1965, Ia Drang – Part I: LZ X-Ray
Historical Perspective / By Mark Albertson: Editor’s Note: This is the first of two articles commemorating the 55th Anniversary of the Battle of Ia Drang, Vietnam Helicopter of MAJ Bruce Crandall, commander of the 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion, low over LZ X-Ray. Fifty-five years ago, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) went on the attack. Division commander, MG Harry W.O. Kinnard, ordered COL Thomas W. Brown, commander, 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, to send units south of the Ia Drang River, within the shadow of the Chu Pong mountain range. Brown’s units were the 1st and 2nd Battalions, 7th Cavalry Regiment and...
Learn MoreTriumphant Flight: Army Aviation In the Central Region
Guest Editorial, By General J.H. Binford Peay III, Commander-in-Chief, United States Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. Edited by Mark Albertson. * * * * *General George S. Patton once declared that you should never attack where the enemy expects you to come. Attack weakness. Hold the enemy by the nose and kick him in the pants.[1] General Robert E. Lee, commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, engaged a Union Army superior in numbers, commanded by General Joseph Hooker. Lee audaciously divided his smaller army and with the use of the indirect approach, as alluded to by General...
Learn More1970 – Aviators on their way to Higher Learning
Army Aviators to Attend National War College (All are Lieutenant Colonels, unless otherwise noted.) Allen, James R.Bunyard, Jerry M.Chritton, William R.Mullen, Jack L.Robertson, Victor M.Stevens, Story C. (P)Wooley, Wilson C. Army Aviators to Attend the Industrial College for the Armed Forces(All are Lieutenant Colonels, unless otherwise noted.) Descoteau, RudolphIslin, John A.Morris, John J.Rathbone, William A.Sergeant, Wayne B. (P)Teague, Jerry I. (P)Toner, Francis J. Source: Pages 11 and 12, Army Aviation, Vol. 19, No. 12, Army Aviation Publications, Inc., Westport, Ct., December 15, 1970.
Learn More1996 – Tinsley Becomes Elder Statesman of Aviation
The National Aeronautic Association announced, on 22 August 1996, that Jean Kaye Tinsley had been selected as an Elder Statesman of Aviation. Tinsley began her aviation career in San Francisco, California during the mid-1940s, and has served the industry in the capacity of Applications Engineer and as technical editor and writer on all types of manuals and for operation and maintenance overhaul and field instruction as well as many types of brochures. The FAA has designated her as a Written Test Examiner and an Accident Prevention Counselor. In 1965, she attended the annual convention of the “Whirley Girls” and then...
Learn MoreThe Korean War – Part III: Fixed Wing
Historical Perspective / By Mark Albertson: Editor’s Note: This is the third and final article commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Korean War. ALL PHOTOS AAPI FILE PHOTO V-J-Day, September 2, 1945, the Air OPs boasted 2,630 pilots, 2,252 mechanics and 1,600 aircraft. Before the year was out, only 200 aircraft remained. The Air Observation Post was not only facing irrelevance, but outright extinction. Yet with the National Defense Act of 1947, the United States Army Air Forces became the United States Air Force. It was imperative, then, that the Ground Forces have a capability – no matter how rudimentary...
Learn MoreTurbine-Powered HOK
Army Aviation History / May 1957: Since September 28, 1956, Kaman Aircraft has been operating a new gas turbine-powered version of its successful HOK type helicopter. Utilizing the Lycoming T-53 gas turbine in place of the Pratt & Whitney R-1340 piston engine presently installed in the HOK helicopters, Kaman looks upon the turbine-powered HOK as an “in being” helicopter as it is basically a standard HOK adapted to gas turbine power. Turbine-Powered HOK The T-53 turbine-powered HOK features greatly increased cabin area (see fig. 1) higher performance, and a wider range of utility applications (see figures 2, 3 and 4). These...
Learn MoreNot Just Another “Black Hawk Down”
Army Aviation History / March 2002: The release of the motion picture, “Black Hawk Down,” has made the struggle and sacrifices that occurred in Mogadishu, Somalia, on October 3, 1993, almost common knowledge to Americans. CW3 Perry Alliman (left) and CW3 Dale Shrader (CW2 at time of photo) were Black Hawk pilots flying a reconnaissance mission over Mogadishu, Somalia, when they were shot down. Three crewmembers died in the crash and Allison and Shrader barely escaped with their lives. For CW3 Perry Alliman, the story of “Black Hawk Down” is only a fragment of a larger story, a story that ended...
Learn MoreThe Korean War – The Helicopter
Historical Perspective / By Mark Albertson: Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series of three articles commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Korean War. On June 25, 1950, the Army began the Korean War with only 56 helicopters.1 Yet Air Force helicopters were among the first to see action. Third Air Rescue Squadron, based in Japan, was sent packing for Korea. The original intent was to pick up downed air crews; but, evacuation of wounded quickly gained priority. By the end of August, Third Air Rescue helicopters had airlifted 83 severely wounded soldiers to field hospitals. And as...
Learn More70th Anniversary of the Korean War: A Brief Look at Army Aviation, Fixed Wing Aircraft.
Looking Back / By Mark Albertson: On June 25, 1950, the U.S. Army began the Korean War with 1,211 fixed wing aircraft.[1] Many of these were holdover L-4s and L-5s from the global conflict. Just prior to the opening guns, the Cessna 305 emerged the winner from a competition held by the Army to upgrade its cooperation aircraft. To the Army it will be known as the L-19 Bird Dog. An O-1 (L-19) Bird Dog; a derivative of the Cessna 305, replaced the L-4 Cub and Stinson L-5 as the Army Ground Forces’ cooperation aircraft. Known as the Bird Dog, it would...
Learn MoreWe Hold These Truths to be Self-Evident. . .
This month marks, as it does annually, the observance of the Nation’s founding with a document known popularly as, The Declaration of Independence. The correct title is: The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America.[1] Thomas Jefferson, consider final author of ‘The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America.’ With regards to revolution, Jefferson once observed, ‘. . . the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure. The spelling is as it appears; but, of greater significance, the implications. Thirteen autonomous...
Learn More
