Nickname for a helicopter during the Vietnam war?

Answer 1

The US used 3 of them in the war:

1. CH21 Shawnee

2. CH46 Sea Knight (USMC)

3. CH47 Chinook (this was the most common of the 3 used in the war and was known to GIs as the "Sh-t Hook.")

Answer 2

All Viet War helicopters had propellers (helicopters were, in Vietnam, officially designated ROTOR-WING Aircraft; or ROTARY-Wing Aircraft in contrast to regular airplanes which are called FIXED-WING Aircraft). With the exception of the Cobra Attack helicopter (AH-1), built by Bell Helicopter; all US Army choppers in Vietnam were named after American Indian Tribes. 1. CH-47 Chinook, two rotary blades on top; ramp at the rear for loading/unloading; this was the US Army's largest bird. 2. Kiowa helicopter/civilians use it, and call it a jet Ranger. Used for carrying VIP's and Reconnaissance. 3 Cayuse/can be seen in the opening scenes of the 1980's television series "Magnum PI" starring Tom Selleck. His side-kick is flying it. In Vietnam, it was a Scout helicopter, and door gunners would hang outside (tied in with cords), firing their M60 machineguns at tree top levels. It was this aircraft which replaced the US Army's first FIXED Wing all metal airplane (after the USAF detached itself from the Army in 1947), the 0-1 Bird Dog, single engine Cessna Artillery Observation plane. The 0-1 Bird Dog was officially retired from the US Army in 1974. The Bird Dog was called the L-19 Bird Dog during the Korean War (it's first war-Vietnam was the "Dogs" last war). 4. UH-1 Huey helicopter (UH=Utility Helicopter); this chopper was used for everything; over 3,000 were destroyed in the war.

Answer 3

You could be thinking of a couple different one. The most likely one you have in mind is the CH-47 Chinook. You could also be thinking of the CH-46 Sea Knight, fielded by the US Navy and Marines. Before either of these were fielded, there was also the H-21 Shawnee, which saw service in Vietnam, as well as the French colonial war in Algeria.

Answer 4

In Vietnam, all helicopters were called "birds" or "choppers." Most chopper pilots were considered (sometimes called) "bus drivers." The worlds first DESIGNED, BUILT, and FIELDED "attack chopper" was the AH-1 Cobra. This bird was almost always called a "snake."

Example (radio transmission): "...Have two choppers & two snakes enroute your pos how copy?...over..."

Translation: "...There are two helicopters and two gunships (Cobras) coming towards your position, do you understand"...your turn to talk.."

Answer 5

Bell AH-1G Cobra Bell UH-1B, UH-1C, UH-1D, and UH-1F(USAF) Boeing CH-47A Sikorsky CH-53 Hiller (?) Kamaan

Answer 6

That was the Boeing Sea Knight, used by US Navy and USMC.