Attachment corrupted

I can't really answer your question, however, I tried to view/download your attached bmp picture and it appears to be corrupted. All I can seem to get to download is the bottom half of the picture.

If you go to the Image section of the website, it is image #1704
Sorry it didn't come up.

Ok, thanks.

I still can not answer your question, but I am of the belief that your assumption may be correct, unless it was just the number designated by the armory. I wish I could offer you more information, someone surely will in less time than you may think. I think you may have the correct answer within less than a day.

I served as a Crew Chief for HMM-363s Lucky Red Lions all of 1968.

The numbers you are looking at are to be sure that the Crew Chief gets the same set of M60s all the time.

These weapons were very important if you got in a Hot spot and you wanted your own set every day.

The numbers would match the Aircraft side numbers. See photo

https://www.popasmoke.com/visions/image.php?source=1299

Slick is correct, the numbers were more for Armory accountability and Crew Chief set identification. The Armory NCOIC wanted to know whom to yell at if he was unhappy and the Crew Chief wanted the same gun set and was not about to be checking serial numbers all the time.

I started out as a gunner in HMM-363 in 1967 with M60s gun set #62 which was my UH-34D side number, YZ-62 / 148058

We got shot down on 21 December 1967 and old YZ-62 / 148058 was completely burnt, see

https://www.popasmoke.com/visions/image.php?source=1080.

This gave me a great appreciation for that M60 as it saved all our lives while we were all alone on that sandbar with 5 Emergency Medevacs , bad guys everywhere and our helicopter completely burning to the ground.

I made Crew Chief and was reassigned to YZ-64 but I kept M60 gun set #62, that Crew Chief had rotated home and there was no YZ-62.

I qualified as a Crew Chief and got YZ-73 / 150717 , I kept using M60 Gun set # 62. When we got aboard ship in Feb 68 the Navy made HMM-363 renumber our Side numbers and old YZ-73 became YZ-14.

My M60 gun set became #14. I also crewed many Aircraft for other Crew Chiefs while YZ-14 was hard down for battle damage and I always used M60 gun set #14.

So the gun sets no matter how they were numbered were more tied to the Crew Chief than the Aircraft.

Turbine Air Intakes on CH-46

I've noticed that the engine air intakes on Nam era CH-46's had what appeard to be large filters of some sort. The 46's that I've flown on simply had the mesh covers. Were these specific to the model or was it environmental (dust, ect.)

Very astute Tom:
The large "barrier" filters were used in-country because the sand and dust was more than the integral partical seperators could handle. Can't remember the numbers, but they had enough of an effect on power available that they were equipped with a flap bound to the rest of the filter by velcro with a string that went inside the aircraft so the crew chief could open the flap if the filter became clogged or the pilot needed that little extra power to get going.
They weren't used on any of the stateside aircraft I flew.
S/F

new filters

i have pictures of the then new flight bras hmm265 got them installed @ marble mt Gen krulak was on hand for the show and got a hand shake as the new filters we put on my 46awill fwd pics if you like

Pictures!

If you can't post them.... send them via email to GEORGE CURTIS or myself and we can post them. Always like pictures.

😀 😀

re:YZ-20 biting the dust

I am Bill Dummit, and was thej crew cheif on YZ20 and YZ22 during allmost all of 1968. To answer your question about the numbers on the guns (M-60's) has been answered by Mgysgt. Curtis who I had the pleasure of flying many missions with as either lead or chase plane. He was as good as they say about being a crew cheif, and a Marine.
I may have been their crew-cheif when your Father crashed, and if I am we were coming off hyvan pass (spelling ?) at 1500 ft. and the main fuel line was shot into resulting in engine failure. We had a good landing with auto rotation and the old man upstairs helping with the pilots and we crew members. A good landing is one everyone walks away from, and we did. I am sorry I can't remember the pilot or the co-pilots names for certain, but if I can add this picture to this maybe someone can identify who they are. My gunner was Jim Shirey. and it was either May or June of 68.
Hope this helps you some. If it is your dad in the picture I would like to hank him for being perfect in a very imperfect few moments. To him and each other we owe our lives. Just another day in HMM-363 in 1968. send me your email address and I'll send the pictures. I'm too dumb to do it otherwise!!

Sincerely Bill Dummitt crew cheif 1967-1968 HMM-363 LUCKY RED LIONS!!!billdusmc68@aol.com

No pics of YZ-20, but did find these in the Command Chronology for 363