Dirty Secrets of Vietnam: The Helicopter Gunners

The Helicopter Gunners

This educational video shows how the United States developed the helicopter door support position on aircraft intended & designed to deploy or pickup men from the field. This door position concept further implemented aboard CH-21, UH-34, and UH-1 helicopters by enlisted men specially designated and trained, with the aircraft crew chief serving as both the aircraft’s maintenance manager and door positions. Normally, a second enlisted man served as a second door operator (such as on a UH-1, and UH-34, which both used two — one on each side of the aircraft). Later the door position sometimes used a non-aviation rated/trained men that volunteered.