Army Reporter information
for 478 HHC
159 AVN 101 ABN
For date 710308
478 HHC was a US Army unit
159 AVN 101 ABN was a US Army unit
Primary service involved, US Army
Quang Nam Province, I Corps, South Vietnam
Location, Red Beach
Description: 08Mar71 Giant insects help Eagles
RED BEACH - Looking like giant insects from the science fiction novels of H.G. Wells or Jules Verne, the CH54 Skycranes of the 478th Aviation Co., 159th Aviation Bn., lumber across the sky of northern Military Region 1 carrying their heavy burdens, supporting the Screaming Eagles of the 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile). "A lot of ground troops laugh at the crane when they first see it and they are amazed how apparently slow and bulky it is compared to a Huey or a light observation helicopter," said CWO Janos Karov. "However, they are even more amazed when they observe the fantastic lift capability it has," added Karov. "The heavy lift concept is an important factor in the overall airmobile concept and the CH54 Skycrane is the biggest and most sophisticated helicopter the Army has missions requiring heavy lift capability." These giant helicopters work in teams in a pony express-type system. Each crane takes its load to the designated spot where another is waiting to continue the mission. This hedge-hopping is a unique system which serves the purpose of keeping the remote fire bases quickly supplied instead of having to waste time refueling a single chopper in the middle of a mission. A pair of cranes recently worked together to get a CH47 Chinook to Da Nang for major repairs and rebuilding. One crane picked up the Hook at Phu Bai Aerial Port and carried it to Fire Base Tomahawk, 32 miles southeast of Hue, where the second crane was waiting. That crane took over the load and flew it to Da Nang, allowing the first crane to return without a load to refuel and prepare for the next mission. Designed for rescue and extraction of downed aircraft, the Sky crane handles many and varied missions. "Recently we were called on to pick up a 60-foot steel tower and set the four legs of the tower into holes that were made to anchor it. Our flight engineer, who handles the loads, did an excellent job of maneuvering us into position over the post holes," explained Karov.
Photo Captions:
1) 155mm howitzer is needed at a forward fire base
2) Hookup completed, the flight begins
3) Smoke and dirt from an artillery raid prevails upon delivery.
4) The sling slackens and in minutes the gun will join the artillery raid.
Comments: CWO Karov, Janos; pilot; ;
The source for this information was 7103AR.AVN supplied by Les Hines
Additional information is available on CD-ROM.
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Last updated
04/12/2005
Date posted on this site:
05/13/2023