FlightLine: The Army Pilots of Vietnam

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  • čas přidán 30. 01. 2017
  • A look at the young men who served as pilots in American's first helicopter war. Narrated by Harrison Ford. This was originally broadcast on PBS in 1999.

Komentáře • 124

  • @whit101
    @whit101 Před 6 lety +39

    Thanks for telling our story. I graduated Class 67-1. I was 19. Served 2 tours in Vietnam, a place of beauty and sorrow.

    • @joegamble328
      @joegamble328 Před 6 lety +4

      Robert Whitfield respect sir

    • @Tucsonglass
      @Tucsonglass Před 5 lety +3

      Just came across this and also appreciated the telling of "our story". Paul Hart, 66-23/67-1, C/1/9, 1st Cav. 67/68

    • @marquissongs7101
      @marquissongs7101 Před 5 lety

      WELCOME TO AMERICA AGAIN (Snapshots of Vietnam) czcams.com/video/-HpTmH-nkhY/video.html

    • @bunnykiller65
      @bunnykiller65 Před 2 lety

      Here's a co-inky-dink for ya'. My name is also Robert Whitfield and I was in class 89-1. I flew Hueys, Cobras, Apaches, and Longbows. Served 3 tours in Iraq. How's it going, Bob?

  • @mohawkdriver2504
    @mohawkdriver2504 Před rokem +4

    I am a former army fixed wing aviator who flew RU21s and OV1s during thirty months in country, mostly monitoring traffic on the trail. Had many close calls related to ground fire, anti aircraft fire, SA2 and SA7 missiles but scraped by unscathed.

  • @brandond5209
    @brandond5209 Před 5 lety +11

    My Dad was in the 114th Army Aviation Company in Vinh Long 68-69. He told me some amazing stories. I have so much respect and admiration for these brave men.My father passed last Feb and I miss him and his stories very much. I wish I had come across this video before he passed as he would have loved to see it. God Bless.

    • @peterbilt37042
      @peterbilt37042 Před 5 lety +2

      My dad went to Vietnam the first time around Dec 68. He was in the 1st Cav. He passed away in 2017. The war never left him.

    • @rdwelch2
      @rdwelch2 Před 2 lety +1

      I was assigned to D Company, 46th Engr BN in 70-71. Was in Phu Loi the last half of the tour. Phu Loi is just a skip, hop, and jump to Vinh Long. I patched road from Phu Loi to Vinh Long. Plus, was working in Lai Khe (Northwest of Phu Loi) and got my 1st ride on a Helicopter on a flight Lai Khe to Phu Loi with and a Huey from the 118th. Small world!

    • @ANZACS100
      @ANZACS100 Před 2 lety

      FUCK AMERICA , FUCK NATO !

  • @dalehardisty216
    @dalehardisty216 Před rokem +1

    I am honored to say that I flew with Douglas Womack years after Vietnam was over. One of the best pilots I ever flew with I was a crew chief,flew and served with many Vietnam Veterans . I learned so very much from all of this brave men I had the Honor to serve with.

  • @livingthedream0527
    @livingthedream0527 Před 7 lety +3

    THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR UPLOADING BEEN TRYING TO FIND THIS FOR AGES. Without looking like a 110% nutcase. Thank you.

  • @Delatta1961
    @Delatta1961 Před rokem +1

    I was 19 in IERW, class 81-45 Royal Blue Flight, and all our TAC Officers were Vietnam Veterans. I didn’t realize what they went through until much later in my 21 year career. Students didn’t really make small talk with them but I do remember the TACs mention Lam Son 719, and the losses they experienced. I wish I could go back and and just listen closer. I’m grateful for them all

  • @thelandofmisteroz
    @thelandofmisteroz Před 9 měsíci

    Dad flew the Loach with 53th Field Artillery Aviation Group. No cobras or AC guns. Just a radio. Man. Thank you guys for everything!

  • @burtthebeast4239
    @burtthebeast4239 Před 3 lety +4

    I just can't get enough of these stories.. The BRAVERY of these men,,,,,, chokes me up. Welcome Home God bless you ALL.......

