co-pilot jumped to the deck. But now the pilot was running out of fuel and surrounded by flat, blue ocean. He flew about 60 yards from the USS KIRK. The sailors aboard could see the pilot in the cockpit taking off his clothes as he hovered the aircraft. They watched as he leaned the helicopter to the left and jumped out the right-hand side into the water. He was rescued from the sea and survived.

             As Saigon fell, Ba Nguyen, a Vietnamese pilot, gathered his family and his comrades in his helicopter and flew away from the city. The only direction to go was out to sea. He was running out of fuel when he spotted a solitary ship below. It was the USS KIRK. Once the passengers were out of the big Chinook, the co-pilot jumped to the deck. But now the pilot was running out of fuel and surrounded by flat, blue ocean. He flew about 60 yards from the USS KIRK. The sailors aboard could see the pilot in the cockpit taking off his clothes as he hovered the aircraft. They watched as he leaned the helicopter to the left and jumped out the right-hand side into the water. He was rescued from the sea and survived.

 

 

          The CH-47 - 40 years old and still circling the world.

         

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