Army Reporter information
for 11 ROK AVN CO
17 CAG
48 AHC
WHITE HORSE DIV
For date 681104
11 ROK AVN CO was a Korean Army unit
17 CAG was a US Army unit
48 AHC was a US Army unit
WHITE HORSE DIV was a Korean Army unit
Primary service involved, Korean Army
Khanh Hoa Province, II Corps, South Vietnam
Location, Ninh Hoa
Description: The following is an edited version of an article titled "Four Korean pilots train, fly with 1st Avn company" dated 4 Nov 1968. Editor's note: an edited and augmented version of this material appeared in the ? 1998 VHPA Newsletter.
Four of the pilots flying the Huey slicks at the 48th AHC are members of the ROK Army. These Koreans are student pilots who were assigned to the 48th for live on-the-job training while participating in actual combat missions. The 11-week course of field flight maneuvers is a follow-up to the 25 hour transition course taken at the 17th CAG headquarters in nearby Nha Trang. The entire program was sponsored by COL John A. Todd, commander of the 17th Group and COL Lee, commander of the 11th ROK Avn Co, to bolster the relatively small amount of Huey pilots in the ROK Army. Sixteen Korean officers in all will be graduated from the extensive flight training course in December. The 48th was a fitting choice for the OJT portion of the course since it flies in support of the White Horse ROK Div, whose headquarters compound the 48th shares at Ninh Hoa. Though all the Korean pilots were already flight rated when they arrived in Vietnam, none had flown the Huey before, and some were not helicopter qualified at all. Three of the pilots, CPT Kim Ki Hwann, CPT Han Ki Sun and CPT Choi Hu Yong graduated from flight school together in 1965 as fixed wing pilots. All three have around 1,000 hours logged in fixed wing aircraft as well as previous training in other type helicopters. The fourth pilot, LT Choi Seung Woo, is also fixed wing qualified, although he has fewer hours accrued than the others and his first helicopter time was with the 11th ROK AVN CO here in Vietnam. According to the 48th's OPNS OFF, CPT Stephen G. Barati "the purpose of the program is to give the Koreans the opportunity to increase proficiency in all our flying phases. This includes resupply, combat assaults, C&C plus other varied mission," Barati added; "with the completion of the course just ahead they have flown nearly 300 hours each and their increased proficiency is very evident indeed." The initial transition training in Nha Trang was concerned with the basics of flying a Huey, such as hovering, normal take-offs and landings, maximum performance takeoffs, steep approaches, and travel patterns. The two months at the 48th saw the Koreans applying these techniques to regular combat missions. Here they had to learn advanced flight skills such as the sling loads, confined area, flight, pinnacle maneuvers, internal loads, and many other phases connected with this type of flying. During their tour with the 48th, their progress was closely monitored by Barati and consultations were held with the ACs who flew with them. Methods of improvement were found and special problem areas were scrutinized. The biggest problem involved was the language barrier. CWO Donald Shorey found, "the key here was just a matter of being patient and taking your time, and explaining things in a simple manner," Shorey added; "They have twice the usual problems; learning to fly and learning to understand the English language at the same time." This system seemed to have worked, for in spite of the language problem, their overwhelming desire to learn developed their skill with amazing results. The language difference has served as an advantage on many missions. The 48th's mission is general support of the Korean 8th Inf Div and daily the pilots must try to communicate with their Korean allies. Frequently the ROK pilots were a big help in carrying out the missions. The American pilot's reaction to the subsequent saving of time and trouble was that of surprise and delight.
The Koreans participate in nearly all the phases of operation that the 48th flies. This includes combat assaults, during which all four have undergone hostile fire. The Koreans themselves have expressed their gratitude to the pilots of the 48th for their assistance. As Kim put it; "because of the 48th I am looking with confidence to future mission with the 11th ROK AVN CO." The four graduates will return to the 11th upon their graduation to take command of their own Huey helicopters.
Comments: COL Todd, John A.; 17 CAG CO; ;
COL Lee; 11 ROK AV CO CO; ;
CPT Hwann, Kim Ki; 11 ROK AV CO pilot; ;
CPT Sun, Han Ki; 11 ROK AV CO pilot; ;
CPT Yong, Choi Hun; 11 ROK AV CO pilot; ;
LT Woo, Choi Seung; 11 ROK AV CO pilot; ;
CPT Barati, Stephen G.; 48 AHC OPNS O; ;
CWO Shorey, Donald; 48 AHC AC; ;
The source for this information was 6811AR.AVN supplied by Les Hines
Additional information is available on CD-ROM.
Please send additions or corrections to: Gary Roush Email address: webmaster@vhpa.org
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Date posted on this site:
05/13/2023