  • @TootUncommon
    @TootUncommon Před 5 lety +1

    Thank you. This is the most accurate story of us (Cobra and Slick 1971) I have ever seen. This is what I wish I could tell people about but you told them. Thanks.

  • @mickdel
    @mickdel Před 4 lety

    excellent. thanks for uploading!

  • @jimcaufman2328
    @jimcaufman2328 Před rokem +1

    One day while in Vietnam I heard the Commanding General of the 1st Cav tell a congressman that uncommon valor was a daily trait of every helicopter pilot in his division. "I would need at least a thousand clerk typist to process valor awards just for my pilots"

  • @joet1109
    @joet1109 Před 6 lety +1

    Great job! Great video thanks!

  • @sutannguyen8599
    @sutannguyen8599 Před 11 měsíci +1

    Thanks for Helicopters Pilot 🚁 toke me from Tam Ky to Bệnh Viện Duy Tân Đà Nẵng
    When i got Wounded on April 1971..

  • @edwardchristian7120
    @edwardchristian7120 Před 6 lety +4

    I had the joy and honor to work with Mr. Jon Beckenhauer off and on over a 15 year period. Our veterans are amongst the best and most honorable men I have ever had the pleasure to know.

    • @ANZACS100
      @ANZACS100 Před 2 lety

      FUCK AMERICA , FUCK NATO !

  • @dukecraig2402
    @dukecraig2402 Před 5 lety +5

    The United States Army produces the finest rotary wing aircraft pilots in the world, in Vietnam they wrote the book on helicopter warfare just like the Germans had writtten the book on mobile mechanized warfare 25 years before, I read the book Chickenhawk in 1984 when I was in the Army and always knew afterwards that if I ever had to rely on an Army helicopter I wouldn't be let down, hats off to Robert Mason and all those who have flown after him.

  • @mhknapp1
    @mhknapp1 Před 6 lety +5

    Thanks fir the video - brings back many memories. Mike (161st Pelicans/Scorpions) 243rd (Freight Trains)

  • @bazzinbulgaria4826
    @bazzinbulgaria4826 Před 7 lety +15

    Is the Exec Producer, Robert Mason, the person I think it is? I am a Vietnam Vet and have nothing but admiration for these men.
    I thank them all for their service.

  • @useruser400
    @useruser400 Před 23 dny

    Serpent: Thank you for your ‘Nam chopper service that you can’t discuss, but did anyway. You are, and always will be, my biggest hero.
    If our nation REALLY knew the dedication and guts it took to do your mission, they would start passing out MOH’s to all of you.
    Thank you even more for coming home and being a brick in Savannah. (If you know, you know.)
    And most of all, thank you for being one of the finest humans I have ever met and one of my best friends.

  • @Sturminfantrist
    @Sturminfantrist Před 5 lety +3

    Dont forget that the Army had Planes during the Vietnam war , JOV-1/ OV-1 Mohawk and CV-2 Caribou`s, the Mohawks played a important role in the first time of the Airmobile Concept/Div. in Vietnam

    • @BobJones-dq9mx
      @BobJones-dq9mx Před 2 lety +1

      I flew the Army Bird-dog 300 hours over Laos(1970) and on my second tour the YO-3 (400 hours) over North Vietnam,

  • @waynegallant4806
    @waynegallant4806 Před 10 měsíci

    I flew 13 months in Vietnam as a Door Gunner, Crew Chief, and Flight Engineer on CH-47A's 1967-68. Forced down on 23 Oct 1967 rescued by A Troop !/9 Cav before we were policed up by the NVA. Another close call in the Battle of Dak To. I look back and realize how fortunate we were. The real heroes were the LOH OH-6 pilots and Crew Chiefs. They had real balls low level drawing fire for gunships waiting above.

  • @subcreecha
    @subcreecha Před 6 lety +1

    I worked with a guy name Bernie that’s was a crew chief dust off out of chu li dude was shot 3 times and saved a bunch of marines straight up super hero you can’t say enough about these men and women ! Thank you 🙏 so so much! Bernie you guys came back too a bunch of crap in the states you did not deserve or any of the troops you’re never forgotten and always loved !!!

