ACH-47A 64-13149	ACH-47A 64-13154
ACH-47A 64-13145	ACH-47A 64-13151

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Click Here to go back to the main 228th ASHB home page (to find the links to current Email addresses for folks that were in each company). HHC, A, B, C, and Guns-A-Go-Go.

	Originally designated 53rd Aviation Detachment, and nicknamed "Guns-A-Go-Go," these Chinook Gunships were deployed six months TDY to Vung Tau,Vietnam for testing. They were attached to and supported by the 147th Avn. Co. (ASH) "Hillclimbers" Thanks to Melvin Miller (147th FE) for reminding us about the "Hillclimbers" connection. Scanned from a pocket patch owned by Myron Obernier (1SG Ret.) "Obe" went over with the 53d and was 1SG for the 6 months period.
	After the TDY test, the unit was attached to the 1st Cavalry Division's 228th ASHB and redesignated by 1st Cav as 1st Aviation Detachment (Provisional) Patch was provided by: Wade Jackson, Jr.
	Scanned from an original 5 inch decal provided by William J. Tedesco (LTC Ret.), first commander of Guns-A-Go-Go.

The following photos and history links are not associated with a crew for any one ship. They are mostly of groups and individuals. For ships and crews - click the ship names above. If you can add any information or names to the photos, please email Jim Ketcham and I will make updates.

unit-01 Large group (30) crew members - mid to late 1967?

unit-02 Jerry Richards photos (Louis Jones, Jim Frye, and Bob Jones).

unit-03 Bill Tedesco photo (1st Commander of The Guns.

unit-04 Who are these guys lounging in front of Operations?

unit-05 Virgil Liefer and Sonny Abernathy.

unit-06 Virgil Liefer and Darrel McClain.

unit-07 Tom Lilly found and documented the 5th "Go-Go" at An Khe.

David Knight was a gunner with Guns-A-Go-Go. I met him for the first time at the VHCMA Reunion'98 in DFW. This is David with the 228th Guidon standing in front of CO$T OF LIVING. David came home a few weeks before #145 crashed! David had two original Boeing 'handouts' with photos and lots of info about the Go-Go ships. He allowed me to bring them home and make copies. Since the reunion, he has contacted the Aviation Museum at Fort Rucker and donated his originals to the museum. We, of course, kept copies.

 
The cumbersome "Armed/Armored Chinook" a.k.a. A/ACH-47A was shortened to ACH-47A when the Army standardized its model designations. The one "A" became Attack. Attack Cargo Helicopter (ACH-47A).

The four ships also received nicknames and "combat-artwork" painted just forward of the crew door on the right. "Stump Jumper" received its name because it was damaged by stumps during a force landing. Other names that may have been used and discarded were "Crazy Eight" and "Widow Maker." All four names, Co$t Of Living, Easy Money, Stump Jumper, and Birth Control have now been verified by personal email and photos here on the home page.

Best I can determine from all the e-mail and photos that I have received, #145 was still known as "Co$t Of Living" when it crashed in May'67 even though the 'combat-artwork" was no longer visible in photographs. We know that 145 and 149 came from the factory with high gloss dark Olive Drab state-side paint jobs. Not sure about 151 and 154. 145 was hurridly painted over when she was rushed to Vietnam as "Stump Jumper's" replacement. In Vietnam she probably required constant spot-painting and the art work was soon lost.

 
'News Release' from the Boeing/Vertol Company:

In late 1965, the first Armed/Armored Chinook was officially rolled out and testing was begun. The Armed/Armored Chinook used its payload capability to advantage by mounting an extensive array of armament, as well as armor to protect the crew and vital parts of the aircraft against heavy caliber ground fire.

Mounted on the nose was an M-5 40mm Automatic Grenade Launcher. This turret-mounted weapon was controlled by the copilot, who was able to cover an extensive area on either side of the flight path. Complementing this nose turret, pylons on each side of the aircraft carried fixed forward- firing weapons including a 20mm gun and either a 19-round 2.75 inch rocket pod, or a 7.62mm high-rate-of-fire Gatling machine gun. (Ed. "mini-gun")

The flanks of the aircraft were protected by four gunners stationed two to either side of the cabin. Each of these gunners was provided with either a 7.62mm or 50 caliber machine gun on flexible mounts. Another gunner was stationed aft with the same type weapons mounted on the rear loading ramp. From this vantage point, the gunner could protect the aircraft from ground fire after the aircraft had passed, a capability not present in previous armed helicopters. This aircraft carried a ton of expendable munitions.

The Armed/Armored Chinook was provided with a new type of steel armor plate which was built into the crew seats and protected their torsos. Other steel plates protected components of the aircraft. The rugged components of the Chinook and extensive dualization of systems, combined with over a ton of armor plate, assured a high degree of survivability for the aircraft.

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