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128th Assault Helicopter Company - "Tomahawks, Gunslingers, Witchdoctor"


Comapny Sign, Phu Loi 1967
Image courtesy of Bill Mc Donald, Crew Chief/Gunner 128th AHC 'Tomahawks' Phu Loi. Vietnam 1967.

Door gunner checks his M.60 before air assault, re-arm point Phu Loi.
Image courtesy of Bill Mc Donald, Crew Chief/Gunner 128th AHC 'Tomahawks' Phu Loi. Vietnam 1967.

Bill Mc Donald poses by his Huey before air assualt 1967. (note the white flight helmet)
Image courtesy of Bill Mc Donald, Crew Chief/Gunner 128th AHC 'Tomahawks' Phu Loi. Vietnam 1967.

128th Tomahawks in Flight 1967.
Image courtesy of Bill Mc Donald, Crew Chief/Gunner 128th AHC 'Tomahawks' Phu Loi. Vietnam 1967.

'Tomahawks' above the 'Delta Region' RVN 1967.
Image courtesy of Bill Mc Donald, Crew Chief/Gunner 128th AHC 'Tomahawks' Phu Loi. Vietnam 1967.

Tomahawks Gunships. in pre-mission staging area.
Image courtesy of Bill Mc Donald, Crew Chief/Gunner 128th AHC 'Tomahawks' Phu Loi. Vietnam 1967.

'Whitchdoctor' 128th AHC Maint/recovery ship.
Image courtesy of Bill Mc Donald, Crew Chief/Gunner 128th AHC 'Tomahawks' Phu Loi. Vietnam 1967.

'Whitchdoctor - 6 '
Image courtesy of Bill Mc Donald, Crew Chief/Gunner 128th AHC 'Tomahawks' Phu Loi. Vietnam 1967.

Tomahawk Crew, with non-regulation headwear!
Image courtesy of Bill Mc Donald, Crew Chief/Gunner 128th AHC 'Tomahawks' Phu Loi. Vietnam 1967.

128th Gunship Plt 'Heavy Hog'
Image courtesy of Jerry Tuttle

Helicopter 66-00970, Huey UH-1D/H, was procured by the U.S. Army in Nov. 1966. 970 arrived in South Vietnam in Febuary of 1967 and was assigned to the 128th Assault Helicopter Company. 970 is now in the possesion of Chapter 243 of the Vietnam Veterans of America in Lee's Summit, Missouri. She is trailered to a variety of events yearly in an effort to educate the public and create awareness of the history of the conflict in S.E. Asia and it's veterans. Chapter 243 can be reached for comments and input at janstapleton3@aol.com
Image courtesy of Jan Stapleton

Memorial Document
Image courtesy of Mike Sloniker

Propaganda leaflet the Tomahawks dropped for the 1st ID after one of their major engagements. One side in English the other in Viet Namese
Image courtesy of Chip Decker

Hoochmate and friend WO1 Gregg Rennacker. 2nd Plt.
Image courtesy of Chip Decker

WO1 Bill Palmer standing in a 122 mm rocket crater in front of my hooch. I think this attach happened in July 67, can't be positive though.
Image courtesy of Chip Decker

Some of 2nd Plt pilots Lt. Murray on the left in gray cotton flight suit.
Image courtesy of Chip Decker

I flew many hours with these two guys, crewchief on engine deck and door gunner standing.
Image courtesy of Chip Decker

2nd Plt pilots: L to R - WO1 Rennacker, WO1 McBride, and WO1 Mautino.
Image courtesy of Chip Decker

2nd Plt doorgunner Ray Nesmith playing with one of the company dogs.
Image courtesy of Chip Decker

Some of the hooch maids.
Image courtesy of Chip Decker

This is the scarf and slide the pilots got when we were made Aircraft Commander. Tomahawk patch also.
Image courtesy of Chip Decker

2nd Plt bird going around weather near the Iron Triangle near Cu Chi.
Image courtesy of Chip Decker

Another 2nd Plt A/C hovering in parking area.
Image courtesy of Chip Decker

Tomahawk 29s aircraft in parking.
Image courtesy of Chip Decker

A 2nd Plt A/C that crashed in parking. I believe they hit the tailrotor on the revetment.
Image courtesy of Chip Decker

More of 2nd plt, with Lt Harvey Allen facing camera.
Image courtesy of Chip Decker

Landing east into Phu Loi.
Image courtesy of Chip Decker

Just a good picture of the 2nd Plt leaders aircraft in parking at Phu Loi.
Image courtesy of Chip Decker

A customers eye view out the front of a Huey. Notice early model M16s and looks like somebody liked the old (at the time current Washington Redskins helmets).
Image courtesy of Chip Decker

This Huey was equipped with the DECCA navigation system. I think the Tomahawks had three in the Unit at the time I was there. Very few pilots knew how to operate the system. It had a paper rotating map mounted on the instrument panel glare shield and triangulated three radio beams for navigation.
Image courtesy of Chip Decker

One of the less fun missions was flying at night at low altitude blaring propaganda through this speaker system over known enemy positions or over hamlets that were considered unfriendly. Of course after waking them up at two in the morning with loud speakers you always got some kind of unfriendly reaction
Image courtesy of Chip Decker

One of the Gunslingers 40 mm grenade launcher birds. These aircraft normally had 19 shot rocket launchers also.
Image courtesy of Chip Decker

Gunslinger bird named Geronimo. This aircraft was armed with the M16 subsystem, four M60 flex guns, 2 on each side and a 7 shot rocket launcher on each side. The barrels have been pulled and the receivers covered to keep the red dirt out of the guns. The aircraft carried 6000 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition for the 4 M60s.
Image courtesy of Chip Decker

The 19 shot rocket launcher set-up for one of the aircraft with the 40 mm grenade launchers.
Image courtesy of Chip Decker

Tomahawks in a Landing Zone (LZ) somewhere in III Corps.
Image courtesy of Chip Decker

Another LZ with the Tomahawks. Most likely dropping off units of the 1st Infantry Division.
Image courtesy of Chip Decker

Tomahawks dropping of supplies along highway 1 north of Lai Kai.
Image courtesy of Chip Decker

Pick-up Zone (PZ) for a Battalion size combat assault. Tomahawks, Robin hoods and Vultures all would have been in this lift.
Image courtesy of Chip Decker

This is the Officers quarters area. Most of what you see is 1st Plt and Headquarters hooches. (Before the Officers Club was built).
Image courtesy of Chip Decker

Another shot of the Officers quarters.
Image courtesy of Chip Decker

The VC put close to 200 120 mm rockets on Phu Loi during one attack. This aircraft took a direct hit and was completely destroyed.
Image courtesy of Chip Decker

This aircraft was hit on the same attack. The rocket came through the Pilots door (right side) and went through the floor just aft of the cyclic, out the belly through the PSP matting and blew up. The explosion blew the aircraft off the ground causing hard landing damage when it returned to the ground and concussion damage to some of the windows and chin bubble.
Image courtesy of Chip Decker

The 128th Tomahawks on the ground in a landing zone (LZ) (1967).
Image courtesy of Chip Decker

Tomahawks in low level flight (1967).
Image courtesy of Chip Decker

Close up of a Tomahawk wingman (1967).
Image courtesy of Chip Decker

Tomahawks in formation (1967).
Image courtesy of Chip Decker


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