Military Lighters - All eras all brands

[yokota57]

19 hours ago, yokota57 said:

US Army / 3d Helicopter Company (Military District of Washington) Ft Belvoir, VA. I haven't found much info other than they may have been involved with transporting Eisenhower/Kennedy-era honchos and bigwigs around D.C. Were they involved with the Army's Executive Flight Detachment at Ft. B? ("Army One" VH-34A/B/D??) If anyone in "Forum-Land" has info it will be very much appreciated. Mint Japanese-made "Vulcan" His-Hers boxed set.

Lots of Ike/JFK-era Army VH-34 pix around (note the MDW insignia in the Ike-DeGaulle photo). Still no positive connection to the 3d Helicopter Company?

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Here’s a modern Zippo with a motto that is a variation of “I left my heart in San Francisco” apparently:

 

[mtnman]

WOW! You guys have been busy! Tonomachi, Alexsi, Yakota, Cobra, JM et al. I had no idea these posts were coming on because my alert system is not working and I'm not getting any emails from the forum to alert me according to my settings. I just went through everything from the past several posts since my last one and you guys have been doing some fantastic collecting, just wow. Thanks so much for sharing everyone and excellent analysis of dating the zippo's Yokota!

[mtnman]

On 6/3/2023 at 9:36 PM, mtnman said:

Good afternoon Gentlemen. I want to share with you a lighter from a US Army Air Force and a US Air Force special forces pilot who fought in

one world war and two regional wars over the span of 4 decades. Col. Frederick L Webster Jr. fought as pilot in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, as a true American of the most dedicated and courageous mettle. This man was the recipient of a Silverstar, bronze Star, Legion of merit with Oakleaf, Vietnamese distinguished service order for gallantry, was deputy commanding officer of his USAF special forces 14th Air Commando Wing and flew with multiple squadrons in that unit in active service in Vietnam where he received his Silver Star and Distinguished Service Order. The air commando special forces units in the US Air Force go back to World War II in operation Thursday, the first aerial invasion behind enemy lines with glider borne troops, landing in unproven and uncleared strips in the jungle AT NIGHT. These men are the best of the best and the finest, most intelligent, strategically and tactically brilliant innovative warriors of the most persevering dedication that the military has to offer. 

Col. Webster led his troops during his time as deputy commanding officer, to the presidential unit citation they received in 68 in Vietnam for the vast diversity of operations the air commandos supported the ground troops with. 

 

Below is the research I compiled and photos on the first lighter I obtained from Col. Webster's estate material. There are 2 more lighters to calm but I need to do a little bit more research before I post those to. The first lighter is obviously a cherished and well used piece of equipment from his time in action which I am humbled greatly and very thankful to alone and steward over carefully and respectfully for a time.

 

Below is the research I compiled and photos on the first lighter I obtained from Col. Webster's estate material. There are 2 more lighters to calm but I need to do a little bit more research before I post those to. The first lighter is obviously a cherished and well used piece of equipment from his time in action which I am humbled greatly and very thankful to alone and steward over carefully and respectfully for a time.

 

Frederick L Webster Jr. Information File

 

The unit was redesignated as the 14th Air Commando Wing and was reactivated at Nha Trang Air Base Republic of Vietnam on 8 March 1966. On 1 August 1968 it was renamed the 14th Special Operations Wing and was the host unit at the base until 30 September 1971. From 15 October 1969 through 30 September 1971 the 14th SOW also operated and conducted missions from Phan Rang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam.

 

Operations of this elite unit were myriad. Their capabilities were on the cutting edge of protecting ground troops from the air and  included close and direct air support, interdiction, combat airlift, aerial resupply, visual and photographic reconnaissance, unconventional warfare, counterinsurgency operations, psychological warfare (including leaflet dropping and aerial broadcasting), FAC ops (forward air control) and bomber escort, search and rescue, escort for convoy and defoliation operations, flare drops, civic actions, and humanitarian actions.

