Re: 21 year old warrant officer pilot?

Never heard of WO pilots in the Corps at that age then. There were still a handful of old enlisted pilots flying 34's when we got in country, but they were E-7,8,9?

Re: 21 year old warrant officer pilot?

The 9th Marines did a lot of things but they didn't FLY! Ask the A...... what squadron he was with?

Re: 21 year old warrant officer pilot?

Never heard of a W.O. pilot in USMC. Only Army had such. Ask him where and when incident ocurred, crew names, sguadron, where hospitalized, and where locally he is getting VA Medical treatment--betcha he can't answer any !!

Re: 21 year old warrant officer pilot?

never heard of a W>O> Pilot in USMC. Only Army. Ask him what Squardron, crew names, date and where incident ocurred, and which VA he is getting Medical treatment at=betcha he has no answers

Re: 21 year old warrant officer pilot?

In my 12 years active duty 1968-1980 I crossed paths with 4 warrant officer pilots in the Marine Corps. They were all well passed 21. There were still a few enlisted pilots, one retired in 1971 at Cherry Point. One thing all the Warrant Officer and Enlisted pilots had in common; they could all tell you about when they flew in World War II or Korea.

Re: 21 year old warrant officer pilot?

I was in HMM-263 flying H-34's from Nov '66 to Nov '67 in Viet Nam. When I joined the squadron there was a 'Winged Warrant" there, Bruce Alexander. Older than 21 by a stretch. Flew and talked with him quite a bit. According to Bruce, at that time Warrant Henry Wildfang was in and out of country flying C-130's and there were approximately a dozen "Winged Warrants" left flying in the Corps. All were around the same age, not near 21. Bruce knew most of the Generals at that time on a first name basis because they came in about the same time. Hope this helps. S/F Joe H

Re: 21 year old warrant officer pilot?

I was in HML 267 69-70 timeframe, WO Anderson joined us when he returned from Vietnam. He was in his 40's. He was a great pilot to fly with, but no youngster!!

Re: 21 year old warrant officer pilot?

Flew with an enlisted pilot at El Toro and a WO at Phu Bai. Both were old enough to be my dad.

Wayne Stafford

Re: 21 year old warrant officer pilot?

I do not believe the Marine Corps had Med-evac pilots only. We had pilots that would fly any mission needed. The Army would split Gunship/Med-evac into different squadrens.
Sounds to me this guy is total BS

Tom Knowles

Re: 21 year old warrant officer pilot?

This info is mainly from "Marines and Helicopters, 1962-1973". The Marines started a program called WOHELIO (Warrant Officer, Helicopter Only) in 1960 to bring up the numbers of helo pilots. Originally, the program was offered to Reserve Captains and Lts, who would go through flight training, and become Active Duty WOs. Active Capts who had been passed over for promotion twice were also encouraged to apply. By 1963 only 78 applicants had completed the program, so in September, enlisted Marines were allowed to apply. The eligibility requirements for the flying WO program were the same as the regular WO program, but aptitude scores were higher. Also, unlike 1960, no flight experience was required. Of the 9 applicants in the new program, 7 were rejected as unqualified. Evidently, no more Marines completed the program and it died about 1964.

This guy's time line doesn't work. Figure time for flight school, plus minimum 6 years service to qualify for Warrant Officer, he must have been about 13 or 14 when he enlisted!

Re: 21 year old warrant officer pilot?

I do agree, this is a want to be. The time just doesn't work out. You see that every day now. There were only 2.4-5 million Men and Women that actually touched dirt in Vietnam, and now there are at least 9-10 million that want to be Vietnam Veterans. Go figure. Wasn't cool then, but BY-Golly it is NOW. They want all that money we susposed to be getting. My Brother at a Large VA in MT., checks 30-45 thousand applicants a day, and he has to reject 3/4 of them, as they don't compute, don't even have a card. Its an age thang. There are a good number of us left, but the va says 399 of us are dying every day. THATS NOT LONG TO GO. Hope we show them they are wrong. That kid warrant officer needs to be corrected. Hope someone does soon. Semper Fi, and READY-APP.

Re: 21 year old warrant officer pilot?

Flew with an enlisted pilot at El Toro and a WO at Phu Bai. Both were old enough to be my dad.

