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Apr 15, 2024

 

Bill Walker

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 Reggie Kenner

I only recall landing on one of the hospital ships one time. Not sure of the name.

I do recall that the ship rose and fell as we reached hover above the deck and the pilot was gauging that rise and fall to decide when to lower the collective.

I don't recall if it was a nice, smooth touchdown. Probably a bit hard but a new experience for all and ended well.

"Trust me, you can dance."

-Alcohol

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Barry Beard

Seems like it was off the coast in DaNang?

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Bill Walker

It was sometime closer to Eagle, or even Evans during Ripcord

Night time landings on the Repose and another hospital ship were chancy, especially if it was choppy.

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Bill Griffith

As I recall, in '69 we had USS Sanctuary. We made a few trips out to it at the time. And it was surprising how much it might rise and fall with the ocean swells.

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Steve (RS16)

I landed my Cobra on one once to visit another pilot.  Had a fancy Navy lunch.

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Marty Hamblin

Reggie and Barry, I remember one time our crew took seriously wounded soldiers from the Quang Tri hospital out to the medical hospital ship Hope. We were somewhat lucky that day, the sea was not   to ruff on our landing. But it was still not the smoothest landing. But it was an experience. Does anyone remember a large CA that was conducted with our Helicopter battalion that involved 40 of our choppers landing on one of the carriers? I remember the carrier landing really sucked. They wanted us out there to keep this a secret operation because of the moles we had giving away information. It seems that we were taking ARVNs in.  I remember the LZ's were hot. I think it took place along the Laotian border and the Ah Shau valley.  Maybe I just had a bad dream. The mind isn't what it used to be.

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Lance Ruck

Does not sound like a bad dream; sounds like Lam San 719 which was bad reality!

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 Bob Archer

I landed on the Hospital ship Hope. They got stuck on a sand bar. By this time I was flying the CH-54 Skycrane. We pulled them off the sand bar at high tide. The Captain invited us to lunch. What a meal. It was like being in the states. I knew the Navy ate well. It was something else. I could do that every day.

BOB ARCHER

Lancer 24

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 Tim Pasquarelli

Any photos of your ‘Crane pulling the ship? That would be classic.

Tim P

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Barry Beard

Wow wish we had pictures of landing on the carrier!