Vietnam Helicopter Analysis

On the morning of April 30 1975, with White Christmas playing on the radio, the last American boarded a helicopter on the roof of the US Embassy in Saigon effectively ending a long and painful chapter in US military history (Leeker, 2015). The iconic photo of Americans climbing the embassy staircase to board the waiting helicopter became a lasting symbol and serves to highlight the critical role the helicopter played in the Vietnam War. While the United States had tested the feasibility of helicopters in the Korean War, their utility and combat power fully matured over the rice paddies and jungles of Vietnam. This was never more apparent than during the final hours of the Vietnam War. The massive air evacuation that took place undoubtedly saved thousands of American and South Vietnamese lives. This feat would have been unthinkable only 20 years prior. Operation Frequent Wind and the evacuation of Saigon is evidence that the constant evolution of the helicopter has changed the way the US military conducts operations.
While the helicopter …show more content…
The Marine Corps also found extensive use for the helicopter. After establishing a forward operating base at Soc Trang in the Mekong Delta early in 1962, the Marine Corps helicopters were put to work almost immediately moving South Vietnamese soldiers into battle positions (Camp, 2013). As the war progressed, the Marine’s ability to use the helicopter expanded. Beginning the war with the ancient H-34 piston powered medium lift helicopter, the Marine Corps were eventually fielded newer CH-46 Sea Knight and CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopters with over twice the capacity (Camp, 2013). Able to launch and recover from ships in the South China Sea, the Marine Corps was able to deploy their aircraft wherever they were needed. This ability would become critical following the Paris Peace Accords since American combat forces were treaty bound not to set foot on land (Butler,