Helo Crews in Japam

[Larry Zok]

Saw on tonights news that a few helicopters were dropping water on the reactors in Japan. The newsperson kept saying they were CH-47's but when they did a close up it was a Phrog with EP on the aft pylon. I hope they all get decontaminated ASAP after each hop. They all need our prayers now.

[GARY ALLS]

On the news here on the west coast this morning, we were watching HMM-265 unload food items and water.

Like you Larry, I hope they decontaminate the crews. I'm sure their parents and love ones are worried to death for their safety.

S/F Gary
HMM-263 '66-'67

[Dale A Riley]

Both HMM-265 and HMM-262 have deployed from MCAS Futenma for relief operations.
Lt. Col. Damien Marsh, CO of 265 has been doing updates on his facebook page.
I had the pleasure of his company at the Old Tiger reunion dinner in Dallas 2009 as he joined us after serving as XO with HMM-262 in Iraq.
Wish them well on this mission.

:DJust for clarification: He's the one that can still fit in a uniform:D

[timothy]

We tipped a few beers with Damien (XO 262), Sluggo (CO 262) and their men at the Tom Saba memorial in NY. Tom was the 262 clp lost when 262 just were in country for 2 weeks and Tom was doing a medevac with another squadron and the 46 got shot down. This memorial was a year later, since the squadron was deployed to Iraq and Tom's squadron mates couldn't make his funeral. I was there for the funeral and the memorial. Damien is wearing his Tiger jacket that he passed on to John Mee the current 262 CO.

[John Ace Hunt]

Gary, they have said they get de-contaminated after each mission. I do hope that is correct. I've been watching FOX as much as I can, and they do show 265 quite a bit, both dumping the water on the plants, and hauling supplies. Semper Fi, and READY-APP.

[Dale A Riley]

Popasmoke member and HMM-265 CO, Lt.Col. Marsh has been posting about the cold weather and how the Dragons have been delivering food and oil to small villes in the north. He has a photo of his stubby wing with about five inches of snow on it - something I have never seen before!

[John Ace Hunt]

Dale, even though it was below freezing in Nam a bit, I never saw a 46 fly with it on it either. Bet the Crew was cold as ever. No, they would have the windows in, which would help a lot. Looks like Japan will shrink in usable size very soon. We will give them free housing, food, cars, and whatever they need to be american. Semper Fi, and READY-APP.

[popasmoke]

Ace,
I don't know what part of Vietnam you served in, but I never recalled below freezing temps. Sure it got cold during the monsoons, but we never encountered icing conditions. As a matter of fact, the heaters and anti-icing apparatus were removed from the 46's to lessen weight.

http://www.gate1travel.com/southeast-asia/weather/Vietnam-weather.htm

J.D.

[John Ace Hunt]

Yes they were taken off jd. But they were still freezing conditions up around the Z during March of 69 because I was flying then. I was from Chu-Lai, to the DMZ, from 1 Feb.,'68 until 27 Aug.,'69. It didn't stay cold very long, but it did get to freezing, a few times. My gunner got there before I did, and he had to get a Flight Jacket. They were gone by the time I needed one. Yes I challenge you about the freezing conditions. Not bad, had no snow, sleet etc, but it did get just to freezing a few times around then. It was colder than I wanted it to be.

[Howdy]

Ace,
I don't know what part of Vietnam you served in, but I never recalled below freezing temps. Sure it got cold during the monsoons, but we never encountered icing conditions. As a matter of fact, the heaters and anti-icing apparatus were removed from the 46's to lessen weight.

http://www.gate1travel.com/southeast-asia/weather/Vietnam-weather.htm

J.D.

From what I could find, the record low for Hanoi in March was 52°F and Saigon was 66°F.

[dweathers]

Was at Chu Lai and Marble Mtn March 67-Nov 68--No Freezing---Upper 40's a few days. Just a lot of humidity in winter (monsoons) so felt cold above 1500 ft. Only wore flt jacket a few times. If ice was observed forming, must of been flying above 30,000 ft !!

[Dale A Riley]

http://www.dvidshub.net/video/110269/hmm-265-delivers-relief

Always talk to the Crew Chief if you want to know what's happenin':D

[Dale A Riley]

On Col. Marsh's posts - they call it "Operation Tomodachi"
If I remember from Futenma correct that means "friends"?? Anyone know for sure?
I remember it cause they refered to the crabs as "little friends" and it was something like - chisi tomodachi - I think.

[John Ace Hunt]

From what I could find, the record low for Hanoi in March was 52°F and Saigon was 66°F.

