Posted on Oct 15, 2020
How often did Huey door gunners get hit during the Vietnam War? Why didn’t they get shields for protection?
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Question&Responds: How often did Huey door gunners get hit during the Vietnam War? They seem very vulnerable and were often shown being hit by Hollywood. Was that accurate? Why didn’t they get shields for protection?
Terry Kulisek, Helicopter door gunner 269th Combat Avn, Bn., Cu Chi 67-68
First, door gunners were INVICIBLE, we never worried of injury (at 18yoa) we had no fear. Second, any material between us and those trying to kill us was cumbersome and in the way, returning fire was our answer and a clear view was needed. We wore and sat on chicken plates (ceramic/steel vest inserts ) and that would suffice. Although anyone with time in the air lost friends and fellow crewmates to hostile fire and crashes, it was NEVER going to be you, so goes the frame of mind?
Terry Kulisek, Helicopter door gunner 269th Combat Avn, Bn., Cu Chi 67-68
First, door gunners were INVICIBLE, we never worried of injury (at 18yoa) we had no fear. Second, any material between us and those trying to kill us was cumbersome and in the way, returning fire was our answer and a clear view was needed. We wore and sat on chicken plates (ceramic/steel vest inserts ) and that would suffice. Although anyone with time in the air lost friends and fellow crewmates to hostile fire and crashes, it was NEVER going to be you, so goes the frame of mind?
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Door Gunner Vietnam War
Posted >1 y ago
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Why didn't they have shields? Aside from the engine and transmission there wasn't anything in the bird that would stop a bullet. Many crews detail the rounds punching through the aluminum belly or the plexiglass bubbles. Parts of the bird were magnesium and burned.
The aircraft weight, high humidity, and high heat all reduced the lift and payload. They had a tough time just lifting. Now add armor...
The slicks were carrying infantry squads which all had to get out through the same two doors. The gunners did have a little place to sit but it's all the same exit space.
LTC Wayne Dandridge , I miss anything?
The aircraft weight, high humidity, and high heat all reduced the lift and payload. They had a tough time just lifting. Now add armor...
The slicks were carrying infantry squads which all had to get out through the same two doors. The gunners did have a little place to sit but it's all the same exit space.
LTC Wayne Dandridge , I miss anything?
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Patricia Overmeyer
LTC Jason Mackay: Hubby agrees. He was an RTO with the 25th ID ( 2/12, Bravo Co, '69-'70) and he said just getting those birds off the ground at times was difficult. He had gone to chopper school but didn't graduate (long, long story involving several 18 year olds with a 24 hour pass a week before graduation). He always sat right next to the door gunner so he was the first out, many times at 10'-15' because he wanted out to be able to radio back if needed and he didn't want to go down.
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SPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D
Patricia Overmeyer
Not only getting the off the ground, but keeping them flying in downdrafts in mountainous terrains. Saved us one time bringing a chopper full of c-rations to troops in the field and hit severe downdraft and the pilot said he could not control us so I rapidly threw out our enormous load until we were able to regain control. Maybe it saved us, maybe it didn't, but I am here writing about it. Great post Patricia!
Not only getting the off the ground, but keeping them flying in downdrafts in mountainous terrains. Saved us one time bringing a chopper full of c-rations to troops in the field and hit severe downdraft and the pilot said he could not control us so I rapidly threw out our enormous load until we were able to regain control. Maybe it saved us, maybe it didn't, but I am here writing about it. Great post Patricia!
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Patricia Overmeyer
SPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D: Hubby says he hopes you saved the cocktail fruit and threw out the ham and mofos. LOL!!!
Downdrafts are pretty treacherous and even the best pilots can get into serious trouble with them. Choppers are even more susceptible to them. Hubby says they never taught them about downdrafts in chopper school, which he thought was pretty bad because he had been flying airplanes since he was 14 (lots of pilots in his family) and already knew about them. They also didn't teach them about stalls either. Hubby says that was pretty stupid because those are the two things every pilot needs to know about and how to get out of it.
