USMC CH-46 Pilot - HMM 165
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I was in Vietnam in 1972, January to December. HMM 165, CH 46 pilot, my rank was Captain. I flew off of the USS Tripoli LPH 10. The squadron then cross decked to the USS New Orleans LPH 11.
The reason I am a Fan of the Centaurs is because they saved my life and the lives of a lot of other Marine Pilots and crew. The event occurred on July 12, 1972. It is documented in an article authored by Rex Gooch.
HMM 165 and 164 flew an insert and the Centaurs flew cover for us. Cpt Merlin Huckameyer and I flew lead on a section of six birds. We had Centaur Cobras on each side of us a we entered the LZ. As we flared to land, the Cobra on the starboard side broke left across our nose (yikes!) and engaged a tank that was driving down a road on our port side.
Later, when one of our CH 53’s got shot down by a SA 7. Frank Walker landed and picked up the two pilot. Everyone else in the bird died. The pilots got out via the pilot escape hatches. Frank flew them to a safe area, where Jack "Beetle" Bailey who was in Huey, flew them to the hospital. Needless to say I owe the Centaurs.