The war in Vietnam saw the loss of numerous helicopters through surface to air missiles, fighter interception and antiaircraft artillery, among other means. Others went down in unclear circumstances. The death toll rose by the day with numerous and fascinating stories about the Vietnam War helicopter crashes.
It is claimed in some quarters that a significant number of crashes resulted from command errors. There also are tales of pilots from different segments in the force failing to coordinate leading to huge losses. The Army and Air Force failed to coordinate their operations. The secret of actual number and causes remains closely guarded.
The percentage of people who died from incidences involving crashing helicopters is considered significantly high. Some sources place the number at ten percent of the total deaths. In the two months described as Lam Son 719, it is said that the losses were up to ten percent of all the incidences involving helicopters between 1961 and 1975. This number is considered too high for such a short period.
Death around helicopters was not necessarily due to a crash. In some cases, the crew was attacked while on rescue mission. They were either recovering equipment or crew that had been shot down. Such incidences caused a significant rise in the number of casualties. It has made it difficult to enumerate the actual crashes from such attacks. This explains the controversy in the numbers of accidents involving helicopters and their crew.
The statistics about Vietnam War do not only deal with crashing helicopters. Some sections have claimed that more bombs were dropped during the war than during the Second World War. It is said that Quang Tri had more bombs dropped than Europe witnessed during WWII. This created what came to be referred to as the moonscape. A large area of this province is now inhabitable.
The jungle that witnessed the war is expansive, making it difficult to trace the crashed helicopters. Veterans narrate of the possibility of getting lost within 20 meters of entering the forest. There are wild animals as deadly as cobras, tigers and crocodiles to deal with. The best option is Ho Chi Minh City which has a well kept museum with military gear and crashed aircraft recovered from battle fields.
An interesting story from this war involved a master in biology graduate from Tufts University. Paul Zabriski had taken a two years break between graduate and dental school. This decision would change his life forever. He lost his deferment opportunity after being drafted into the army. The story gets more intriguing with his narration of how he survived four crashes. He will never forget the advice from an army personnel officer who helped him begin the recruitment process.
By 2013, 807 soldiers had not been accounted for. This number was reduced by the identification of one soldier who had been missing since 1970. He was buried in honor at the Arlington National Cemetery after circumstantial and forensic evidence was used to identify him. He was in the company of five others on command mission at the time of their crash. Only one soldier survived.
It is claimed in some quarters that a significant number of crashes resulted from command errors. There also are tales of pilots from different segments in the force failing to coordinate leading to huge losses. The Army and Air Force failed to coordinate their operations. The secret of actual number and causes remains closely guarded.
The percentage of people who died from incidences involving crashing helicopters is considered significantly high. Some sources place the number at ten percent of the total deaths. In the two months described as Lam Son 719, it is said that the losses were up to ten percent of all the incidences involving helicopters between 1961 and 1975. This number is considered too high for such a short period.
Death around helicopters was not necessarily due to a crash. In some cases, the crew was attacked while on rescue mission. They were either recovering equipment or crew that had been shot down. Such incidences caused a significant rise in the number of casualties. It has made it difficult to enumerate the actual crashes from such attacks. This explains the controversy in the numbers of accidents involving helicopters and their crew.
The statistics about Vietnam War do not only deal with crashing helicopters. Some sections have claimed that more bombs were dropped during the war than during the Second World War. It is said that Quang Tri had more bombs dropped than Europe witnessed during WWII. This created what came to be referred to as the moonscape. A large area of this province is now inhabitable.
The jungle that witnessed the war is expansive, making it difficult to trace the crashed helicopters. Veterans narrate of the possibility of getting lost within 20 meters of entering the forest. There are wild animals as deadly as cobras, tigers and crocodiles to deal with. The best option is Ho Chi Minh City which has a well kept museum with military gear and crashed aircraft recovered from battle fields.
An interesting story from this war involved a master in biology graduate from Tufts University. Paul Zabriski had taken a two years break between graduate and dental school. This decision would change his life forever. He lost his deferment opportunity after being drafted into the army. The story gets more intriguing with his narration of how he survived four crashes. He will never forget the advice from an army personnel officer who helped him begin the recruitment process.
By 2013, 807 soldiers had not been accounted for. This number was reduced by the identification of one soldier who had been missing since 1970. He was buried in honor at the Arlington National Cemetery after circumstantial and forensic evidence was used to identify him. He was in the company of five others on command mission at the time of their crash. Only one soldier survived.
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