I know most of you are from tours later than mine and we all realize that experience and proficiency are not learned at fight school. The pilots we flew with all got their experience from their predecessors. The Peter Pilots never got much Stick Time. I guess that is because the "Old Farts" were getting Short and wanted to go home in one piece. I always used to get nervous when the AC let the Peter Pilot have the controls.

I must agree that the 119th had the Creem of the Crop. Cast Iron Balls, Nerves of Steel, and the ability to back it up. I would however like to take exception to the statement regarding the exposure of the of the AC and Peter Pilot. Yes they were the leading part of the Huey with Flack Jackets, Chicken Plates, and Armor plated seats. We on the other hand (Guys In Back) had Flack Jackets, Chicken Plates, no Aromr Plated seats, an M60, Opean Door, no control of Direction, Sitting on top of the Fuel Cells, and most of the incomming was from the side. Yes we could shoot back but that was like pissing into the wind. Now don't get me wrong here, our Pilots were the "BEST" WOs seemed to have more on the ball but the Hard Bars were also GREAT. We would not be here today to talk about it if that was not the case.
The AC had to know that the Peter Piolt could take over if need be and both of them had to trust the CE and Gunner for direction in tight LZs as well as cover during "HOT LZs". It was and is today a total TEEM effort.

I wish I could get fired from my demanding and well paying job and attend the Reunion in Texas. The people on this Net are the best I would trust my BACK to any one of you. You can take that "TO THE BANK".

Tom Gator 851.