  • @jeffkerr4249
    @jeffkerr4249 Před 5 lety +1

    THANK YOU !

  • @user-qy9tf2im7f
    @user-qy9tf2im7f Před rokem

    The amazing thing was the amount of Flights & Sorties Vietnam Era Pilots flew is mindboggling! My hat is off to all of them. I Thank Them for Their Service, Sacrifice & Bravery!

  • @gerardguitarist
    @gerardguitarist Před 5 lety +16

    What those guys had to go through dealing with the anticipation of flying into a hot LZ is mind numbing. The anxiety and fear mixed with the overwhelming desire to get there to assist the infantry boys was the worst part of it all I gather. They all went to hell so my generation didn't have to. I have the highest respect and gratitude to each and every one of them who sacrificed so much in the Wars of this world.

  • @davidmurphy8364
    @davidmurphy8364 Před 5 lety +7

    Really would have loved to here from the man himself Bob Mason.

  • @waynewood1991
    @waynewood1991 Před 2 lety

    Thank you I graduated 67-25. 68-3 flew with the. 11th Cav 68-69 I too was 19

  • @4Him4u2
    @4Him4u2 Před 5 lety +1

    What a great project! All honor and gratitude to these men! Thank you for your service to our country and the people of South East Asia. Welcome home!!!

    • @ANZACS100
      @ANZACS100 Před 2 lety

      FUCK AMERICA , FUCK NATO !

    • @ANZACS100
      @ANZACS100 Před 2 lety

      the people of South East Asia HATE YOU !

  • @snowman374th
    @snowman374th Před 6 lety +4

    They never really made a good Movie about The Pilots of Vietnam's AirCav. They have featured many Huey's in movies but nothing to express what these pilots went through. Huey's will never be forgotten. ~S~ Salute to all of these brave men.

    • @adznz11
      @adznz11 Před 5 lety +1

      That's right. Id love to see a movie from the perspective of the army aviators but for people without a passion for aviation it may be boring. I think it would be a total winner.

    • @snowman374th
      @snowman374th Před rokem

      @@adznz11
      Dang, I never got this notification. CZcams sure become a sht hole. If they don't like you, they trash your channel. I just happened to click around and watched again. I sure agree with you totally. It would be fascinating to watch. We just need the right people to get involved.
      Hope you're doing well. Rough time we're in. Joe the YOYO, has America in knots.

  • @gman2013
    @gman2013 Před 5 lety +1

    Excellent video! Thank you veterans!

  • @peterbilt37042
    @peterbilt37042 Před 5 lety +2

    My dad, CW2 Ronald Halfhill graduated Primary at Ft Wolters class 68-25 1968.

    • @peterbilt37042
      @peterbilt37042 Před 4 lety

      @@johngraysneck9613 Thank you. Dad passed away Jan 17th 2017. I always felt a part of him never left Vietnam. He was my hero.

    • @peterbilt37042
      @peterbilt37042 Před 4 lety

      @@johngraysneck9613 I just pulled out your class photo. There you are on the second row.

  • @gulayguthre9939
    @gulayguthre9939 Před rokem +1

    Outstanding those guys are my heroes forever

  • @f4tweet
    @f4tweet Před 2 lety +3

    My buddy was an Army slick pilot.
    RIP Sky Pilot.

  • @humbleone6405
    @humbleone6405 Před 5 lety

    Thanks

  • @isukaman4092
    @isukaman4092 Před 7 lety +8

    Great men.

  • @alansmyth2204
    @alansmyth2204 Před 5 lety +1

    great stories

  • @joegamble328
    @joegamble328 Před 6 lety +5

    Respect gentlemen. True warriors!

    • @ANZACS100
      @ANZACS100 Před 2 lety

      FUCK AMERICA , FUCK NATO !

  • @PeitouBob
    @PeitouBob Před 6 lety +2

    Amen.