In HMM-265 was a Gunner Poe. Was a WWII and Korean veteran flying F4U Corsairs. Was a GREAT helo pilot too! Gave me my first ride in a UH-34D in HMM-365 New River 1966! There were more than a few around in 1966-7-8.

Re: 21 year old warrant officer pilot?

Joe, afraid Gunner Poe either rotated back, or got out by '69 when I joined 265. Hate that. Believe he had left just a few months before I joined. Semper Fi, and READY-APP.

Re: 21 year old warrant officer pilot?

WO Poe was still flying CH46s at Okinawa in the 1970 ies when I was there. He crashed in one there but I dont recall which year it was. SF PM

Re: 21 year old warrant officer pilot?

Thats Great Paul. I was just saying he was not in 265 when I got there the 4th of April'69. Glad he was still flying, and survived the crash. Semper Fi, and READY-APP.

Re: 21 year old warrant officer pilot?

I served with Henry Wildfang in VMGR-252. He retired in the late 1970's well past the 60 year old retirement age for WO. I think during his career he was an enlisted, officer, and WO pilot. I was at his retirement; he went out with the rank of major. I heard he had been a squadron CO in World War II and a couple Lt. that served under him went on to be generals. I would bet he has more flight hours than anyone else in Marine Aviation.

Re: 21 year old warrant officer pilot?

VMO-6 had an Army Warrant Officer (also an Army 1stLt) in 1968 that were both pilots on the "Exchange Program". On one flight, that Warrant Officer was PIC and the 1stLt was the Co-Pilot. If that Warrant Officer was over 21, I would be very surprised. The Warrant Officer's Name was Johnson and the 1stLt's name was Lane; that was on 5/31/68. In 1969 we had one or two Warrant Officer Pilots, but they were well over 21. During 1970-74, we had three or four CWO-4 Pilots at Search and Rescue El Toro; again, they were well over 21.

Semper Fi,
Arthur G Friend
"Alfa Golf"

Re: 21 year old warrant officer pilot?

Henry Wildfang graduated as an enlisted Pilot NAP in 1947. He was not flying in WW2. He was in the class with my classmates that completed the course. According to the Navy times He was one of the last 3 NAPs that retired in 1971 as a MGySgt. He definitely had more flight hours than anyone else, it was over 33,000 most from flying C130 A/C. He is retired in Oklahoma. SF PM

Re: 21 year old warrant officer pilot?

The Gray Eagle Award has Henry Wildfang getting his wings on April 16, 1942. He was the Gray Eagle 1977 to 1978. I was in VMGR-252 and present at his retirement in May 1978. He had more than 36 years active duty. I joined VMGR-252 when I returned from my 2nd WesPac tour in March 1976. I flew many missions with Henry during his last 2 years on active duty 1976-1978. He was a CW4 all the time I served with him, but retired with the rank of Major.

Re: 21 year old warrant officer pilot?

Something doesnt match. I have the Roster of the U>S> Marine Corps Enlisted Pilots Association Where he is clearly listed as Graduating Class 43-47. As for the info you post I cannot argue with. I did not have personal contact or service with Henry. . If you send me your email I will give you his address & Phone #. SF PM

Re: 21 year old warrant officer pilot?

Allyn, must apolagize for not having the complete story. I only had the NAP graduation in 1947 which was what I based the lack of WW2 part you published. I just talked to Henry , Damn would you believe he is 94 and still going strong !!! He did in fact fly in WW2 in B24 photo A/C. He went through regular flight training in 1942. However he got out for a short time & came back into NAP training as an enlisted Pilot in 1947. We had mutual Brothers from back to 1942 & had a long session on many that we both knew through all those years. Tried to get him on our Site . He said he had to give up the computer as he got too many emails each day. DAMN THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT DAY AFTER THAT CONVERSATION WITH A LEGEND !!! Also he said he had 24,000 hours flying time. Semper Fidelis PM

Re: 21 year old warrant officer pilot?

Mr. Moore, you are a legend!

Re: 21 year old warrant officer pilot?

Larry South;31751 wrote: Mr. Moore, you are a legend!

I concur Mr. Moore.

Re: 21 year old warrant officer pilot?

Larry South;31751 wrote: Mr. Moore, you are a legend!

Dale A Riley;31754 wrote: I concur Mr. Moore.

I double concur Mr. Moore (if you can do such a thing). You are our living USMC encyclopedia.