Patchcollector Posted May 26, 2016 Share #1 Posted May 26, 2016 Hi all,Here is a patch that appears to be Japanese made and I believe,Vietnam war time era made.There are a number of things that I find interesting about this piece.First,it's a VMO-6 variation that I've never seen before.Then there's the Vietnamese writing.I would like to find out what that says.The design is unusual with the peace sign within the rotors and the multicolored flower(?) in the background.Last but not least it looks like a callsign at the bottom. If anyone knows more about this variation please let me know.Sellers pics. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchcollector Posted May 26, 2016 Author Share #2 Posted May 26, 2016 Back view Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted May 27, 2016 Share #3 Posted May 27, 2016 I like the peace sign as the rotor blades spin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted May 27, 2016 Share #4 Posted May 27, 2016 So it looks like SEAWORTHY was their call sign for FAC pilots.So I would think Seaworthy 99 was a Marine's personal call sign. In August 1965, VMO-6 was among a Marine Air Group that sailed for Vietnam. The next month, transport, gunship, airborne forward air control and medivac missions were being flown on a daily basis. Using the call signs “Klondike” and later “Seaworthy”, VMO-6 crews fought valiantly, losing numerous aircraft and men in the process. On August 19, 1967, VMO-6 Captain Stephen Pless and three other Marines flew a rescue mission in their UH-1E gunship that earned him a Congressional Medal of Honor, and the others the Navy Cross for their gallantry. Under intense enemy gunfire, Capt. Pless used his helicopter to shield four wounded American soldiers as they were assisted into his helicopter, all the while beating back repeated attacks. The overloaded helicopter then limped out to sea and escaped the enemy. http://www.popasmoke.com/visions/displayimage.php?pid=3098 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted May 27, 2016 Share #5 Posted May 27, 2016 From what I can find ; toi tiet = MURDER : CONG SAN = COMMUNISM : ngay how binh = Day of Peace. So probably something like, KILL COMMUNISM AND WE HAVE PEACE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted May 27, 2016 Share #6 Posted May 27, 2016 sorry. I re-did it and it is, YOU MURDER COMMUNISM IS DAY OF PEACE. https://translate.google.com/#auto/en/toi%20giet%20cong%20san%20la%20ngay%20hoa%20binh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchcollector Posted May 27, 2016 Author Share #7 Posted May 27, 2016 Thanks for the helpful info FF.Since it is personalized with a callsign,I'm thinking that a Marine had it made for himself.It may even be unique,with no others made.I'll have to keep an eye out to see if more of this design surface. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted May 27, 2016 Share #8 Posted May 27, 2016 Thanks for the helpful info FF.Since it is personalized with a callsign,I'm thinking that a Marine had it made for himself.It may even be unique,with no others made.I'll have to keep an eye out to see if more of this design surface. Thats the way it's looking.Very cool design.After looking at your patch I'm thinking it's for a gunship, not FAC.Looks like rocket pods on the side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchcollector Posted May 28, 2016 Author Share #9 Posted May 28, 2016 Yes I agree that does look like a Gunship.I was doing some research on the unit and it looks like VMO-6's mission did includeGunship duties. Here's some info I found online: Gradually, the mission of the squadron expandedbeyond its traditional roles of observation, medicalevacuation, and general utility. In addition to itsregular missions, it was training for landing zonepreparation, helicopter escort, and close in fire sup-port of assault helicopter operations. It had becomequite apparent that squadron training was increas-ingly oriented toward the type of missions conductedin Vietnam. By late September VMO-6 was operating in sup-port of Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN)forces as well as Marine ground units. In supportingthese joint operations the squadron's main tasks wereacting as gunship escorts for transport helicoptersand maintaining a 24-hour medical evacuation(medevac) alert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted May 29, 2016 Share #10 Posted May 29, 2016 Cool information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpstout Posted May 30, 2016 Share #11 Posted May 30, 2016 Cant say Ive ever seen one. Good thread. pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchcollector Posted January 17, 2017 Author Share #12 Posted January 17, 2017 Thanks Pat,glad you enjoyed it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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