American helicopter pilots
(1960s-1970s) The USA used helicopters for the first time during World War II (it was the R-4B helicopter designed by Igor Sikorsky). In the 1950s, at the time of the Korean War, their use was already on a significant scale. But the real "helicopter" war was the hostilities in Vietnam. In the middle of 1967, the group of American troops on the territory of Indochina already had 2,000 helicopters at its disposal, and in a year their number increased to 4,200 units. Helicopters were perfectly suited for conducting combat operations in jungle conditions. They carried out reconnaissance, fire cover of ground units from the air, landing of amphibious assaults and cargo transportation. Among the transport helicopters, the CH-54 heavy crane helicopters have proven themselves excellently. Their crews performed the tasks of transporting various cargoes and weapons - from bulldozers to combat boats, and they also participated in the evacuation of damaged helicopters and airplanes. It was a difficult service, and at times it was performed under fire from the ground. The war in Vietnam became a serious test for US helicopters, as a result of which they gained enormous combat experience.
