As an Army aviator, Dabbs has a unique view on these versatile aircraft.

The setting was the A Shau Valley in South Vietnam during the summer of 1968.

A six-manMACV-SOGspike team was pinned down, cut off and being chewed to pieces.

In this image from the United States Marine Corps archives, we see a Sikorsky UH-34 helicopter delivering food and ammunition to troops during combat operations in the Vietnam War. As a military helicopter, the H-34 was nearly obsolete. However the U.S.M.C. and South Vietnamese used the helos extensively throughout the conflict. Additionally, the United States Air Force was known to use them for search and rescue helicopters when searching for downed pilots.

A Sikorsky UH-34 helicopter begins lifting supplies for U.S. Marines during Operation Double Eagle on Jan 30, 1966. Image: Staff Sgt. W. W. Kelley/USMC

The airstrike severely wounded the team leader and killed another SF operator outright.

It also blew the radio operators right leg off.

The only man left sufficiently intact to take charge was the SF medic.

In this historical photo, we see a long line of UH-34 helicopters lined up on an improvised landing surface to transport Marine infantry on a search and destroy mission near Da Nang air base in Vietnam. Marine aviation units used the Sikorsky UH-34D Seahorse extensively for utility transport, medical evacuation and troop movements.

Leathernecks stand by to board UH-34 helicopters during Operation Essex in 1967. Search and destroy missions were conducted in Antenna Valley, southwest of Da Nang. Image: Staff Sgt. W. Schrider/USMC

The only pilot crazy enough to attempt an extraction under such dire circumstances was South Vietnamese Capt.

Dinh was piloting an antiquated Kingbee version of the H-34 Choctaw helicopter.

The fat ugly helicopter plopped into a nearby clearing as the medic worked to get his comrades aboard.

In this image, we see a Marine equipped with a M16 rifle, helmet, canteen, backpack and utility uniform walking down a grassy hill and away from the helicopter that transported him there. The image highlights the helicopter role in modern warfare — something that started in the Vietnam era circa 1962. Choctaws like this one had tail-dragger rear fuselage and landing gear. The utility helicopter was adopted by many allied militaries around the world including the French Air Force and German Air Force.

An equipment-laden infantryman of the 7th Marines moves from his helicopter in a landing zone south of Da Nang in February 24, 1968. Image: Sgt. Bob Leak/USMC CC BY 2.0

Once he had all five wounded SF troopers loaded up, Capt.

Hed have to wait alone for a follow-up bird.

And then two other inbound aircraft aborted because of insane amounts of ground fire.

In this photo, a wounded U.S. Marine is air lifted from the combat zone using a hoist and harness. He was transported to a field hospital for triage and treatment before being transported to a general military hospital for recovery. While the Sikorsky helicopter was not the most powerful, it was able to transport 8 wounded people in litters — more if sitting upright.

A wounded Leatherneck from 1st Battalion, 7th Marines is lifted from the mountainous jungle southwest of Da Nang into amedical evacuationhelicopter. Image: Lance Cpl. R. J. Del Vecchio/USMC CC BY 2.0

This extraordinary South Vietnamese pilot torqued his antiquated overloaded aircraft back around and headed back to the LZ.

In desperation, Capt.

Dinh pivoted the big shot-up helo around on its forward landing gear struts and pointed the nose downhill.

In this photo, U.S. Marines aboard the U.S. Navy ship USS Iwo Jima load their equipment and prepare for flight. The Iwo Jima is a specialized ship that is able to transport Marines and their equipment. Additionally it had a flattop like an aircraft carrier and could conduct flight operations.

Infantrymen of the 2d Battalion, 4th Marines board helicopters of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 363 on the USSIwo Jima(LPH-2). Image: Cpl. Joe Brand/USMC CC BY 2.0

He accelerated across the LZ until reaching effective translational lift and barely cleared the trees.

Dinh is the reason the medic survived to see another sunrise.

The valiant medic was SP4 John Walton, son of department store magnate Sam Walton.

In this photo a Republic of Vietnam Air Force H-34 Choctaw lifts a damaged O-1 Birddog from the tarmac at Da Nang Air Base. The O-1 was a fixed wing observation airplane used for artillery spotting and guiding airstrikes against the enemy NVA and VC forces. Like the Choctaw, it was a tail dragger and piston powered.

In 1968, a ground crew member hooks an O-1 Bird Dog airplane to a South Vietnamese Air Force H-34 Choctaw helicopter at Da Nang Air Base in the Republic of Vietnam. Image: NARA

He was also, by all accounts, a really good guy.

The Sikorsky Helicopter

The antique helicopter that Capt.

Dinh used to save John Waltons life in the A Shau was the Sikorsky H-34 Choctaw.

In this image, several US Marine CH-34 helicopters sit on the runway at Dong Ha in 1967. Marines are boarding them with machine guns and other gear for combat missions against the North Vietnam Army and Viet Cong. Gunship versions of these helicopters were frequently armed with machine guns and two rocket pods.

U.S. Marine Corps UH-34 Seahorse helicopters on the runway at Dong Ha in 1967. Image: Pfc. Kenneth L. Fuller/USMC

The H-34 was originally designed as an anti-submarine warfare platform to be operated off of aircraft carriers.

Despite its ungainly demeanor, the H-34 was profoundly successful.

