USMC Cobra, SER. # 68-17023

[popasmoke]

You can contact Sy Berman at:

SYBETBERM@aol.com

Or Marius Burke Jr. at:

mariusb@bellsouth.net


Gents,

We have a Veterans Memorial Museum here on Merritt Island, FL that does a great job of supporting the troops. They recently received delivery of a UH1H which was flown by the Army in Vietnam 71-75 and then transferred to the CIA for use by us at Air America in support(?) of the ICCS. We did some checking and found a number of us former Marines and Air America pilots had flown that particular aircraft and it participated in the final evacuation of Saigon in '75. Anyways, they were able to contact some of the crews that flew that a/c withthe Army and those of us in the area whoflew it for Air America and a very nice dedication ceremony was held. Additional memorabilia has been and will continue to be collected to provide further info on that ship and its missions.

They are soon to take delivery of a USMC Cobra, SER. # 68-17023. Thus far they have little other information on that a/c but surely it was used in Vietnam. It would be great if we could find some of the members of the Association who had anything to do with it and would be interested in participating in a dedication when the time comes. Wonder if you guys could help in that endeavor.

Sy Berman, who is a Director of the Museum would be an ideal contact and/or I will make myself available to assist as needed.

Semper Fidelis

Marius Burke Jr.
Major USMC Res. ret.
Air America

[GEORGE CURTIS]

FYI

68-17023 was a Bell AH-1G-BF Cobra transfered to the USMC , later returned to the Army and converted to a AH-1F.


http://home.att.net/~jbaugher/1968.html


(?) history for 68-17023

http://www.scarface-usmc.org/the_aircraft.htm#bn

[Ryan]

Another gent from your group posted the same question on a different forum and I checked this forum’s posts.

AH-1G 68-17023 was USMC 158228
Posted on this forum last April by Tom, might help somebody remember something about that bird.

http://www.popasmoke.com/notam2/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2959&highlight=6817023

Semper Fi,
Ryan

[hma1369]

According to the HMA-169 Command Chronology, 1 Jan-30 Jun 1972, 68-17023 was accepted by the squadron on 22 May.

There were still 4 or so in the squadron as late as early 1976. I helped get the last ones ready for transfer to HMA-773 at El Toro. I don't remember any of the serial nos.

[SIDSIKO]

AH-1G 68-17023 was built for the US Army and accepted on charge on the 8th of September, 1969 and delivered directly to the USMC VMO-2 at Danang, taken on charge there on the 19th of September, 1969. On 17th December 1969, to HML-367 at Marble Mountain. Recieved by H&MS16, Snata Ana on the 23rd of July, 1971 with total hours of 1231. To HMA-169 at Camp Pendleton on the 22nd of May 1972. To MARTD Atlanta (HMA-773)on the 1st of August, 1976.
Into storage at Davis Montan AFB, Tucson, AZ on the 16th of October, 1978, coded "MP-419" with a total time of 2178 hours and 2047 landings.

Eventually, whilst in storage, on the 23rd of March 1981, the aircraft was transferred back to US Army custody. On the 22nd of April, 1981, it left the storage facility and was delivered to the US Army at Amarillo, TX for eventual return to Army service.

It was noted with the 7th Cav as an AH-1F in May 1990 and last noted as stored at Fort Drum in August 2001, last unit having been 1/158 th Cav, MD ARNG.

[Hostage Rat]

In September, 1969 while a pilot with VMO-2. I flew it on the 25th a .6 with LtCol Chick Chalgren, the CO. It is listed as "Mission 5" in my logbook. Something must have gone wrong, because none of the "normal" missions lasted that short a time. I flew it a couple of times in October and November also.

I suffer from CRS, so unless something really bad (or good) happened, it was a routine hop with the CO.

[Terry McGovern]

The Cobra that was with HML-367 is almost ready to be hoisted up on its stand. It has been painted Marine Corp Field Green and has the cobra face on it. It also has some Model "F" features (20MM Gun, aiming arm on right side, TOW missle launchers, and other small features not on "G" Model). The dedication ceremony for this aircraft will be August 14, 2004, at 1000 Hrs. The location is The Brevard Veteran's Museum located on Merritt Island, FL. Everyone who lives in the Central Florida Area is invited to attend. I personally have helped restore this aircraft with Scarface identification, at least as much as I could remember and some photos that I have. It would be nice to see as many POP-A-Smoke members as possible attend and also any HML-367 Members. They are supposed to have a couple of Marine Generals who flew this aircraft or were in Scarface during the time it was in Vietnam say a word or two. Hope to see some people from POP-A-SMOKE and HML-367 at the dedication. If you need any more information you can contact me at (321) 727-0357, or email at earshml367usmc.att.net .

Semper Fi
Terry McGovern
HML-367 RVN 69-71
USMC 67-71
Scarface Ordnance
WE PUT THE VENOM IN THE COBRA

[Ryan]

Terry,

As I know I can't make it, along with other Marines, can you post some pic's of 68-17023/158228. Thanks.

Semper Fi,
Ryan