 

The 14th Air Commando Wing distinguished itself by extraordinary heroism, exceptional gallantry and outstanding performance of duty in action against hostile forces in Southeast Asia from 8 March 1966 to 7 March 1967, earning a Presidential Unit Citation. Flying thousands of different sorties, elements of the Wing caused many enemy casualties and destroyed or damaged more than 8,500 structures, 500 trucks and 60 fuel sites as well as numerous automatic weapon positions, radio stations, bridges and boats.

 

Flying the venerable Douglas C-47 aircraft, one squadron of the Wing helped abort a large number of night hostile operations against friendly forts and hamlets through flare drops and minigun saturation fire. Despite the often heavy and accurate enemy antiaircraft fire, the search and rescue missions of the Wing recovered 91 skilled airmen during this period. In addition, the Wing's psychological warfare missions directly or indirectly influenced the surrender of thousands of enemy soldiers.

 

The wing also provided maintenance support for a number of tenants. The wing trained Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF) personnel in AC-119 operations and maintenance, February–August 1971, and transferred some of its AC-119s to the RVNAF, August–September 1971 as part of a phase-down for inactivation.

 

 

 

May 23, 1968

CITATION TO ACCOMPANY THE AWARD OF THE PRESIDENTIAL

UNIT CITATION

TO THE 14TH AIR COMMANDO WING

The 14th Air Commando Wing, United States Air Force distinguished itself by extraordinary heroism, exceptional gallantry and outstanding performance of duty in action against hostile forces in Southeast Asia from 8 March 1966 to 7 March 1967. Flying thousands of widely diversified sorties, elements of the Wing caused many enemy casualties and destroyed or damaged more than 8,500 structures, 500 trucks and 60 fuel sites as well as numerous automatic weapon positions, radio stations, bridges and boats. Flying the venerable C-47 aircraft, one squadron of the Wing helped abort a large number of night hostile operations against friendly forts and hamlets through flare drops and minigun saturation fire. Despite the often heavy and accurate enemy antiaircraft fire, the search and rescue missions of the Wing recovered 91 skilled airmen during this period. In addition, the Wing's psychological warfare missions directly or indirectly influenced the surrender of thousands of enemy soldiers. Through their valorous acts and untiring devotion to mission accomplishment personnel of the Wing have equaled the highest standards of performance in the United States Air Force and their actions reflect credit upon themselves and the armed forces of their country.

LYNDON B. JOHNSON

 

Below is some information regarding the development of the AC 47 “Spooky Gunship” or “Puff the Magic Dragon” ultimately into the most active and effective time of its use with the 14th air commando wing and specifically the 3rd and 4th Special Operations Squadrons at Nha Trang Air Base Vietnam. This is where Col. Frederick L Webster Jr. led the 14th Air Commando Wing and his 2 AC 47 special operations squadrons, 3rd and 4th SOS, with 16 AC 47 spooky gunships in each squadron, to levels of success in protecting troops and eliminating the enemy unheard of before.

 

In August 1964, years of fixed-wing gunship experimentation reached a new peak with Project Tailchaser under the direction of Captain John C. Simons. This test involved the conversion of a single Convair C-131B to be capable of firing a single GAU-2/A Minigun at a downward angle out of the left side of the aircraft. Even crude grease pencil crosshairs were quickly discovered to enable a pilot flying in a pylon turn to hit a stationary area target with relative accuracy and ease. The Armament Development and Test Center tested the craft at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, but lack of funding soon suspended the tests. In 1964, Captain Ron W. Terry returned from temporary duty in South Vietnam as part of an Air Force Systems Command team reviewing all aspects of air operations in counter-insurgency warfare, where he had noted the usefulness of C-47s and C-123s orbiting as flare ships during night attacks on fortified hamlets. He received permission to conduct a live-fire test using the C-131 and revived the side-firing gunship program.

