H-43 Gun Ship~1st Gun Ship in SEA

The person in the Photo is Amn Galdie (PJ)

June 17 1964 Secret orders TDY 89 days to the Philippines. We never saw the PI. First stop DaNang, AB RVN. Next stop Udorn RTAFB Thailand. We assembled our H-43’s in Air America’s hangar. Air America’s painter painted out our dayglow and yellow Rescue markings and we flew to our new home NKP Thailand.

They augmented our unit with personnel from Japan, Jim Burns from PI, an Electrician, Instrument man, Security Police and First Mobil Communications. A grand total of 35 personnel.

The chief flight engineer for Air America was an ex-Sgt. that I knew from Sewart AFB. I told him we didn’t have anything but M-16’s for weapons. He came back in about 15 minutes with 2 BAR’s and several cases of ammunition. He told me to forget where I got them.

(Note: This one of several stories that fellow ROTORHEAD Chuck Severns wanted to share with the group. Chuck passed away on 22 Feb 2007 and these stories are being posted in his honor).