  • @HERMACIDE77
    @HERMACIDE77 Před 4 měsíci

    Anybody else realize that's Harrison Ford as narrarator?

  • @davidfraley746
    @davidfraley746 Před 5 měsíci

    Lost a high school classmate who was a helicopter pilot CWO John Traver

  • @chrismurray8601
    @chrismurray8601 Před rokem

    The best job I have ever had was being a crew chief on a CH 46 in combat.
    Our job was to support our comrades on the ground.
    Semper fi to all services

  • @jamesallen3799
    @jamesallen3799 Před 3 lety +1

    That Jerry Crews is as good as they come. He is a hero in my eyes.

  • @somethingelse4878
    @somethingelse4878 Před 3 lety

    I'd recommend the free PC tool Avidemux as if cut on a key frame it doesn't need to recode

  • @horsepower523
    @horsepower523 Před 2 lety +2

    Despite all the dangers I think I would rather have been a helicopter pilot than a foot soldier during the Vietnam war. No matter how dangerous it was it still beats hiking through the dense snake infested jungles with 40°C heat and extreme humidity, not to mention the damn booby traps.

  • @MTGallagher
    @MTGallagher Před rokem

    Thank you William Reeder.

  • @nobodyspecial7185
    @nobodyspecial7185 Před 8 měsíci

    I just realized who was the executive producer the chickenhawk himself dang

  • @donatchinson8438
    @donatchinson8438 Před 6 lety +1

    God Bless you Sky Pilots.

  • @sexualrenegade
    @sexualrenegade Před rokem

    Heroic individuals recounting their experiences in a documentary narrated ironically by someone who beat the draft.

  • @indy500tabasco8
    @indy500tabasco8 Před rokem +1

    Good people😊

  • @sicknote1558
    @sicknote1558 Před 2 lety

    RESPECT

  • @tonysigsby870
    @tonysigsby870 Před 2 lety

    Who he doesn't mention at the beginning is there are two Gunners the crew chief on the left and a gunner on the right and they sit in front of a M60 machine gun and they are who protects that side of the helicopter it's it's unusual that they do not know it's not even mentioned ask the pilots

  • @lbbradley55
    @lbbradley55 Před 5 lety

    If any one knew My Uncle Sgt Coley Leon Andrews Killed Second tour. 12/19/66 Crew Chief Casper Aviation Platoon 173rd ABN. Sky Soldiers. Completed first Tour. Volunteer for 2nd. I would Love to Hear From Anyone who may have known or know anything about this or this Unit or where they were Fighting. Anything.
    Larry

  • @falconmoose5435
    @falconmoose5435 Před 2 lety +1

    You never burnt sewage, pilot. Not "We".

  • @garybulwinkle82
    @garybulwinkle82 Před 5 lety +1

    I can barely hear the audio; literally a whisper at max volume! Increase recorded levels, please!

    • @thetreblerebel
      @thetreblerebel Před 4 lety

      It must be your setup, I'm running bluetooth headphones at 75% volume fine

  • @luvcaty332
    @luvcaty332 Před 4 lety

    Begins at 0.44sec.

  • @ernstvonrichthofen
    @ernstvonrichthofen Před 5 lety

    In with unit did you serve in Vietnam mr. ford. -

  • @antoniopossan7359
    @antoniopossan7359 Před 2 lety +4

    Thanks for all of those who fought communism everywhere, thank all the vets and god bless america. From Brazil 🇺🇸🇧🇷

  • @VikingTeddy
    @VikingTeddy Před 6 lety +3

    Ford does not look happy to be there.

  • @ComfortsSpecter
    @ComfortsSpecter Před rokem

    2:00 Just casual Harrison Ford out’ve nowhere

  • @billjones253
    @billjones253 Před 4 lety +1

    All the respect in the world for the Pilots. Just remember other than the Cobra all other ships, Guns, Slicks and Dust off had two guys in the back, and probably 20-30 guys in maintenance that kept the helicopters flying. Also the video did not work for me.

