Blue Max AH1G Cobra Helicopters

From Jim "Bugs" Moran

Click on pictures to see them in full size

This is the cover art for the Osprey Publications volume on Army AH-1 units in RVN.

The action took place in Cambodia, Northeast of Katum, RVN on 24 May 1970. The pilots involved were George Alexander (AC-[Aircraft Commander]) and Myself (P-[Pilot]) with Paul Garrity (AC) and Jim "Gomer" Nabours (P) flying our wing.

Several Blue Max pilots (including Gary White and Mac Cookson were awarded silver stars for the action which covered two days. Garrity and Alexander were written up for the silver star by Medevac personnel, but the REMFs at 1Cav HQ "lost" the paperwork. 

We are working through Congress to rectify this oversight. "Alex" and "Haze" definitely saved Med 24's bacon on this day. It does not show in the picture, but "Alex" got the ***t shot out of us covering Med 24 into the LZ.

The picture depicts the action as Garrity "rolled hot" on the bunkers in the upper right of the picture. "Alex had just bent us around to starboard to avoid a wall of tracers that would have certainly taken us out. I was too busy soiling myself to contribute much more than wild mini-gun fire.

The book goes to press March 1, 2003 and will be out around September 1.
 
See you guys in Orlando,
Jim "Bugs" Moran

This is one of three profiles of "Blue Max" aircraft that will be profiled in the Osprey AH-lG book.

The aircraft was originally assigned to the first platoon leader, but when he Derosed it was assigned to George Tebbets.

It was the first ECU aircraft in our unit. George Alexander and I got shot up in it on April 24, 1970. As luck would have it, one of the rounds went right through the air-conditioning unit. Tebby never forgave us.

The other two aircraft will be 049 as it appeared after the 5/24/70 episode, but before it was repainted. The third will be 054(Sound of Silence) as it appeared in Charlie Battery markings, before transfer to F/79.

This was the first bird to sport the "Billboard" nose art. 054 was painted by Neil Macmillan in November of '70.

The aircraft was the second assigned to me. Neil and I flew it frequently, but it became so popular that the RLO's would "bump" us and we only got to fly it once or twice during my last two and a half months in country.

Bugs

Click for full-size picture:  14.68-17051.jpg

This is the second profile.

Jim Laurier, the artist, just needs to fill in the "meatball".

The nose art was painted by Neil MacMillan in November 1970.

I was the Aircraft Commander (AC) assigned to this bird, but as you know we seldom flew our assigned birds. At least warrants did not have the option of influencing the ops officer when it came to aircraft assignments on a daily basis. I know this bucket was assigned to F/79.

Bugs

Click for full-size picture: 18.68-17054.jpg