 

By October, Terry's team under Project Gunship provided a C-47D, which was converted to a similar standard as the Project Tailchaser aircraft and armed with three miniguns, which were initially mounted on locally fabricated mounts—essentially strapped gun pods intended for fixed-wing aircraft (SUU-11/A) onto a mount allowing them to be fired remotely out the port side. Terry and a testing team arrived at Bien Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam, on 2 December 1964, with equipment needed to modify two C-47s. The first test aircraft (43-48579, a C-47B-5-DK mail courier converted to C-47D standard by removal of its superchargers) was ready by 11 December, the second by 15 December, and both were allocated to the 1st Air Commando Squadron for combat testing. The newly dubbed "FC-47" often operated under the radio call sign "Puff". Its primary mission involved protecting villages, hamlets, and personnel from mass attacks by Vietcong (VC) guerrilla units.

 

Puff's first significant success occurred on the night of 23–24 December 1964. An FC-47 arrived over the Special Forces outpost at Tranh Yend in the Mekong Delta just 37 minutes after an air support request, fired 4,500 rounds of ammunition, and broke the VC attack. The FC-47 was then called to support a second outpost at Trung Hung, about 20 miles (32 km) away. The aircraft again blunted the VC attack and forced a retreat. Between 15 and 26 December, all the FC-47's 16 combat sorties were successful. On 8 February 1965, an FC-47 flying over the Bồng Sơn area demonstrated its capabilities in the process of blunting a VC offensive. For over four hours, it fired 20,500 rounds into a VC hilltop position, killing an estimated 300 VC troops.

 

 

Timelapse photo showing tracer rounds visible at night while converging on the target of an AC-47D performing a pylon turn in Saigon in 1968

The early gunship trials were so successful, the second aircraft was returned to the United States early in 1965 to provide crew training. In July 1965, Headquarters USAF ordered TAC to establish an AC-47 squadron. By November 1965, a total of five aircraft were operating with the 4th Air Commando Squadron, activated in August as the first operational unit, and by the end of 1965, a total of 26 had been converted. Training Detachment 8, 1st Air Commando Wing, was subsequently established at Forbes AFB, Kansas. In Operation Big Shoot, the 4th ACS in Vietnam grew to 20 AC-47s (16 aircraft plus four reserves for attrition).

 

The 4th ACS deployed to Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Vietnam, on 14 November 1965. Now using the call sign Spooky, each of its three 7.62 mm miniguns could selectively fire either 50 or 100 rounds per second.[1] Cruising in an overhead left-hand orbit at 120 knots air speed at an altitude of 3,000 feet (910 m), the gunship could put a bullet or glowing red tracer bullet (every fifth round) into every square yard of a football field-sized target in potentially less than 10 seconds.[2] As long as its 45-flare and 24,000-round basic load of ammunition held out, it could do this intermittently while loitering over the target for hours.

 

In May 1966, the squadron moved north to Nha Trang Air Base to join the newly activated 14th Air Commando Wing. The 3rd Air Commando Squadron was activated at Nha Trang on 5 April 1968 as a second AC-47 squadron, with both squadrons redesignated as Special Operations Squadrons on 1 August 1968. Flights of both squadrons were stationed at bases throughout South Vietnam, and one flight of the 4th SOS served at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base with the 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing. The work of the two AC-47 squadrons, each with 16 AC-47s flown by aircrews younger than the aircraft they flew, was undoubtedly a key contributor to the award of the Presidential Unit Citation to the 14th Air Commando Wing in June 1968.

