"Avenger III", on stand-by.
Crew Chief with glasses is SP5 John "Red"
Flynn.
To Flynn's right is Gunner SP4 Thomas Monroe.
Fella in shadow next to aircraft is SP5 Ron
Heck the
Crew chief of Bandit 6, later KIA Jan 70.
Fella leaning on nose is Roger Brockman.
Pilots were Garrett Ronning and ? (69)
(Photo courtesy Garrett Ronning)
|
Garrett Ronning dismounting from
Bandit 6, "Avenger III".(69)
(Photo courtesy Garrett Ronning)
|
Bandit crews on stand-by somewhere.(69)
(Photo courtesy Dennis Surop)
|
Dennis Surop sitting on skid of Bandit.(69)
(Photo courtesy Dennis Surop)
|
Dennis Surop beside his Bandit Hog in
revetment at Spartan "Bird Cage"(69)
(Photo courtesy Dennis Surrop)
|
Typical crowd of kids gathering while Bandits
are on stand-by.(69)
(Photo courtesy Dennis Surop)
|
Door plate for Bandit 7 showing: Aircraft
Commander WO Loel K. Letts; Crew Chief
SP4 Roland G. McKeague (aka "Pineapple"
because he was from Hawaii) and Gunner
Richard Rissman (aka "Teeny Bopper")(69)
(Photo courtesy Richard "Teeny Bopper"
Rissman)
|
Great photo of three Bandits in formation
as taken
from a forth Bandit. Note full rice paddies
indicating the monsoon season. (69)
(Photo courtesy Richard "Teeny Bopper"
Rissman)
|
L to R: Jimmy "Buff" Pirtle Bandit
Platoon SGT
and SP4 Earl Gurnsey in the barracks. By
this time,
SGT Pirtle had been in Vietnam for at least
4 years!(68)
(Photo courtesy Richard "Teeny Bopper"
Rissman)
|
Bandits "Pineapple" McKeague and
Earl Gurnsey on barracks steps taking
a
break. Note Bandit scarves
around necks.(68)
(Photo courtesy Richard "Teeny Bopper"
Rissman)
|
"Red" and Dick "Teeny Bopper"
Rissman
doing daily inspection on their Bandit aircraft.(69)
(Photo courtesy Richard "Teeny Bopper"
Rissman)
|
"Teeny Bopper" Rissman(69)
(photo courtesy Richard "Teeny Bopper"
Rissman)
|
Typical use of C-ration can to improve the
flow of M-60 belted ammo into the gun.
This prevented kinking and improved
feeding ammo without jamming.(70)
(Photo courtesy Michael Matthew)
|
SP4 Michael Matthew, gunner on Bandit
with 19 shot pods.(70)
(Photo courtesy Michael Matthew)
|
Unidentified pilot with interesting sign
on cargo door!(70)
|
Bandit with name "Widow Maker"
on nose.
Not sure what the tail number was.(70)
|
Frontal shot of "El Devastator".
Earlier, Bandit
2, the Frog, was also named "El Devastator"(70)
|
"Widow Maker" with doors still
on!(69)
|
Bandit 5 at Birdcage.(70)
(Photo courtesy Mike Matthew)
|
Bandit 5 at Spartan Heliport,
Bien Hoa.(70)
(Photo courtesy Mike Matthew)
|
1LT Cecil T. Gunter, Bandit pilot from behind.(70)
(Photo courtesy Mike Matthew)
|
SP4 Mike Matthew as gunner on Bandit 5.(70)
(Photo courtesy Mike Matthew)
|
Crew Chief James Bock of Bandit 8 "Hog".(70)
(Photo courtesy Mike Matthew)
|
Clifford Skowron aka "Moose"
and James Bock.(70)
(Photo courtesy Mike Matthew)
|
Bandit Scarf today belonging to James Bock.
Note scarf in the photo immediately above
and in right hand column.
(Photo courtesy James Bock)
|
James Bock with "quick draw"
holster and pistol standing beside
Thunderbird 6.(68)
(Photo courtesy James Bock)
|
Bandit Scarf today belonging to John Biggs
who was Crew Chief on Bandit 4 "Executioner"
(70)
(Photo courtesy John Biggs)
|
Dataplate from Bandit 4, "Executioner"
showing
it was a converted B to a C Model prior to
being returned to Vietnam in 1969. It had
an L-11
engine too and served in the 118th Bandits
as a
"Hog" from July 69-Jan 71 and flew
1,349 hours. (70)
(Photo courtesy John Biggs)
|
Bandit fire showing cargo door badly damaged.
Darrell Burkhalter believes it was hit by
an RPG.
and was flown by CPT John W. Kavanaugh
who was Bandit 36.(70)
(Photo courtesy Duane Speirs)
|
Bandit 4 refueling probably at Tan An.(70)
(Photo courtesy Duane Speirs)
|
Parked Bandit somewhere at artillery firebase.
Note tube direction is over helicopter.(70)
(Photo courtesy Mike Matthew)
|
Bandit 6 crew doing daily maintenance.(70)
(Photo courtesy Darrell Burkhalter)
|
Great view of the Bien Hoa water tower used
for
bore sighting all the Bandit rocket pods
for the entire
time in Vietnam! Seem like the distance was
about
1500 meters to the tower.(70)
(Photo courtesy Darrell Burkhalter)
|
Bandit 6, "Pappy's Pooper",
at Nha Be Navy Base on Saigon River channel
from South China Sea. Nha Be was often
used as re-fueling and re-arming point as
well as a great place to eat lunch!!(70)
(Photo courtesy Darrell Burkhalter)
|
Bandit 6 crew members on stand-by with local
boy
"smoozing" for cigarettes or C-rations.(70)
(Photo courtesy Darrell Burkhalter)
|
(Photo courtesy Darrell Burkhalter)
|
(Photo courtesy Darrell Burkhalter)
|
(Photo courtesy Darrell Burkhalter)
|
(Photo courtesy Darrell Burkhalter)
|
Bandit 6, "Pappys Pooper" was apparently
named
when there was a 40 MM "pooper"
or grenade
launcher on the nose.(70)
(Photo courtesy Darrell Burkhalter)
|
(Photo courtesy Darrell Burkhalter)
|
The Aussies configured the armament on their
Hueys
very differently from the US. Here we see
an
UH-1H model with rockets and at least
one 7.65mm Mini-gun.
Great idea, really.(70)
(Photo courtesy Darrell Burkhalter)
|
Bandit 3. (70)
(Photo courtesy Rock Lyons)
|
(Photo courtesy Darrell Burkhalter)
|
Joe Lemeiux departing from Rach Kien (70)
(Photo courtesy Darrell Burkhalter)
|
Doing a run-up on Bandit aircraft.(70)
(Photo courtesy Darrell Burkhalter)
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