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In-Country Vietnam
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by Anonymous 22 years ago
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Hello Fellow Leathernecks,
I am a former marine grunt, who is a Marine Corps history buff and 1/6th Scale Action Figure collector/customizer. And a huge fan of the UH-34 in the Marine Corps during Vietnam.
My interest in Marine Helo operations in Vietnam was started by Reading the Official Marine Corps Histories of the Vietnam War: The US Marines in Vietnam-- 1965,1966, 1967,and 1968 and viewing a documentary on Vietnam Marine Helo pilots/aircrew on the Discovery Wings Channel. I will admit I am partial to HMM-163 (Favorite Unit). After viewing this I decided to do a figure of a UH-34 Pilot (Squadron not specific) during the 1966 to 1967 time period. I am looking to be very accurate in the uniform and details on the figure. I am requesting from you the following information:
1) When did the use of the Nomex Flightsuit begin, and was it Marine Corps/forest green.
2) What bodyarmor did pilots or Aircrew wear , I want to use a M-1955 Flak Jacket on this figure, would it be accurate.
3)What would a Pilot/Aircrewman wear on his web belt, I want to put a 1911a1(.45) w/ Holster,45 clip pouch, KABAR, Jungle First Aid kit, and a Canteen on the web belt, would that be accurate?????.
4) Did the Corps use the same Kind of Flight helmets with the flipdown microphone as the Army, and if they did was it Camoflagued, White, or Marine Green, I am going to do a repaint in Marine Green, and heavily weather it.
5) Finally I want to know besides name tags, (I have a black nametag w/ Aviators wings on it) did any units display Squadron Insignia on their Flight suits.
Any help from The Wing would be appreciated by this Grunt on this project.
Thanks.
Posted : 2003-06-25 12:29
Adrian,
Notwithstanding your misguided partiality to HMM-163 I'll try to help.
Nomex flight suits became available in late 1966 and early 1967. Ditto for the armor-plate vests, the M-1955's were pretty standard up until then.
If you wore a web belt (shoulder holsters were more prevalent) the most commonly issued pistol was the .38. Not a KABAR but rather a survival knife and NEVER a canteen.
Yes to the flip-up microphones, color usually Marine Corps green or black. Most of the helmets were recycled jet helmets, the "bubble-ears" didn't show up until later on.
Almost always, no other identification on the flight suit other than the name tag. Squadron insignia, etc. would be on a flight jacket.
Tripp, HMM-363
Posted : 2003-06-25 14:47
Additional Equipment
We (pilots) also had a shoulder strapped, waist hugging survival vest that was typical Marine Corps green. I do not know the correct military designation, nor nomenclature.
Posted : 2003-06-25 20:48
Evil Eyes
Tripper
HMM-163 and the EVIL EYES forever
SEMPER FI
Ed
Posted : 2003-06-25 22:31
Adrian:
I have to go with Ed on this one. HMM 163 had some incredible pilots. I'm not going to name all of them but if you knew Carl Bergman, T.D. Wilson, Bob McIlvain and some of the others you would be totally impressed. T.D. is gone and I have no idea where Mac is but Carl is still among us and I love it.
I was ex-enlisted so I liked "FIREPOWER" I carried a "Personal" K-38 Combat Masterpiece and an M3A1 "Grease Gun" around my neck. I loved the knockdown power of the .45 _____and you had 40 round clips.
Flack vest was a "turtle suit" and my helmet was standard issue white but I painted it black with some "Snoopy" additions as a gunner in an H-34, shooting down the Red Baron in his tri wing Fokker........
Jack "Screw" Warner
HMM 363, HMM 361 & HMM 163
Posted : 2003-06-25 23:45
