USMC Aviation

I served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1968 to 1975. I went to Quantico and the 47th OCS in November '67. At Pensacola I was in VT-1, VT-3, VT-5, VT-6, and HT-8.

I went to HML-267 at Camp Pendleton in '69 and then to Vietnam with HML-167 from August '69 until July '70. I flew 620 missions in Huey Gunships. I returned to be the AOIC, MCALF Camp Pendleton.

Later I went back to HML-267 for a while and the transitioned to jets. I transitioned at VT-22 in Kingsville, and then on the RAG at Cherry Point. From there I went on to VMA-331 at Beaufort, S.C. I got out in December '75.

I have always missed the good friends I made in the Marine Corps. I hope I get a chance to see all that I can again. Visit if you want.

A-4M

UH-1E Gunships

Photo Courtesy of Randy Crew
Author of
A Killing Shadow
A novel of Marine gunships in Vietnam

Vietnam 1967/70
Marble Mountain Air Facility

4 Texans

1/Lt Jan Hruska 1/Lt Ira Hieberg 1/Lt Dave Geaslin 1/Lt Jim Hall

Hutton, Scotty, Adams, Ira Hieberg, Greg Duesing, Paul Hugenberg, ?, Al Hinton

Christmas bird Jan Hruska flew Bob Hope around in.

1/Lt David Geaslin (FNG) at
Cua Viet near the DMZ.

Que Son
Mountains!

Hooch Inside

Need some names here!

Marble Mountain

I took this bird up an a test hop for a slight beat at 60 kts. After 10 minutes of flight the beat smoothed out. I thought to myself, "Damn your a good test pilot. All you got to do is think about the problem and the bird fixes itself!"

Got back on the ground and found that the trans & and engine cowling had blown off in flight and gone up through the rotor system leaving a hole big enough to drop a canteen through.

Jan Hruska & Milt Mathews just had a door blown off at LZ Baldy by a H-46 lifting off.

From the HML-167 Web page

http://www.hml-167.com/index.html

Over the Hoi An River near the mouth.
ROK Marine country.

Mysterious island off Da Nang. Prohibited flight space. Anybody know what went on there?

I got a reply that there were (And are.) Chinese Soldiers on the island because it was claimed by China.

T-34

T-28

TH-57

General Characteristics, TH-57 Sea Ranger

Contractor: Bell Helicopter Textron.
Propulsion: One Allison 250-C20BJ turbofan engine.
Lengths: Fuselage - 31 feet (9.44 meters); Rotors turning - 39 feet (11.9 meters)
Height: 10 feet (3.04 meters)
Weight: 1595 pounds (725kg) empty, 3200 pounds (1455 kg) maximum take off
Main Rotor Diameter: 35 feet 4 inches (10.78 meters)
Range: 368 nautical miles (420 statute miles, 676 km)
Ceiling: 18,900 feet (5,761 meters)
Speed: 138 miles (222 km) per hour maximum; 117 miles (188 km) per hour cruising
Crew: One pilot, four students
Armament: None
Date deployed: First flight: 1961; Operational: 1968