Chopper Raked With Automatic Weapons Ground Fire

(Ch-3E Unknown) While we were hauling a load of 'gomers' into a 'supposedly' secure LZ. We had something like 20-25 on board and were part of a larger CH-3 gaggle (seems like there was 3 or 4) on this mission.

As we were descending on our approach to the LZ, at about 800 to 1,000 feet, we were raked from nose to back past the sponsons with automatic weapons fire, which I think was AK-47.

I think there were two or three of the 'gomers' that were hit. One of them took a round that had came through the right sponson and through the cabin wall near the floor. He was hit square in the "A__ hole" and needless to say was in a lot of pain.

We continued into the LZ dropping off all the non-wounded troops and headed back to pick up another load and drop off the wounded. Seems like we shuttled a couple more loads into the LZ before returning to NKP.

After landing at NKP and getting a look at the holes, I figured the 'bad guy' must have had me standing in the open door as his target, because these rounds hit all around the cabin door. The "bad guy" was either damn lucky or a damn good shot and I figured I had luck on my shoulders that day, since he wasn't good enough to hit me or any of the crew....but he sure was trying.

There's not a lot more of this story to tell, at least that I can remember. It was just one of those missions, that we all participated in at one time or another, my bird just happened to be the one to absorb a little lead that day, it was just another day at work ... doing what we did day in an day out.

I've always appreciated the toughness of the CH-3, the Pilots and fellow crewmen, but my salute will always go out to the maintenance guys that always gave us safe birds to take out and tear up. After we'd tear them up, the maintenance guys always put them back together for us to go do it again. What a team!! (Jim Burns)