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B

  • B-52: U.S. Air Force high-altitude bomber.Coop


  • BARKY: was a light observation plane with twin tail booms. Pineapple Also was the call sign for USAF Forward Air Controllers (FAC), USAF blue suit types in the OV-10 twin engine turboprop observation planes, operating out of Quang Tri. The Barky FACs (Quang Tri) were a forward operating location of the 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron (TASS) headquartered at Da Nang. The Barkys supported the 1st Brigade, 5th Mechanized Infantry Division.Good (Go to Lt. Bossom's account)   Photo of Barky in flight How Barky Ops got it's name. (Courtesy of Rodman H. Williams, 20th TASS, Forward Air Controllers)

  • BIRD DOGS: The Cessna Model 305A known by the US Army as the L-l9; the Navy procured an identical version for use by the Marine Corps. Later, the USAF acquired some, designating them as the O-1. Whether designated as an L-19 or O-1, all were known as "Bird Dogs." Powered by the 213 hp Continental 0-470-Il engine, all were redesignated 0-lB in 1962. Span, 36 ft; length, 25 ft 9 in; gross weight, 2,430 Ib; max speed, 130 mph. A detachment of Bird Dogs flew out of Dong Ha, in the A 4/12 area, using the callsign "Cat Killer." Drawings of Bird Dogs, Photo of Bird Dog Good  For a story about the Cat Killers in the Dong Ha / Quang Tri area in 1970 go to: http://www.amarillo2000.com/audacia/what-68.html

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C

  • C-54: Largest of the American helicopters, also called Flying Crane or Skycrane Coop

  • C123
  • C-123: The C-123 served as troop carrier, med-evac aircraft and even as a gunship. It provided much of the in-country transport in Vietnam and Cambodia.  Good  Go to our website for the C-123

  • C-130: Large propeller-driven Air Force planes that carry people and cargo (Hercules). The gunship version, the AC-130, was armed with side firing miniguns, and a 105mm cannon. The AC-130 was known by its nickname, PUFF THE MAGIC DRAGON.Good

  • C141
  • C-141: Large cargo airplane (Starlifter) Coop

  • CH54
  • CH-54 Tarhe 'Skycrane' Heavy Lift Helicopter: The Sikorsky (model S-64A) CH-54A/CH54B "Skycrane", with a crew of three, was designed for heavy internal or external lift of heavy bulk loads. It had a rear-facing pilot's seat to provide a clear view of the cargo. A hoist was provided to allow pickups and deliveries without landing. A lightweight van (universal pod) could be attached to the fuselage for use as a mobile command post, maintenance and repair shop, or as a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH). The " Skycrane" served with the 1st Cavalry Division in Vietnam. The CH-54 was used in aircraft recovery operations when loads were too heavy for the CH-47 Chinook. It was also useful for offloading during ship-to-shore operations. The CH-54 could also be rigged to drop the large 10,000 lb. Ôdaisy-cutterÕcratering bomb used to create landing zones ("LZs") in dense jungle. The T-54A Tahre had a six-bladed main rotor, four-bladed metal tail rotor, was powered by two Pratt & Whitney T73 -P-1 4500 shp turbine engines, and had a speed of 128 mph (111 knots). The CH-54B was powered by two Pratt & Whitney T73-P-700 4800 sph turbine engines. 'Pipe-smoke' mission for Skycrane, recovering a CH-47 ChinookGood

  • chinook chinook
  • CHINOOK: nickname for a CH-47, a tandem rotor helicopter that looked like a big pickle . It was hard to tell if it was coming or going, but close observation revealed that the front end was pointy and the big back end was not. It was a workhorse helicopter for the Navy and Marines as they used it to move equipment and men. The army also used Chinooks to carry heavy equipment. They were a common sight at C2 and Quang Tri as they kicked up incredible amounts of dust when they came close to the ground. Additional Chinook photographs Pineapple

  • CHOPPER: Helicopter Coop

  • Cobra Cobra
  • COBRA (AH-1): Attack helicopter, known as a gunship - armed with rockets and machine guns. Coop

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D

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E

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F

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G

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H

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L

  • LOACH: a light observation helicopter, whose initials were LOH. I guess we put a "ch" sound in there cause it sounded better. Pineapple Nickname for the OH-6 Cayuse.Good

  • LOG BIRD: The logistics resupply helicopter which brought food, mail, ammo, repair parts, and supplies to us in the field. Usually a UH-1 Huey.Good

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    M

      medivac
    • MEDIVAC: Medical evacuation from the field by helicopter. Coop

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    O

      Loach
    • OH-6 Cayuse: Helicoptor, unofficially called a "Loach" for Light Observation Helicopter, frequently used in a scout role as the eyes for a pair of Cobra gunships, also used as a liaision aircraft to transport staff officers. Webpage for more photos  Good

    • OH58
    • OH-58 Kiowa: a small observation helicopter, but the OH-58 was usually just called an OH-58, or a "58".Good

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    P

    • PUFF THE MAGIC DRAGON: was a C-130 aircraft that had machineguns that legend says could cover every square inch of a football field with a bullet. At night, the firepower that came out of that plane looked like a storm of red tracers (and we know there were 5 regular rounds in between each tracer so the rate to fire was insanely high.) Pineapple  C130 Hercules Headquarters Historical Photos shows the C-130 gunship in Viet Nam, excellent resource Olney

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    S

      slick
    • SLICK:Nickname for UH-1's that did not have any outside weapons mounted on it - hence the name.Ê These birds were "slick" on the outside. UH-1. Coop

    • SPOOKY: Large propeller-driven aircraft with a Minigun mounted in the door. Capable of firing 6,000 rounds per minute; would be used to refer to gunship helicopters with Miniguns. Coop

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    T

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    U

      UH1
    • UH-1 Iroquois: U (Utility) H (helicopter) for transporting troops in tactical air assault operations. Nicknames: Huey and Slick. There were basically two types of the UH-1 helicopters in Vietnam - gunships and slicks.Ê The gunships had just that - various guns and rockets mounted onÊthe sides of themÊto destroy the dinks.Ê The UH-1's that were called "slicks" did not have any outside weapons mounted on it - hence the name.Ê These birds were "slick" on the outside. J.T. Tillman

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    X

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    Y

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    Z

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    Site Administrator      Other Links


    This site is in no way connected to, or sanctioned by, any official Army or Government entity. This is, and will be a work in progress; we apologize now for any errors and/or mistakes. Information for this site has been and will continue to be gathered from many different sources. It is intended as a place for fellow troopers, family and friends of A Troop 4th Squadron 12th Cavalry (Vietnam Era) to visit, seek contact with, gather information or some insight into the history, language and jargon of the people who were part of A Troop, then and now. A Troop 4/12 Cav (Vietnam Era) invites and encourages trooper's family members to participate in the troop's reunions, memorial services, remembrances of our fellow troopers who have passed on to Fiddler's Green, and to continue the camaraderie of the BROTHERHOOD....Long Live the Cav and its BROTHERHOOD!!