  • @kgw100
    @kgw100 Před 3 lety +1

    Joined the army 40 years too late

  • @hamishford5486
    @hamishford5486 Před 3 lety +1

    JEEZE Harrson, its turbine and not turbin

  • @davidstaudohar6733
    @davidstaudohar6733 Před 2 lety

    As An Active member of Lancer tactical shotgun Pilot , I crapped my pants on every Flight OPPS ♦️♦️♦️‼️

  • @Nimbasa180
    @Nimbasa180 Před 3 lety

    Holy shit, is that Harrison fucking ford? Why tf haven't I seen this before? I'll I do is watch Vietnam documentaries lol

  • @DJSbros
    @DJSbros Před 6 lety +1

    Holy fuck i didn't expect Indiana Jones narrated this shit XD I died.

  • @tonysigsby870
    @tonysigsby870 Před 2 lety

    Yeah I was 19 r-warren sworn officers were 1920

  • @Ricky-ribs70
    @Ricky-ribs70 Před 7 měsíci +1

    Executive producer Robert Mason do your self a favour and read chicken hawk

  • @ThePponu
    @ThePponu Před 7 lety +6

    Watching this video makes me swell with pride to know these men, fellow Americans, are part of the reason we are still a free people. If not for them and so many others like them, America wouldnt be what it is today. And it all started with the American Revolution.
    Freedom is truly not free.
    Only shame is, this war was a run by politicians. And their hands will forever be awash with the blood of almost 60,000 young men.
    How dare the bastards get by with such criminal acts. 60,000

  • @paulconnors2078
    @paulconnors2078 Před 2 lety

    WRONG HARRISON! The French Army and Air Force used helos in combat during the Algerian War 1954-62. Many of their tactics were adopted by the US Army in Vietnam.

  • @billshannon6899
    @billshannon6899 Před 3 lety

    Anybody know batman fixit

  • @somethingelse4878
    @somethingelse4878 Před 3 lety

    2:54 then the Americans formated it and later a new operating system was installed

  • @scotthamilton3314
    @scotthamilton3314 Před 3 lety +1

    I'm guessing medivac pilots eventually started doing their jobs later in the war....my father said they wouldn't fly into hot lzs early in the war....that slick pilots had to do their jobs as well as their own

    • @azonicrider32
      @azonicrider32 Před 2 lety +1

      It's one thing flying into a hot LZ with 2 gunners on each side and something entirely different to fly into a hot LZ with a naked chopper.

  • @DJSbros
    @DJSbros Před 6 lety +2

    Helicopters werent used in WW2...

    • @dukecraig2402
      @dukecraig2402 Před 5 lety +2

      @Sir Wojak IV
      The US Army first used helicopters in the South Pacific towards the end of WW2 including mounting the first helicopter combat rescue operation in history during April of 1944 when a US Army R-4 helicoptor pilot rescued an Army pilot and 3 British soldiers that were on his plane after they had been shot down in Burma.

    • @johnedwards5516
      @johnedwards5516 Před 4 lety

      DJSbros exactly, they used them in WWI but some jackass forgot to order them in time for WWII, so signed an addendum in the Geneva convention whereby everyone agreed not to use Helicopters in WWII, so they saved them for Vietnam

    • @jimcaufman2328
      @jimcaufman2328 Před rokem

      I am a member of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association and we have two honorary members. The Army pilot who made the first medevac during WW-2 in Burma and a Soviet helicopter pilot who Flew missions dropping lead on the Chernobyl Nuclear Reactor as it was melting down to try to prevent an explosion knowing full well he would die from radiation poisoning.