 

 

MXU-470/A minigun modules in an AC-47

One of the most publicized battles of the Vietnam War was the Battle of Khe Sanh in early 1968. More than 24,000 tactical and 2,700 B-52 strikes dropped 110,000 tons of ordnance in attacks that averaged over 300 sorties per day. During the two and a half months of combat, fighters were in the air day and night. At night, AC-47 gunships kept up constant fire against enemy troops and provided illumination for the base.[3]

 

The AC-47D gunship should not be confused with a small number of C-47s that were fitted with electronic equipment in the 1950s. Prior to 1962, these aircraft were designated AC-47D. When a new designation system was adopted in 1962, these became EC-47Ds. The original gunships had been designated FC-47D by the USAF, but with protests from fighter pilots, this designation was changed to AC-47D during 1965. Of the 53 aircraft converted to AC-47 configuration, 41 served in Vietnam and 19 were lost to all causes, 12 in combat.[4] Combat reports indicate that no village or hamlet under Spooky protection was ever lost, and a plethora of reports from civilians and military personnel were made about AC-47s coming to the rescue and saving their lives.

 

 

To continue my posting of material from Col. Frederick L Webster 14th Air Commando Wing redesignated 14th Special Operations Wing 1968. Col. Webster, as Deputy Commanding Officer of the 14th special ops squadron in 1968, Would have been an integral part of the conversion from the C-47 spooky gunship to the C-130 specter gunship with heavier armament and superior loitering time with expanded tanks if needed. The number of lives saved under these 2 programs of Close Air Support or CAS, is incalculable.  Here is a little information from Wikipedia detailing some of the conversion data from the C-47 spooky gunship, which Col. Webster was obviously a pioneer pilot for that program, to the C-130 with the higher payload capacity for heavier armament.

 

During the Vietnam War, the C-130 Hercules was selected to replace the Douglas AC-47 Spooky gunship (Project Gunship I) to improve mission endurance and increase capacity to carry munitions. Capable of flying faster than helicopters and at high altitudes with excellent loiter time, the use of the pylon turn allowed the AC-47 to deliver continuous, accurate fire to a single point on the ground.[13][14]

 

In 1967, JC-130A 54-1626 was selected for conversion into the prototype AC-130A gunship (Project Gunship II). The modifications were done at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base by the Aeronautical Systems Division. A direct-view night-vision telescope was installed in the forward door, an early forward-looking infrared device was placed in the forward part of the left wheel well, with miniguns and rotary cannons fixed facing down and aft along the left side. The analog fire-control computer prototype was handcrafted by RAF Wing Commander Tom Pinkerton at the USAF Avionics Laboratory at Wright-Patterson AFB. Flight testing of the prototype was performed primarily at Eglin Air Force Base, followed by further testing and modifications. By September 1967, the aircraft was certified ready for combat testing and was flown to Nha Trang Air Base, South Vietnam, for a 90-day test program.[13] The AC-130 was later supplemented by the AC-119 Shadow (Project Gunship III), which later proved to be underpowered.

Seven more warplanes were converted to the "Plain Jane" configuration like the AC-130 prototype in 1968,[15] and one aircraft received the "Surprise Package" refit in 1969.[16] The Surprise Package upgrade included the latest 20 mm rotary autocannons and 40 mm Bofors cannon, but no 7.62 mm close-support armament. The Surprise Package configuration served as a test bed for the avionic systems and armament for the AC-130E. In 1970, 10 more AC-130As were acquired under the "Pave Pronto" project.[17] In the summer of 1971, Surprise Package AC-130s were converted to the Pave Pronto configuration and assumed the new nickname of "Thor". Conversion of C-130Es into AC-130Es for the "PAVE Spectre" project followed.[18][19] Regardless of their project names, the aircraft were more commonly referred to by the squadron's call sign, Spectre.

 

Another aircraft Webster would've been involved in commanding and testing was good AC 119 shadow and stinger iterations of the gunship for CAS as well as Ho Chi Minh trail "truck busting" for the stinger with its larger cannons and its armament. The "stinger" included two M61 20-mm cannons in addition to the four miniguns that were standard in the "shadow" iteration. The 20 mm cannons would turn an enemy truck transporting troops to kill Americans and supplies to do so, into red mist and small metal and rubber shards. I have provided pictures of these different gunships below as well as his 2nd lighter which gives a little more information about his service next to his first one I posted from his AC 47 spooky gunship days of 66 – 67, flying in and commanding the first missions utilizing this new weapon, the "gunship", in the CAS arsenal of the U.S. Air Force special ops wings, the territory of the Air Commandos.

