mark leonard Posted January 21, 2013 Share #1 Posted January 21, 2013 I know there were alot of WWII pilots and air crewmen that flew combat in Korea.My question is how common was WWII aviators flying combat in Vietnam.Thanks for any help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beezman Posted January 21, 2013 Share #2 Posted January 21, 2013 Normally, any Lt Col flying in Vietnam could have seen service in WW2. If you can find how many Lt Col and higher pilots served in Vietnam, you should be close to the truth. Robin Olds and Chappie James are the most famous examples. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teufelhunde.ret Posted January 21, 2013 Share #3 Posted January 21, 2013 Many "NAP" aviators, USN & USMC also flew in VN. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hink441 Posted January 21, 2013 Share #4 Posted January 21, 2013 I have a close family friend that was the Skipper for VAH-4 (A-3s) during early Viet Nam. He was a veteran of WW2 and Korea. I would imagine most Squadron COs (early VietNam time-frame) in the USAF and USN probably had WW2 and Korea experience. My friend eventually retired as a Navy Captain in 1973. As a side note. I just read Robin Old's book "Fighter Pilot" what a great read. He actually did not have any Korea time. He was WW2 and Viet Nam. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USMCR79 Posted January 21, 2013 Share #5 Posted January 21, 2013 Not a Fighter Pilot - but a interesting career from B29 Pilot to Helicopter Warrant Officer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_J._Novosel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Driver Posted January 22, 2013 Share #6 Posted January 22, 2013 Too many to name. Lots of Ww2 pilots were still flying in Vietnam. A friend of mine flew combat in the MTO in P39s and Jugs. He later flew Skyraiders in combat in Vietnam as an advisor to the South Vietnamese. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northcoastaero Posted January 22, 2013 Share #7 Posted January 22, 2013 Colonel Perry Dahl. P-38 in WWII. OV-10 in Vietnam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwb123 Posted January 22, 2013 Share #8 Posted January 22, 2013 I had a friend who flew P-39's covering the Panama Canal Zone during WWII, and then flew EC-47's during Vietnam. As has been commented, I think many of your senior officers had similar service. They might not have still been flying fighters, but there was a premium on skilled pilots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Signor Posted January 22, 2013 Share #9 Posted January 22, 2013 5 Kill Ace Lt.Col.James Empey , Flew P-51 D and Spitfires WW2, and O-1 Bird Dog Vietnam and F-106 somewhere in between I know him personally Johnny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEAST Posted January 22, 2013 Share #10 Posted January 22, 2013 I would agree with the statement that most senior officers serving during Vietnam would have served during WWII. It takes about 20 years to become an LTC. In my collection, I have a flight jacket of a Marine who flew transports at Guadalcanal and later flew helicopters in Vietnam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim McCauley Posted January 26, 2013 Share #11 Posted January 26, 2013 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_J._Novosel another great American. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted January 26, 2013 Share #12 Posted January 26, 2013 Not a Fighter Pilot - but a interesting career from B29 Pilot to Helicopter Warrant Officer http://en.wikipedia....hael_J._Novosel Not to get off subject but what an amazing story. I'll have to look for his book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1SG_1st_Cav Posted January 26, 2013 Share #13 Posted January 26, 2013 Read Mike Novosel's story on the link above. I have a friend who was a Crew Chief that flew on the helicopter that Mike Novosel flew to earn his MOH. My Friend was awarded a Silver Star for his part in that action. Danny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Posted January 26, 2013 Share #14 Posted January 26, 2013 WW 2 Aces Robin Olds, Chuck Yeager, Bud Anderson to name a few. As stated above, most were senior officers. All 3 of these guys were full colonel wing commanders. Jim Kasler was another that had WW2 missions but he was a Korean Ace. Others like Boots Blesse were Korean Aces but had no WW 2 time. Randy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustinO Posted January 26, 2013 Share #15 Posted January 26, 2013 What about notable WWI-WWII US pilots? There have to have been a few not flying desks... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellcat Posted January 27, 2013 Share #16 Posted January 27, 2013 Lt Col James A Zweizig WWII--P-47's, one confirmed kill, Me-262 Viet Nam--C-7 Caribou... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hueytaxi Posted February 19, 2013 Share #17 Posted February 19, 2013 Col Chester Van Etten flew in WWII, occupied Germany, Flt Instructor Wing CO. at Randolph AFB and Thoule, AFB with an F4 Sq. Not a fav of mine and he passed about 8 months ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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