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TINS!* Another Vulture Caught the Bug

December 10, 2005 | | Comments (15)

Some of my old RVN buds lurk and even sally forth to make the occasional comment (yeah, *you* Two-Niner!).

And now, they're doing TINS!

And about time, too. The Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association is looking for contributions to the oral history archives, and the guys are coming through like champs...

Bob Shine (V One-Seven) did this one, but the sneaky basset didn't tell me about it--probably because he figgered I'd post it.

He was right. And Eric ratted you out, Baby-San!

However, to forestall the inevitable question--no, I was *not* the guy who put the Huey inverted. But I *did* get a 110-degree bank out of one (something the Army still insists is impossible, by the way)--and if I hadn't, this place would still be subtitled "The Home of Two of Jonah's Military Guys"...period.

It's a quick read and a good one. Peekchurs, too--and you'll see why we tagged him Baby-San.

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15 Comments

By V29 on December 10, 2005 6:45 AM
Bob Shine, never the shy one. I did notice that he forgot to mention the 90 degree gear box incident! He was a lucky boy that day. As for Baby-san...phooey I was much better looking! :-). Good to see some of the lads telling their story. I still can't bring myself to conjure up those old memories.......... some day maybe?
 
By cw4(ret)billt on December 10, 2005 6:55 AM
I was sitting at re-arm about fifty meters away when the gb seized and he went flipping in with the world's loudest "thud!" The dust hadn't even settled by the time I got over there, figuring for sure I'd be policing up body parts. I *still* can't believe everybody walked away from it. He also didn't mention the time we were shut down at POL at Moc Hoa and he crawled up the mast and out onto one of the mains to get away from Moc Hoa Mary--and I untied it. Heh. Mary landed on top of him and latched on like a pit bull with a new squeaky toy...
 
By John of Argghhh! on December 10, 2005 8:28 AM
For the ones that don't make you want to crawl into a bottle... we'll be happy to get those tales out in the open, and add them, in a little tiny way, to the collective consciousness.
 
By FbL on December 10, 2005 8:45 AM
Bill and Bob, Thanks to both of you for your courageous and daring service under such difficult circumstances, and for sharing this with us. And V29, we will be ready to listen when you're ready to share, too. And Bill, you're gonna casually mention a "110-degree bank" and "Moc Hoa Mary," and not tell us the rest of the story? You tease! ;)
 
By V29 on December 10, 2005 8:58 AM
Ah, Moc Hoa Mary, denizen of the night at Moc Hoa, RVN. Mary while not a young man's dream was very handy for a short diversion while waiting for the next mission. Never having had the pleasure of her company, I cannot speak of her skill from a first hand point of view. But, considering the trade she did, her skill (or perhaps the clients need) was... considerable. Perhaps Bill can shed more light?
 
By Barb on December 10, 2005 10:17 AM
Good TINS - thanks Bob and Bill for sharing/posting! We are glad to have you all back (you too, V29) home, whether or not you share the tales. But we do love the tales here :-)
 
By cw4(ret)billt on December 10, 2005 11:32 AM
Hah! The only light I could shed on Mary would be with flares from fifteen-hundred feet. Only reason she got close to Baby-San was cuz she snuck up on him while he was napping in the gunner's well. Cute daughters, though. Their Dad was French, so Mary must have been quite the belle back in her heyday. 1950, or so.
 
By Andre the Pole on December 10, 2005 6:21 PM
HAH! De Frenchies do get around- was one cauzed Andre to be gracink dis world now. Menny Happy for the Holiday Zeasonz- an Mery Chrissmas, too!
 
By AFSister on December 10, 2005 10:27 PM
I'm coming to the realization that Huey pilots are all crazy mo-fo's, and ya'll must have worn out the GA's.
 
By NOTR on December 13, 2005 12:36 PM
Hey CW4 BillT - you gonna be in DC this July? If so, I'll buy ya a beer. :)
 
By cw4(ret)billt on December 13, 2005 1:15 PM
NOTR - I'm not sure about DC yet, but we usually have a unit reunion down at Rucker each year. I'll keep you posted on that.
 
By cw4rogerc(ret) on December 16, 2005 3:49 AM
110 degrees doesn't sound that extreme to an old 17th Cav snake driver.
 
By cw4(ret)billt on December 16, 2005 10:59 AM
Yeah, but the H-model didn't have a 540 rotor head, either. And I've done my share of RTTs and wingovers in an ECAS and the F-Prod, too...
 
By cw4rogerc(ret) on December 16, 2005 4:48 PM
Even without the 540, I've seen that old H model bent over pretty good. Flew the S models some, but mostly flew the G model. Sometimes on a clear sunny day, I get crazy and even miss it a little. Then I remember what that G model was like pre-ECU.
 
By cw4billt on December 16, 2005 8:31 PM
Heh--you mean, the World's First Flying Sauna?
 
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