It remained in production from 1953 until 1970 and was utilized by the militaries of 25 different nations.

In this black and white photograph, American Marines load into CH-34D helicopters for Operation Kentucky against North Vietnam. The Army frequently used the UH-1 and Chinook helicopters in Vietnam instead of the CH-34. The heat was said to be too much for the H-34 engines. However, the H-34 remained in service with the U.S. Marines and the South Vietnamese Air Force. The helicopters also saw service in other hot climates such as with the French during the war in Algeria.

In 1968, Marines of 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines board CH-34 helicopters for Operation Kentucky. The photo was taken aboard the amphibious assault ship, USSIwo Jima. Image: Cpl. L. Preston Brown/USMC

In American service, the H-34 recovered astronauts and transported Presidents.

The aircraft was re-engined with a turboshaft powerplant and produced under license in the UK as the Westland Wessex.

The H-34 was characterized by its unusually high cockpit set well above the crew compartment.

A Royal Netherland Marine H-34 is shown in this color photograph. The H-34 was the last piston-engined helicopter used in combat operations by the US military.

The U.S. exported the H-34 helicopters to allied nations. Here, a Royal Netherlands Marine helicopter is in flight during the 4th International Helicopter Rescue Meet in 1970. Image: NARA

The drive shaft from the big radial engine passed between the pilots.

Some 2,108 copies were produced.

The H-34 turned out to be an exceptionally versatile design.

Shown is a US Marine helicopter attempting to life a NASA Mercury capsule from the Atlantic Ocean. An accident on the capsule ejected the hatch and caused seawater to pour into the compartment. Astronaut Gun Grissom was able to escape and was rescued before the capsule sunk to the bottom of the sea.

A HUS-1 Seahorse, a U.S. Marine Corps version of the H-34, attempts to lift Liberty Bell 7 from the Atlantic Ocean. Ultimately, the pilot dropped the spacecraft because it was too heavy. Image: NASA

Dependent upon environmental conditions, it could carry between 12 and 16 combat troops, or eight litters.

However, the hot environment of Vietnam strained the machine.

The armed version of the H-34 carried twoM-60C belt-fed machinegunsalong with a pair of 19-shot 2.75-inch rocket pods.

NASA astronaut Gus Grissom is rescued from the ocean by U.S. Marines in a HUS-1 Seahorse helicopter. The irony of the situation was the rescue helicopter is believed to have caused the capsule hatch to blow in the first place. NASA instead blamed Grissom and redesigned the hatch which had a direct impact on the Apollo 1 disaster in which Grissom and two other astronauts died in a fire on the launchpad.

A U.S. Marine HUS-1 Seahorse helicopter rescues astronaut Virgil “Gus” Grissom from the Atlantic Ocean. Grissom’s Liberty Bell 7 spacecraft sank moments before. Image: NASA

Precious Cargo Lost

We take spaceflight for granted these days.

Rockets both government and otherwise ferry folks into space for work and play.

Back in July of 1961, however, spaceflight was a really big deal.

In this photo, President John Kennedy walks across the White House lawn after taking helicopter from Andrews Air Force Base. The VH-34D (later designated the HUS-1Z) was a version of the H-34 designed for transporting the United States President and other dignitaries like the First Family, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of State and others.

President John F. Kennedy returns to the White House aboard Marine One, a VH-34D. With him are Chief of White House Secret Service Detail Jerry Behn and Press Secretary Pierre Salinger. Image: NARA

The launch was uneventful.

The Mercury capsule weighed 2,835 lbs.

As you might imagine, a lot of really smart folks had capably done the math.

In this photo, the First Family is transported in Marine One. In the background is the White House. Transport versions could carry 12 people — not bad for a piston engine helo. The Choctaw served multiple presidents in addition to its participate in Vietnam. Vietnam was considered by many to be the first helicopter war.

First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy and daughter Caroline Kennedy depart the White House in a U.S. Marine Corps VH-34D helicopter. The VH-34D was later redesignated as the HUS-1Z. Image: Abbie Rowe

The Mercury capsule was profoundly cramped.

Getting in and out of the thing was a Gordian chore that typically required external assistance.

hatch was secured with a series of 70 titanium bolts.

In this image, a Marine helicopter lands with wounded servicemen at a medical installation in Vietnam. Late in the war, the H-34 was replaced by other choppers.

A U.S. Marine Corps CH-34 helicopter transporting wounded servicemen lands at a medical installation in Vietnam circa 1966. Image: National Library of Medicine

Each bolt was drilled and filled with something called MDF, or Mild Detonating Fuse.

Grissom successfully egressed the spacecraft, but the weight margins were tight.

The H-34 pilot reluctantly punched the capsule off, and it sank in 16,000 feet of water.

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In the aftermath of the loss of the capsule, Grissom was accused of having inadvertently triggered the charge.

He steadfastly denied the accusation.

It was later postulated that the explosive bolts were likely ignited via static electricity from the hovering helicopter.

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Rotary-wing aircraft behave like huge Van der Graaf generators and produce powerful static electrical potentials.

The capsule was eventually recovered from the ocean floor in 1999 and restored.

It is on display at the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson, Kansas, today.

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Despite looking like a pregnant potato, the objectively ugly aircraft was respected by its crews.

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