NSR: anniversary of my auto-rotation

[Stig / Major Tom]

It was on this date (confirmed by a letter home my mom has) that I experienced an autorotation when our Huey's engine locked up at altitude after being hit by groundfire in S.E. Asia.

I was flying with a very sharp young warrant officer* who got us down with only a collapsed a skid. And I chipped both front teeth!
We were quickly picked up by another Huey - and our ship was sling-loaded out by a chinook that afternoon.

They said that at our altitude, and from the size of the holes - we most likely were hit by radar guided AAA.

Here is an example of an autorotation that didn't work out so well.
Looks like he might have been flying in Hawaii.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/evs0qBPsErg

Stig

*Warrant officers flying Hueys in the Vietnam War were mostly 19 or 20 years old

[randyo]

I was in college while that was going on. When I got out, I ended up with a high number, then it was over.

There were plenty of vets at my school, mostly in the forestry program I was in, stories of land leaches, cotch rot and whorehouses. Also several Asian students mostly from Thailand, in the hotel/restaurant management program, learning how to take over daddy's whorehouse

[Stig / Major Tom]

I was in college while that was going on. When I got out, I ended up with a high number, then it was over.

There were plenty of vets at my school, mostly in the forestry program I was in, stories of land leaches, cotch rot and whorehouses. Also several Asian students mostly from Thailand, in the hotel/restaurant management program, learning how to take over daddy's whorehouse

stories for Thurs eve choir practice...

that ping-pong ball system was the best!
High numbers could find better jobs, go to school, get married. Make plans. Enjoy being 18!

Stig