Return to Centaurs In Contact Main Page                 Return to Centaurs Main Page

In contact page for Charlie Johnson, Aero Weapons Section Leader 1967-1968

03/12/2010 - My comment on Norm Clark's recollection of Doug Olsen's custom made aerial bombs.

I don't recall the specific night mission that Norm relates but it is very possible I was the dumbass that allowed such activity. I definitely recall other, multiple, customized bombing missions during which Doug's bombs were delivered onto hootches, footbridges and other targets. This activity made us a big ol' fat tadpole target while trying to high hover an overloaded HOG for accurate delivery of home made ordnance on target. About as dumb as trying to hover over an North Vietnam flag atop a 40 or 50 foot tall flagpole so we could retrieve a really cool souvenir. Dumb!!  I guess we really were ten foot tall and bullet proof back then, or we may have been 'on a mission from God' and didn't realize it at the time.

See Norm's page here

Charlie Johnson - Centaur 40 (1967-1968)

Then and now photos. This merged photo (courtesy of Bruce Powell) shows Charlie as a young Lieutenant Aero Weapons Section Leader (HOGS) in early 1968 - and at the 2010 Squadron Association Reunion in Tucson.

Click on the thumbnails below to see the full size photos below.

 Photo description - left to right

Centaurs in the 1967 Christmas card photo (Christmas Card/Photo courtesy of Smokey Burgess)

STANDING:  Bain 'Short Round' Cowell, the Arty FO. To the right of 'Short Round' is, I think, WO Festus Hagen, a Heavy Scouts gunship pilot. The next man to the right, centered in the cargo door is that intrepid Light Scout driver with a gunship driver attitude, Lt. Larry Patterson. The next man to the right, wearing the white T-shirt, mustache and a smirk, is Lt. Lee "Smokey" Burgess, who was the original lead-magnet Light Scout Platoon leader. To the right of Smokey, wearing the non regulation soft cap is a WO gunship pilot whose name I cannot recall, but I do recall he was a good pilot (Heavy Scouts gunships I believe), a good crewmember and an outrageous 'Jungle Rules' volleyball player. The next man to the right is WO Pete 'Petey' Johnson, a Heavy Scouts gunship pilot. I guess I missed formation the day they handed out swords as personal weapons such as the one Pete is hoisting. The man standing on the right in this photo is, I think, Lt. Prillaman, a Heavy Scouts gunship pilot.

KNEELING:  On the left in this photo, wearing the Artillery FO issue Jungle Warrior hat with Australian flair, is Lt. John Kelly, who also was an Arty FO and the prototypical 'Short Timer' who, if my memory is not too defective, was in 'Short Timer' status for his last three months in D Troop. The man in the middle is WO Pat 'Joaquin' Eastes, a Sure As Hell Gunship Pilot and a heck of good man to fly with. The man kneeling on the right side is yours truly, Lt. Charlie Johnson, future 'HOGS' Section Leader. At the time this photo was taken I could find the flight line by myself (during daylight hours) but I didn't know how to hold a Door Gun - much less shoot one.

UH-1C HOG gunship. Photo courtesy of Glenn Gouge. Not certain but it appears the crew is: Pilot on left (aircraft right seat) possibly WO Pat Eastes. Pilot on right (aircraft left seat) probably Lt. Chuck Johnson. Crew Chief on the right in photo (left side of aircraft) probably Doug Olsen.  This photo appears to have been taken in early 1968 during the dry season, in the Corral at the new Troop area.

'OLD BILL' memento of D Troop. The display backing looks like it has been rode hard and put up wet but Old Bill and his horse are both still here. 

Click on I REMEMBER to go to the section of the website where stories from Charlie Johnson's memories are posted.

Return to top of page                    Return to Centaurs In Contact Main Page                    Return to Centaurs Main Page