What was the death rate for helicopter pilots in Vietnam?

In total records show that 11,846 helicopters of all types served in Vietnam. Helicopter pilot losses were 2,165 out of the roughly 40,000+ helicopter pilots who served there, many more than once. Pilots who died while flying a Huey was 1,151.

What was the helicopter pilot mortality rate in Vietnam?

Over 10% of all combat and combat support deaths in Vietnam occurred in helicopter operations, a total of 6,175 (2,202 pilots, 2,704 aircrew and 1,269 passengers).

What was the average life expectancy of a helicopter pilot in Vietnam?

Being a helicopter pilot in Vietnam was one of the most dangerous jobs in the military at the time. The military used 12,000 helicopters in the Vietnam War. Over 5,000, or nearly half, were destroyed. The average lifespan of a pilot in Riede's position was 30 days.

How many helicopter pilots died in Vietnam War?

The Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association (VHPA) estimates that over 100,000 helicopter pilots and crew members served during the Vietnam War. Over 4,800 helicopter pilots and crew members were killed in action, and more than 300 are buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

What was life expectancy of a helicopter gunner in Vietnam?

Over 10% of Vietnam casualties were helicopter crew members, and most of those were the door gunners that protected the helicopter, its crew, and its transports, from their exposed position. The average lifespan of a door gunner on a Huey in Vietnam was just two weeks.

Vietnam helicopter pilots describe the war from the cockpit

Who had the highest casualty rates in the Vietnam War?

The war persisted from 1955 to 1975 and most of the fighting took place in South Vietnam; accordingly it suffered the most casualties.

Did soldiers fall out of helicopters in Vietnam?

One of the most enduring yet baseless myths of the Vietnam War alleges that communist prisoners were thrown out of high-flying helicopters to induce others to talk.

What was the deadliest job in Vietnam?

Overall, the U.S. military used nearly 12,000 helicopters in Vietnam, of which more than 5,000 were destroyed. To be a helicopter pilot or crew member was among the most dangerous jobs in the war.

How many Hueys shot down in Vietnam?

According to the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, a total of 11,846 helicopters were shot down or crashed during the war, resulting in nearly 5,000 American pilots and crew killed. Of those servicepeople, 2,382 were killed while serving aboard UH-1 Iroquois, better known as the ubiquitous “Huey.”

Which pilot has the most kills in history?

Erich Hartmann is the most successful fighter pilot of all times – with 352 kills. A number that will never be surpassed. His nickname “Bubi” means “little boy” – and it's easy to find out why he was called like that. He was also called “The black devil”.

Do helicopter pilots get PTSD?

Most people don't think about PTSD among aviators, whether they are pilots, air crew, door gunners, first aid personnel, medics, or corpsman. However, aviators can still develop PTSD due to their line of work.

What percentage of Vietnam vets are still alive?

After extensive research of various mortality indexes and sources The American War Library estimates that approximately one-third of those who did serve in Vietnam (approximately 850,000) are alive today [18 Aug 2007].

What was the life expectancy of a tunnel rat in Vietnam?

The life expectancy for a tunnel rat is about 7 seconds, but I was never injured while in the tunnel. “A young Vietnamese boy showed me a lifesaving technique.

What was the most famous helicopter of the Vietnam War?

Bell UH-1 Iroquois (Huey) Arguably the most iconic helicopter of the Vietnam War, the Bell UH-1 Iroquois was first used by the United States military in 1959. Nicknamed “Huey” after its original designation (HU-1), this helicopter became synonymous with the Vietnam War.

Did the US throw people out of helicopters in Vietnam?

When the US military pushed helicopters overboard to make room for the last evacuees of the Vietnam War, 1975. On the last two days in April 1975, Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of Vietnam, ended a twenty-year agony for the United States. A trial for America was done.

Why did they dump helicopters in Vietnam?

Then-Navy Capt. Larry Chambers, skipper of the aircraft carrier Midway, ordered his crew to push helicopters off the flight deck to save a Vietnamese air force officer and his family fleeing Saigon.

What was the most feared unit in the Vietnam War?

Tiger Force (Recon) 1-327th was a highly decorated small unit in Vietnam, and paid for its reputation with heavy casualties. In October 1968, Tiger Force's parent battalion was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation by President Lyndon B.

What unit lost the most men in Vietnam?

1st Cavalry Division – Ia Drang Valley, Republic of (South) Vietnam, November 16, 1965. At the battles at LZ X-Ray and LZ Albany, 234 men were killed and more than 250 were wounded in a period of four days.

Who was the most decorated helicopter pilot in Vietnam?

Patrick Henry Brady (born October 1, 1936), is a retired United States Army major general. While serving as a helicopter pilot in the Vietnam War, he received the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration for valor.

What was the bloodiest day in Vietnam?

The deadliest day of the Vietnam War for the U.S. was 31 January at the start of the Tet Offensive when 246 Americans were killed in action.

Did 15 year olds fight in Vietnam?

Dan Bullock (December 21, 1953 – June 7, 1969) was a United States Marine and the youngest U.S. serviceman killed in action during the Vietnam War, dying at the age of 15. Goldsboro, North Carolina, U.S. Elmwood Cemetery, Goldsboro, Wayne County, North Carolina, U.S.

How long was helicopter training in Vietnam?

There they learned instrument flight rules, tactics, formation flying, and how to operate the bigger, turbine-powered Huey. The entire process—from boot camp to Wolters through graduation from Rucker—took less than a year.

How many U.S. soldiers are still missing in Vietnam?

Current Status of Unaccounted-For Americans Lost in the Vietnam War. Of the remaining 1,244 Americans still unaccounted for in Vietnam, 470 are in a "non-recoverable" category.

How many officers were fragged in the Vietnam War?

Savage, estimated that up to 1,017 fragging incidents may have taken place in Vietnam, causing 86 deaths and 714 injuries of U.S. military personnel, the majority officers and NCOs. Fragging statistics include only incidents involving explosives, most commonly grenades.