Starr Smeck
Hi, I just found your 242 web site,I think it is great. I was in the
242ash in Cu~Chi from Jan. 13, 1969 to Jan. 13, 1970. I worked
on one of the maintenance crews 67u20. The night of Feb.26,1969
I was on motor pool guard it all started at 4:00 am. At first they
just sounded the air attach.... so I headed for the bunker over by the EM club. I got about half way over and the rockets was getting
pretty close by then I was down on the ground going as fast as
I could. I was going right along side the EM club and one hit right
on the other side. I could hear it hit the side and roof of the EM
club, I made it to the bunker ok. I have some pictures of the
burned Chinooks if I can find them.Take care and thanks for the
242 web site, Starr Smeck Camp Verde Az.
Bill Reid
Hello Muleskinner !!!!!
I was in the 116th. AHC(your sister co) on Cu~Chi the night (I
believe 28 Feb.69) When the sappers got into the perimeter and blew up
some 14? Chinooks of the 242nd. I also remember being shot down again
that same night trying to evac the ships to pho`loi ??? Got as far as
the soccer field and went down with the master caution panel screaming .
Counted 57 holes in new(later sent back to rebuild) UH-1c. What a night.
Great Home page.
Bill Reid~~~SAEP STINGERS 68-69
116th. Assault Helicopter Co. Association
P.O. Box 952 Woodland Hills,CA. 91365
Ronald Skamanich
Unknown?
111-LC-55736 242D ASSAULT SUP COPTER CO 6/3/70 silent, unedited, color
Summary: Air to air, Ch-47 copter in flight.
I didn't see anything about the sapper attact in Feb of 69? I think they got 11 hooks?
I have some 8mm movies of the unit. I was with the 25th Aviation Co. B. I maintained the fixwing beavers close to your pads.
I will try and convert the movies to VHS. ronald.skamanich"
Was with a civilian unit Lear Sigler, at Cu Chi Base Camp in '68 and
first half of '69. Our unit was located next to the 242nd..
Remember in Feb.'69, when sappers penetraited our perimeter
set charges in all but two of the Chinooks, ( maintenance was working
through the night on one of the two). By dawn there was only a couple
aircraft left.
The day before C-130's came and went all day long
bring in cargo while the Muleskinners carried it out to the Hobo Woods
where it was needed. All day we had three 130's on the ground unloading
while others were in a holding pattern above the base. As soon as one
left the ground another would land to unload it's cargo. By sunset the
last Muleskinner Chinook carried off the last of the cargo brought in
that day.
We heard that the 242'nd. had casualties on the perimeter that night
where the sappers came through?
Greetings from one Vietnam vet to another. I found your name and e-mail
address on your homepage. Good work!
I was a soldier (fixed-wing aircraft mechanic) in VN from 68~71 (Cam
Ranh,Long Thanh North [beside Bearcat] & Tan Son Nhut) then as a civilian
'Tech-Rep' until 73. Hung around VN & Asia til Saigon's fall in 75. I
currently live in Bangkok, Thailand, where I work as an English teacher
at a university.
Now, for the reason I'm writing to you: I've been doing some research
these past several months and found some films at the National Archives that
may be of interest to you and members of your unit. The details are listed
below. If you want to order a copy or get other info, you can reach the
US
National Archives (NARA) homepage at:
http://www.nara.gov/nara/nail.html
Regarding copying costs, I referred another vet to a film on his unit
(720th
MP, in Vung Tau). It was about 750 feet long and he got a digital video
copy made for about $250. If you decide to get a copy, I highly recommend
making a DIGITAL video copy, even if you don't have a digital player. With
digital,you can make VHS or digital copies without loss of viewing/sound
quality.
The company that makes the digital copy can easily and cheaply make a
VHS copy at the same time. (I recommend the company; "ColorLab.")
If you or one of your members decide make a digital copy, I'd like to
have one, too. My name and mailing address is as follows:
Frank Ford<
37/3 Sukhumvit 65
Bangkok THAILAND 10110
Phone: (66-2) 381-5949
Hope this has been of some interest to you.
Best regards,
Frank 'Henry' Ford
Slingload under copter.
Chinook on ground at air strip. Chinook with slingload takes off from airstrip.
Air to air, Chinook in flight. (Underexposed) MS, maintenance building. CO,
sign. VS,
soldiers perform maintenance on Ch-47. Ground crew working on
Chinook.
Crewman standing in front of Chinook giving directions to pilot
before take off.
Int, copter in flight showing pilot at controls and instrument panel.
AVs, jungle terrain. Soldiers load supplies on trucks
aboard copter.
Int, copter in flight, looking down at slingload of supplies
From copter as it comes in for landing at strip.
Vietnamese civilians prepare to board Ch-47. Personal belongings are loaded aboard copter.
Chinook refueling. Int, rear door ramp of copter. Officer standing in
front
of soldiers in formation. Officer speaks to assembled troops. NOTE: Most
of
this footage is light and some is out of focus. Cu Chi, South Vietnam 1
motion picture title(s), 16mm, 635 feet
111-LC-55737 242D ASSAULT SUP COPTER CO 6/3/70 silent, unedited, color
Summary: Black Lady mountain. CH-47 Chinook in flight with slingload of
supplies in doorway of copter. Pilot in cockpit of Chinook. Copter comes
in
for landing Soldiers refuel CH-47. Copter takes off, raising a great
deal of
dust. Copter flies into distance with slingIoad. M-113 APC drives past.
Smoke from grenade. Soldiers atop APC watch copter come in for landing.
Chinook on ground. AVs, jungle terrain. Copter takes off. CH-47 with
slingload comes in for landing on top of mountain smoke from grenade.
Copter
lands and releases slingIoad. Soldier on top of mountain next to wind
sock.
He has a radio. Copter takes off with slingload. CH-47 comes in for
landing.
Wind sock in fg. Radio operator. Copter lands. Door gunner in copter.
NOTE:
Film light. Cu Chi, South Vietnam 1 motion picture title(s), 16mm, 915
feet
