Legacy of Valor
Not to be confused with official markings or insignia, nose art personalizes an aircraft for its crew, because it is the crew members who name the aircraft and create the art, imbuing it with an identity of its own. ‘Nose Art’ is important as an historical and societal indicator over time, an example of folk art or popular expression, and a record of the past.
Charlie Troop 1/9th Lift bird
The original Pink Panther nose art was designed by 1st LT Joe Waters (Weapons Platoon) C Troop 1/9th, 1st Cavalry Division
Mike Thompson (crew chief) 228th Assault Support Helicopter Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, 1970-71
This and the following thirteen nose art photos were taken by Mike and provided to me by Mike’s brother-in-law Specialist 5 Jordan Green (Maintenance Platoon) Charlie Troop 1/9th, 1969-70
I was in phouc vinh 67/68…I remember the 162nd and the Big Red One and I forget the artillery unit there???? with the 155′s and the 175′s.
Infact looking for the BRO sgt e5 who climbed our radio tower to call in-in coming mortar fire……..txs-tony molina…stmolina@msn.com
I don’t know what artillery unit that was, but I do recall the sound of their big guns going off while I was on perimeter guard duty. They were directly behind us.
Welcome Home Tony…
Nose Art. Great stuff. keep it going.
Thanks Terry…
Wow, great collection of colorful helicopter names and art. I’m so glad you shared these with us all. Opens up a fresh new chapter in aviation history completed four decades ago. Myself, served in the Delta, helo company, 70-71.
Thanks and Welcome Home John…
Isn’t “U.S. ARMY HELICOPTER NAMES IN VIETNAM” your book?
Yes, I plead guilty, my bloodhound tendency for tracking down “new” undocumented helo names and art of the VN War keeps me looking & searching even after publishing the book. I figure there’s another 500 helo names out there, and the discovery of six “new” ones on your site proves my theory most clearly. A treasure trove indeed!