The US Army purchased 67 CH-54A Tarhe and 25 CH-54B model Skycrane helicopters for use in heavy lift aviation units in the USA, Republic of Vietnam (RVN) and West Germany. Only the CH-54A was used in RVN first with the 478th Aviation Co (HH), then with the 273rd Aviation Co (HH) and the 355th Aviation Co (HH). Each company was authorized 9 CH-54s but there was usually an additonal float Skycrane which brought the units up to 10 Cranes each. A UH-1H was also found in each company for use as a general purposed utility aircraft, ie, supply and parts hauler.
Each unit was also authorized 3 Universal Pods (people pods) which could be coupled to the CH-54 giving it 45 man internal capacity. The Vietnam mission seldom required the use of the pods so in units like the 101st Abn Div which contolled the 478th in 1970, pods were put into service as mobile tactical operations centers for the infantry brigades.
Over the years several CH-54s were lost in RVN due primarily to accidents and even hurricane weather. Only one is known to have been shot down and destroyed - #205 lost in the AuShau Valley in 1968. All four crewmen perished when the aircraft was hit with 37mm canon fire while carrying equipment into a fire base.
BuNos 64-14202/14207 - ( c/n 64-004/009 ) - YCH-54A
BuNos 66-18408/18413 - ( c/n 64-010/015 ) - CH-54A
BuNos 67-18414/18431 - ( c/n 64-016/033 ) - CH-54A
BuNos 68-18432/18461 - ( c/n 64-034/066 ) - CH-54A
BuNos 69-18462/18484 - ( c/n 64-067/092 ) - CH-54B
BuNos 70-18485/18490 - ( c/n 64-093/098 ) - CH-54B
BuNos 71-18491/18498 - cancelled CH-54B
The 273rd Hvy Lift CO in Vietnam circa 1969 during a formation celebrating an unknown 10,000 milestone.
It must have been 10,000 accident free flying hours. The 273rd Aviation Company (Hvy Hel), was one of three such units in Vietnam during the mid 60s through 1972. The other two units were the 355th Aviation Co (HH), call sign Workhorse and the 478th Aviation Company (HH), call sign Hurricane.
This was 10,000 flight hours for the 273 sky cranes . There was a fly over at the same time
I was in the 273rd at Ft Sill OK in 73-75. Loved flying in them
I was with the 273rd.stationed at Long Bing Vietnam when I along with five others were badly injured in an accident on November 6th.burning vegetation along the flightline . Two of us got sent back to the states.I was just trying to locate any of them.Thanks -
I was one of the first to arrive at Fort Sill in August of 1967 as the 273rd formed up. I was assigned as Crash Rescue Crew Chief for the Company. We were sent to Vung Tau, Vietnam in December 1967. We were called the Super Hooks. We had the original 11 air craft. Super Hook 419, 420, 421, 426, 427, 428, 429, 433. 436 & 437. Super Hook 408, 409 & 411 were assigned to the 273rd from the 1st Air Cavalry Division. During the Tet Offensive, in Jan. 1968, we flew missions to move guns, ammo and supplies all over the Delta area of operations. Because of the unique feathers of the CH-54 and its ability to lift heavy loads. The Company set the Army's record for moving equipment in an hour. With our CO, Colonel Gary Heffner as the lead pilot, Super Hook 427 set the record of moving 224 tons of equipment and vehicles in one hour off the Australian air craft carrier HMAS Sydney. During my time in Country, (12/67 to 12/68) the Company had two major incidents with the CH-54. Super Hook 419 was returning from a mission and was forced to land in a muddy field 160 mile south of Long Binh. Some 250 soldiers were immediately flown in to secure the air craft while plans were being formed to recover the ship. A Maintenance team was flown out at dawn the next day to set the ship up to be recovered by Super Hook 409. With shear man power, the removed the two EAFS filters from both engines, prepared the main rotor head for removal. Super Hook 409 gently lifted the main rotor head off the downed ship and set it on the ground. 409 then hovered over the downed 419 and the main hook was used to lift 419 out of the mud to fly it back to our base. It took four fuel stops to get 419 home. It was quite a show when the two ships came home. The second incident involved Super Hook 433. It lost an engine returning to base . Declaring an emergency in bound when the second engine quite just over the threshold of the main runway at Vung Tau. The Pilot pull an emergency auto rotation and set the ship down heavily on the threshold. The tail boom snapped at the rear fuel tanks and the tail rotor struck the ground. The four man crew evacuated the ship un hurt. Later in the year, the entire company and our detachment Maintenance Company (652nd) moved to Long Bihn. -
Units
| 1967-1977 | 295th Aviation Regiment295th AVN |