More detail on this person: Back in 1967
Captain Tranter was the 240th Assault Helicopter
Company Greyhound's, White Flight's, first Platoon
Leader.Bear Cat VN. He was also a hell of a pilot.
I can testify to that having filled the Crew Chief
seat many times with him at the controls. He flew
by the book, there was not a bit of hot dogging or
playing around with him at the controls. He
trusted his crew and made all who flew with him
understand what he expected from them. He
wanted his crew to talk to him, to report over the
intercom what we see, hear and feel. That kind of
communication made dropping into a bomb crater
L/Z in the middle of the jungle a snap. Without
his leadership our tail rotor would have been
history, along with us. He stayed cool. We stayed
alive, because we communicated. He retired a Lt.
Col.
In 2001 I sent him some pictures of himself that I
had taken of him back in 1967. He told me when he
received them that he and his wife Alice cried
with joy.... He was a good man. And a great pilot.
I will miss him. May he rest in peace.
From: SP/5 William Proud, Grey Hound Crew Chief
1967
I am Verlin Borton's wife, Alice. I see all these
names on our computer so I am writing to tell you
about my husband. As many or all of you have
known, he hasn't been well. Well, on Thanksgiving
morning he had a fall which gave him only a
hairline fracture of where the hip and pelvis meet
so there was no operation. However, apparently it
was very painful. So he entered the hospital. He
remained there and gradually he wanted more and
more pain medicine. Well, finally at 12:15 AM
Tuesday the 9th he was said to be gone. Yes, he
died. He went to heaven, the place he loved to
talk about. The funeral was the 12th and now his
body is in Illinois, awaiting burial. Part of his
family has gone there and will have a military
farewell for him on Monday. So I am starting to
take care of things here while I gain strength
from the Lord.
From: Alice Tranter
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
Return to the Helicopter Pilot DAT name list
Return to VHPA web site
Date posted on this site: 04/13/2025
Copyright © 1998 - 2025 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association