John,

Always knew we worked our tails off. I didn't know anyone else knew though.

I can see that even the General didn't REALLY know, he just kind knew.

Thanks for the "pat on the back" albeit from an "official" source.

Seems to me you Tech Reps put in some hours as well. Thanks for that, it helped us out a lot, more than once!!

"Lieutenant General McCutcheon dismounts from his UH-1E on a visit to the 7th Marines during his tour as Commanding General, III MAF in 1970. McCutcheon often piloted his own helicopter on such trips. Corporal Thomas F. Norman, the crew chief, holds the general's flak jacket, while Colonel Edmund G. Derning, Jr., the 7th Marines commander, greets McCutcheon."
"Marines and Helicopters 1962 -1973" p.105

Thanks for the "attaboy"

Better late than never! I, too, was pleased to read the General's kind words in that document. And, yes, Dulligan and other Tech Reps put in some hours as well....didn't you John!
Semper Fi
Joe

Work Hours

Thanks for the compliments guys. I like to think I made a difference. I don't think I came close to the hours that the crew chiefs worked. But then they were young kids of 21 or less and I was an old man of 31 and more.

My time with the US Marine Corps gave me far more than I ever gave back and I'd do it all over again in an instant. In fact, I'd love to do it over again.

Training gunners

Further excert from "Marines and Helicopters 1962-1973" Page 147

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Another school trained crew chiefs and mechanics on the operation of the machine guns firing from the aircraft. If the gunner was not careful, it was possible to shoot the helicopter's own rotor blades. Thus the initial airborne live firing could be dangerous. The pilots in the operating squadrons, being no different than Marine aviators of any time or type, felt that all officers on the group headquarters staffs were the bane of their lives and had nothing better to do than shuffle papers and interfere with the "real" work in the units. Thus a custom quickly grew up in which squadron aviators seldom flew the gunners on their first firing flight. That exciting task was always reserved for pilots on the headquarters staff. Any loss would just reduce the number of reports that had to be submitted, so went the logic.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The above book and its companion "Marines and Helicopters 1946-1962", author LtCol Eugene Rawlins USMC, are really good. The parts I know about, such as the airframe breakups in 1966, are right on the money which gives confidence that the areas I don't know about are equally correct.

Cockpit and Cabin

Despite my initial desire to fly fighters, I fell in love with helicopters and Marine helicopter aviation.

As a pilot, it was reassuring that he who performed maintenance on the aircraft also flew in it. That give him a vested interest in doing his job right.

Since the cockpit and the cabin would in any event crash semi-simultaneously, we up front and those aft had to trust each other. If I screwed up flying it, we all died. If he screwed up maintaining it, we all died.

Out of this mutual dependence grew a mutual trust, and respect, and yes, comraderie. It forged a bond that exists nowhere else.

The Air Wing tends to have an Officer / Enlisted divide (the fixed wingers, that is), but we do not. Not those who matter, anyway.

For that, I am so grateful.

Thank you, crew for always keeping my six clear. We did the job together.

Thanks Ed

I have thought about this link since it was posted and could not come up with the correct words to say..... I am sure that it would have been something similar but what you have said rings very true to the feelings of most of the 'crews' that flew together. I don't think I could have said it better.

LtCol McCutcheon

One of my best memories was serving in this Great Marines HMX-1 unit 1950 at Quantico . He thought highly of his NCOs and sent a proposal to the NAVAIR that NCOs be designated after training as Co-pilots in helicopters. It was shot down because of the loss of Officer billets in NAVCADS. After 6 months NAP training which was interupted for overseas tour 1944 (too many students , option to complete later if overseas volunteer) . Missed the last class in 1947!!! Had to wait until 1964 to finally get USAF Wings & fly my favorite UH34D for 4 years in Vietnam 1964-1968 with the VNAF under USAF AF Advisory Group contract. Sad part was the fact that was not with my Marine family!!! SF PM

Right place,right time

Men
I got to be the luckiest guy that ever pumped P-4. I got to New River around Christmas of '67 and SgtMjr Burns put me on the line with the Huie's (Vmo-1). The Bronco's came in new from Collumbus and I got #213 with my name on the side.
Went to Marble in Sept. '69 to VMO-2 and found myself working a combo line of Cobras, Huies, and OV-10's again. The new pilots were from New River and I had backseat time with most. We all split up and I went over to DaNang and got to run the line for Gunny Clark Grechen.
As a member of the OV-10 Bronco Assn. in Fort Worth, the Chairman of the board calls me "his" P/C because I fueled and taxied him at Marble in a Cobra later 367.
It took a tour and a half but I got to see it all and best, got to work them all. And now I get to see them all again. See, I told you that I was the luckiest guy alive. Best yet I still fit my flightsuit.:p
Roy M. (Arm) Pitt
Ps The hours, who counted, I never heard anyone who even knew how long they were on. Every last soul knew to the second when the E-club opened and closed.

General McCutcheon

General McCutcheon knew well how many hours a crewchief put in to fly and maintain his helo.
I worked for him for about three months. Right after Dave Gonzales and Tom Underwood were shot down in Laos(this I remember all to well), I went to III MAF to be McCutcheon's crewchief. It was not unsual to be out doing what crew chief's do at early 30 and here would come the General, and follow you around asking questions. He had been in helo's since Korea and could tell some interesting stories. He was also pretty good stick for a 3 star. He used to love to go low level and do the rocket belt recon, but he would nover do it with the gun cover he was supposed to have. He rotated back to the states early and died of stomach cancer, some think he would have been the first aviator commandant if he hadn't of died.

Tom

General McCutcheon

I recall taking LtGen McCutcheon to Baldy to check out their tower. This would have been probably spring of 1970. I was his helo pilot for the day (CH46). He came down to the Wing LZ and announced that he wanted to go flying. He climbed into the co-pilot's seat and told me that he would fly. He wanted to go to Baldy, so I got him steered about 180 degrees or so. He told me to get all the clearances for him as we flew directly over Danang AFB and Marble with little notice to the towers! I asked him if he wanted his arrival announced. He told me no. We landed. He climbed out and headed for the Baldy tower. No one know the Wing CG was around until his utility cover came peering over the top of the ladder with those three black stars on it! To this day I do not know what he was up to except that he was investigating some type of problem!

Damn nice to know that an Officer other than the AMO, recognized the efforts of the Crew Chief.

Sorry for that WM...guess you were just in the wrong outfits.

Hooper

Gen. K.B McCutcheon

Gen. Keith B. McCutcheon

Is that Russ Francis

the picture in reply #5 I was just wondering if the marine fifth from left above the bright blond was one russ francis i trained at hmx-1 before ending up in hmm-262. i stopped to visit him at marble mtn and we ended up taking a dip at china beach. you guys down south had it sweet from what this old tiger saw.