Figures 1/35 Helicopter Ground Personnel (Vietnam War) ICM 53102

Ground personnel of helicopters The Vietnam War The war in Vietnam is often called the "Helicopter War", this name appeared as a result of their active participation in armed confrontation on the land of Indochina. Helicopters of the US Army performed a wide range of various tasks - transportation of troops, reconnaissance, fire support, transportation of cargo, search and rescue of crews of downed aircraft. A large number of ground personnel - technicians, mechanics, weapons specialists - were involved in the maintenance and repair of helicopters. They were engaged in routine maintenance of helicopters, engines and weapons equipment. Also, the technical personnel eliminated malfunctions received during the execution of combat tasks, for example, damage to the helicopter fuselage due to fire from the ground. Aircraft maintenance could take place in hangars, but was often done in the open because the airfield infrastructure of the US Air Force in Vietnam was not always established. It should also be noted the risk to which ground personnel were exposed - Viet Cong forces shelled airfields with mortars and small arms, and technicians sometimes had to hide in bunkers.