UH 34 Helicopter
This UH-34D Sikorsky helicopter was in use between 1963 and 1969 to bring medical help to wounded soldiers during the Vietnam War. “We were known as the Flying Tigers, and we rescued injured soldiers from the jungle, brought medical supplies and brought troop insertions,” said Alan Weiss, during an interview with the “New York Daily News” in 2001. Weiss served from 1966 to 1970. “When soldiers saw us coming, their eyes would fill with tears, since we brought hope of life.”
Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 362 (HMM-362) was the first US outfit to use the UH-34D in combat, being assigned to the Mekong Delta region of South Vietnam.
Though its high cockpit allowed for good visibility, it also made a great target for enemy fire, and because of its compartmentalized cockpit, it made it difficult for crew chiefs to come to the aid of injured cockpit crew. The UH-34’s magnesium skin resulted in intense fires, and contributed to corrosion problems.
The Marine Helicopter Squadron 361 Veterans Association (M.H.S. 361 Vets) rescued the helicopter from a salvage yard in Arizona, and more than five years later turned it into this stunning UH-34D Seahorse helicopter.
Reporter Eric Carpenter from “Suffolk Life Newspaper” visited M.H.S. 361 Vets while they were restoring the helicopter in 2004. He describes his visit,
“The helicopter looks frightening in the shed. It is enormous, even in its unfinished state. Al Weiss,
who has spearheaded the project, mentioned that if one walked around the craft they could see patches where bullet holes had been covered up. It had been shot at ‘countless times,’ according to the men. Sure enough, on the far side of the helicopter, several patches were indeed visible.”
Carpenter goes on to report the amazing stories that surround this aircraft,
“Possibly the most amazing story I heard during my visit was that of Retired United States Marine Corps Captain Ben Cascio, who was a member of the Flying Tiger's sister squadron HMM-362, also known as the ‘Ugly Angels,’ during Vietnam. Tyrrell told Cascio's tale, a story I will never forget. Apparently, Cascio is an excellent helicopter pilot and still flies to this day. Tyrrell told me that during the Vietnam War, Cascio was mid-flight when he was shot in the eye, causing his vision to be temporarily lost. ‘Do you know what he did?’ Tyrrell asked me. I shook my head and he said, ‘Ben, with blood covering his eyes, broke all of the glass that covered the helicopter's needles and used his hands to feel the motion [of the needles]. He landed the plane completely blind.’ I looked over at Cascio, who still bears the scars of his injury, in awe. He sort of shrugged as if to say, ‘I did what I had to do.’”
The UH-34 helicopter is a flying tribute to all those who served in Vietnam. For more information, visit www.freedomsflyingmemorial.org
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