  • @somethingelse4878
    @somethingelse4878 Před 3 lety +1

    I'm reading the book chicken hawk and my god those Sargent's were bastards and the civilian flight instructors were not much better
    Being made a leader of a small group men and taking them to the mess seems easy right, wrong, not when you have NCOs blocking the route while shouting at you.
    This video seems to be taken word for word from that book
    The things I love from the US...
    M1 garand, the jeep, p51 and the Huey

    • @nickmiller9450
      @nickmiller9450 Před 2 lety

      Actually our civilian primary and military advanced flight training instructors were the best. In fact my civilian flight instructor saved my life not only when learning to hover but by teaching high speed low level quick stops which served me well when as a new solo student pilot I was faced with a fast moving thunderstorm and elected to land off field rather than get lost somewhere over Texas. In the landing toward the storm cell, suddenly of course the wind reversed into a tail wind and I was suddenly eye level with a fence with the skids in the tall grass doing about 50 knots. I did a quick stop over the fence, landed on the other side, shut down and tied the blades and immediately got drenched. He’d saved my life and their training many times after that. The instructors were the best!

  • @PacoOtis
    @PacoOtis Před 7 lety +10

    Uhmm? They made something quite interesting rather boring. We Americans did it again! I was a Warrant pilot via class 68-27.

    • @robertchaison4040
      @robertchaison4040 Před 6 lety +1

      :-) 67-501/67-21 RIP my many Classmates

    • @BlackSwan912
      @BlackSwan912 Před 5 lety +1

      I thought it was quite gripping. Harrison was awfully low-energy, but after his introduction, those were some seriously interesting stories.

    • @richardg1917
      @richardg1917 Před 5 lety

      @@robertchaison4040 it's so cool to talk with them in person, my flight instructor had been 2 tours flying a huey, he actually used popcorn popping to describe the sound being openned up on. When we flew together, i'd look over at him with his aviator glasses, it was easy to picture him in a huey. He was cool, and when in the states he ended up flying a corporate jet.

    • @peterbilt37042
      @peterbilt37042 Před 5 lety

      My dad graduated from class 68-25. CW2 Ron Halfhill.

  • @ericgibson2079
    @ericgibson2079 Před rokem

    If people came to our country, and were all amognst us comparatively, how horrible would it be, having to mash a crazy medium ground area between cities and country, probably have the same problems right here real quick in all there ways over there, then have to do more in that they would mix it up with us our way's in our homeland over here. I mean, Jesus it could be such a zoo. We have to be able to isolate like these fires, and disasters. As soon as they infiltrate were going to be hurting units again. Marshal law must work from the front line back and the back line, homes, line front. I could see the whole disorganization of getting our civilian forces (police, etc) all mixed up in crossfires. Get us inoperable, or where its all of those lame idoms--- we were taken by idoms, not idealisms. To much to soon, to much to late, better late than never, told you so, I knew it, so what, what problems, not me, us you him, her, etc. Its not our problems, wishing, taking forever, took so long, whats the problem, when, hurry, all the sayings and things just grind us to pieces you know, just sold with the beef market- Our enemies devour us here. Then we get these attacks that are to small and not powerful enough, we just get countered to hell. Always not enough you know, where were effective its just like football, and this big Hell No (2), thing, a bunch of everything we got thrown at the enemies forces, garbage trucks, carbombs, everything you could think of for a bunch of our ho-ya guys, Crazy, somehow it looks like its going to be more of a nuclear, type problem if so right, Bio, or something, Our Oceans fail us in keeping the enemy forces away... Our boarders cannot be secured, that would suck huh? Im probably wrong though so whatever.

  • @lilianstacey2966
    @lilianstacey2966 Před 3 lety

    ”this is the thing u need.”
    " *womo.life/2387-guide#219*
    ”Am I right?”
    *"**3:47**"*
    垃圾。
    -Lord

  • @baco4848
    @baco4848 Před 5 lety +1

    narated by han solo :D

    • @BlackStar-oh9lp
      @BlackStar-oh9lp Před 4 lety +1

      I was wondering if that was him lol nice, he's admired by many for being one of the best pilots. No lie; not anything to do with Han Solo, he is a great pilot.

  • @teresajd0608
    @teresajd0608 Před 5 lety

    Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeepppppppp

  • @renatogasperin9285
    @renatogasperin9285 Před rokem

    Ustica

  • @markharrison2544
    @markharrison2544 Před 5 lety

    I'm so glad Harrison Ford refused to serve in Vietnam.

  • @williammccoullum496
    @williammccoullum496 Před 2 lety

    Thanks