Looks like they were at a good warm level. I bet you they were places in Vietnam that had ice. Lot of big mountains there. No one can tell me there was no ice in Vietnam for sure, because they did have mountains like lurch had in New Mexico. He had ice most the winter. I believe we were talking about vietnam, not just hanoi, or saigon. There are a lot of other places there than just those 2 places. I bet several mountains had ice for several days during that time. NO ONE can say one way or the other. Semper Fi, and READY-APP.

[Ray Norton]

From what I could find, the record low for Hanoi in March was 52°F and Saigon was 66°F.

For the record: 52F = 11C

The normal lapse rate is 2 degrees C per 1,000 feet. That is, if it is 11 degreess on the ground then under "normal" conditions it would be 9 degrees at 1,000 feet AGL, 7 degrees at 2,000...

So, if the temperature on the ground is 11, freezing is definitely a possibility under some conditions and and altitude.

[mecollins]

Maybeso,we're getting a little off the subject line here.,but in an attempt at mediation.,I'd like to make a comment or two.
During the monsoon season of '66/'67.,I spent beau coups time up in the high country,boring holes in the sky. In all that time,I never PERSONALLY saw any ice or frost AGL. However,it sure as hell felt like there ought to be. I felt bad for our troopers on the ground...they were wet ALL the time.
I often saw them using their ponchos as wind-breakers in the cabin of my bird. By then,the 'tin-benders' had given up on replacing damaged & missing Plexiglas & the wind coming into that '46 felt like it was coming straight off the polar ice cap.
Supply at Phu Bai had scads of old issue green wool shirts (still sealed in plastic bags) supposedly,for issue. I NEVER SAW ANY OF THEM BEING ISSUED !!! Thru the 'bartering' process,I picked up several shirts for personal use.
Uniform of the day for me in the high country was..,standard issue ute trousers,t-shirt,green wool shirt,green wool flight suit,& my G-1 flight jacket during the season. That's the only time that I would wear one of those scratchy,smelly suits.
Craze

[John Ace Hunt]

Craze, can you call me 580-298-3747. I'll call back on my nickle. Semper Fi, and READY-APP.

[Wayne Stafford]

With the wind pouring through that port side hatch on the H-34 cruising up by Cunningham in February, it felt like it was freezing. I remember having trouble loading a belt into the M-60 with fingers that wouldn't move.

Wayne Stafford

[Dale A Riley]

Col Marsh has put up a picture looking out a snow covered frozen windscreen and the comment:
"has learned the hard way that power bars and cliff bar freeze solid when flying in these temperatures"
I'd feel for him but it's the poor crew chief that has to get out there and clean it off;)

[John Ace Hunt]

Dale, glad its snowing there rather than here. Semper Fi, and READY-APP.

[Dale A Riley]

Lt. Col. Marsh: " Ice, snow, and freezing rain continue to hamper our efforts to deliver supplies up north. We really could use a couple clear days."

Sounds like he could be flying in the northeast here, except he posted a short 35 second video which shows a snow covered Japan AND a "gizmo" to count how much radiation they are being exposed to..... BAD $%*!

[John Ace Hunt]

Hate it Dale. I believe Japan is not telling what is really happening with the reactors. It would be good for clear weather so the relief supplies could be delevered by the Dragons. If they melt down, obamma will let us have several million instant Americans, as Japan will be Hot all over. The ships will have to stay there a long time just to make drinking water for them. The crews have to get the radiation off them I believe after each mission now, when they Fly. Glad we only have small earthquakes here in Okie land. Semper Fi, and READY-APP.

[Dale A Riley]

I just came accross this Facebook link to the squadron:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/HMM-265-Dragons-official-use/111970095519162

[johnyr46]

We flew at 10000 for helo drops during the monsoon season out of Quang Tri and it was damned cold. We, the crews flying those missions, were issued flight jackets. In fact years ago I posted a picture of some of us in flight jackets. Look in HMM 161's photos. And we did worry about blade icing. Don't think we ever accumulated any ice but it WAS worried about.

[stonko34]

We flew at 10000 for helo drops during the monsoon season out of Quang Tri and it was damned cold. We, the crews flying those missions, were issued flight jackets. In fact years ago I posted a picture of some of us in flight jackets. Look in HMM 161's photos. And we did worry about blade icing. Don't think we ever accumulated any ice but it WAS worried about.

Roger that; Think of the boys in 161 in Korea flying open cabin from 51 to 53 with winter temps hitting 20-25 degrees below zero...and doing it all day long.

[stonko34]

On Col. Marsh's posts - they call it "Operation Tomodachi"
If I remember from Futenma correct that means "friends"?? Anyone know for sure?
I remember it cause they refered to the crabs as "little friends" and it was something like - chisi tomodachi - I think.

You are right on. Tomodachi does mean friend. Served in Japan from 53-54 and did manage to pick up some local dialect. I wonder how?