Downdrafts are pretty treacherous and even the best pilots can get into serious trouble with them. Choppers are even more susceptible to them. Hubby says they never taught them about downdrafts in chopper school, which he thought was pretty bad because he had been flying airplanes since he was 14 (lots of pilots in his family) and already knew about them. They also didn't teach them about stalls either. Hubby says that was pretty stupid because those are the two things every pilot needs to know about and how to get out of it.
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One reliable source publishes 2197 pilots and 2704 aircrew died in Vietnam and 47% of the helicopters assigned to the theater were destroyed. I myself had 2 gunners wounded. Our gunners, as well as the pilots and crew chiefs generally wore ceramic plate bullet bouncers, but you've got to realize the aerodynamic brake and additional weight a "shield" would have represented.
Besides, as Terry Kulisek said: "We were INVINCIBLE" or maybe naive?
Besides, as Terry Kulisek said: "We were INVINCIBLE" or maybe naive?
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I think that's how most 18y/o feel when they're out in combat. It's a defense mechanism to handle the fear. "I can't show fear, so instead I'll bury it and act like this major stressor isn't a stressor at all!"
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MAJ Ronnie Reams
And the school was in Hawaii, same reason a lot of Nurses volunteered for OB-GYN. Hawaii was a wonderful place. R&R, too.
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SPC Joseph Kopac
They always asked us to volunteer. My friend did and got shot down 3 times. Has severe PTSD now. Sure,having a bed at night and hot meals was nice, but a risky occupation. Plus he said they never changed his MOS from 11B.
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LTC Gary Earls
SP5 Peter Keane - Where did you get that information that draftees were doing the most fighting??
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Well, my buddy Bob served 2 1/2 tours as a Gunner, got hit twice, the last time got him medically retired. I asked him why he kept going back and his response was almost verbatim to that of Bunny in Platoon.
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1SG Michael Anthony Gonzales
Bunny states that he “does not regret anything that he has done during the war.”
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CPT Lawrence Cable
1SG Michael Anthony Gonzales More about that he liked it there, nobody screwed with you, a couple of explicit reasons and the only thing you had to worry about was getting killed, then it wont matter.
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1SG Michael Anthony Gonzales
Yo CPT, I do understand “getting killed, then it won’t matter”. I believe most of us in Nam felt like that! Hooah. CPT Lawrence Cable
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Goes with the age. Young warriors are indestructible, as is their civilian counter parts. Never gave it a thought until near the end of my career.
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Common Top- Shields, were mostly wearing /sitting on flack jackets. Only bullet shield were what they put on CAV/M113 Vehicles. Too damn big and too damn heavy- would cut their lift cap by at least 1- maybe 2 pax., Also- bug one- cut down on gunner mobility. Also anything that missed gunnies, was probably hitting transmission, so bye bye birdie.
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In regards to shields it just isn't feasible. The whole point of aviation is to be able to stay on station as long as possible, travel as far as possible and carry as much as possible. Large steel shields would have increased weight, reduced range and taken up room that would have been filled by equipment or troops. Also considering Huey's are light skinned aircraft the ricocheted rounds would have damaged the aircraft. The russians proved that heavily armored helos look cool but aren't nearly as practical.
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As a Crew Chief and Door Gunner in Vietnam '65 to '66 for an Attack Helicopter Company, my first Chopper had 23 bullet holes in it when I had to put her on a ship and send her home. You pretty much nailed who we were and I Salute you and thank you for that.
BTW, two days after I left for the States my Company moved North and I was told we lost half of our Company. Tore me apart! God Bless you my Brother and glad your home!
BTW, two days after I left for the States my Company moved North and I was told we lost half of our Company. Tore me apart! God Bless you my Brother and glad your home!
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What shields are you writing about?? In my aviation company, C/158th, 101st Airborne Division, the back plates of our protective chest protectors and gave them to our door gunners and crew chiefs. We had a shortage of check protectors. During my aviation tour, I didn't loose any crew member. And yes, we saw lots of fire fights in Northern I Corps.
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