I REMEMBER
This is Mike's recollection of some of the medical evacuation flights he flew as a Centaurs Slick aircraft commander in 1967-1968.
Date: Late 1967 thru 1968
Crew: Aircraft Commander (AC) WO Mike Siegel, various Pilots, various Crew Chiefs and Door Gunners.
I was in D troop from 9/67 to 9/68. I had been in a car accident after flight school (class 67-7, graduated in June of '67) and I came to the unit as a rusty FNG. I flew as as a copilot with Joe Bridges who was more than patient with me. I became an Aircraft commander in either Dec. 67 or Jan 68 and my call sign was Centaur 36. As a slick driver, most of my missions were 'single ship.' I was often flying "Ash and Trash", like driving a cab or bus or truck - taking people and supplies from one place to another. Honorable work, but pretty mundane. But sometimes we worked as an ambulance and sometimes we worked with the LRRP's. Those were the times that make the stories.
Medevac was another type of mission that was sometimes exciting. I was unsuccessful in keeping count, but I know we medevac-ed over 200 wounded. Unlike the real medevac units, we did not a have a medic on board. We just picked up and delivered. I'm proud to say that on more than a few occasions we went in when the real medevac units (the aircraft with call sign 'Dustoff') wouldn't. Shooting an approach to a hot LZ , all lights out, the guy on the ground shining a light through the barrel of an M79 40mm grenade launcher, and your crew chief and gunner leaning out of the bird telling you to move in a certain direction so you wouldn't hit the trees - that was interesting.
If anyone can fill in the blanks I'd sure appreciate it.
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