 

In his close air support missions, Col. Webster worked diligently with the ground units fighting for each other since the United States had long abandoned this place to communism, walking on broken glass to appease the communist tyrants in the talks being carried out in Geneva. The 101st Airborne gave Col. Webster a mark of their undying gratitude for the lives he saved with his crew, the Screaming Eagles he kept safe in battle for which he received his bronze and silver stars as well as the Legion of merit with Oakleaf for his leadership. That lighter thank you gift he held close and never used it once even though he was a smoker as evidenced by the other lighters. I also included a picture of the inside of the packing in his 14th air commando wing lighter, where there were still 2 1/2 flints from the 60s still extant and safely packed under the bottom cotton cover of the lighter's insert.

 

I will start with pictures of the AC 119 shadow gunship and the 2nd picture is the 4 mini gun configuration on the port or left side of the AC 119. The 3rd picture starts with an early AC 130A first iteration of the C-130 conversions in Vietnam in flight. The next picture is a crew from Vietnam who flew the AC-130 specter gunship behind them during Vietnam. These boys had one harrowing night where they got hit from below by antiaircraft cannons. It blew a hole in the bottom of the aircraft at which time the gunnery control crewman, after he recovered enough from the blast to open his eyes, noticed he was looking at the aircraft with his head at floor level and he couldn't figure it out at first. The antiaircraft blast had blown a hole in the aircraft flooring big enough for him to fall through and just catch himself by the girth of his body. The other man pulled him up and fully into the aircraft and dressed his wounds with turnicates made of rags and rope! Thinking the plane was going to have to crash land at the very least, they made their way back to base where the pilot landed safely! The last picture was from the US where they were putting together the prototype for the aircraft in the 3rd picture, the AC 130A. 

 

The final pics are of Webster's second Super Ace 14th Air Commando Wing lighter he had inscribed in Vietnam. A lot of the airmen used Super Ace and Penguin lighters from what I have encountered, which must've been common at the PX locations on base. Attached is the same distinctive unit insignia of the 14th air commando wing. Col. Webster Had engraved the anonymous quote "Tigers don't always have stripes". I don't know specifically what it means but the tiger was used on the 1st Air Commando Wing patch and the 606 Air Commando Squadron within the 14th Air Commando Wing. It is likely an allusion to something related to this use of the Tiger representing air commandos and of course there were 5 stripes to identify the commando aircraft in Operation Thursday, the first aerial invasion by glider behind enemy lines in the jungles of Burma in 1944 which started the Air Commando legend.

 

The final lighter is the Penguin gift of thanks he never used as it is unstruck. This was a lighter he kept all his life as a memoir of the lives in the 101st Airborne units counting on him on the ground below as he flew his close air support and recon missions to keep these men alive as best he could from the air.

[yokota57]

36 minutes ago, mtnman said:

 

To continue my posting of material from Col. Frederick L Webster 14th Air Commando Wing redesignated 14th Special Operations Wing 1968. Col. Webster, as Deputy Commanding Officer of the 14th special ops squadron in 1968, Would have been an integral part of the conversion from the C-47 spooky gunship to the C-130 specter gunship with heavier armament and superior loitering time with expanded tanks if needed. The number of lives saved under these 2 programs of Close Air Support or CAS, is incalculable.  Here is a little information from Wikipedia detailing some of the conversion data from the C-47 spooky gunship, which Col. Webster was obviously a pioneer pilot for that program, to the C-130 with the higher payload capacity for heavier armament.

 

During the Vietnam War, the C-130 Hercules was selected to replace the Douglas AC-47 Spooky gunship (Project Gunship I) to improve mission endurance and increase capacity to carry munitions. Capable of flying faster than helicopters and at high altitudes with excellent loiter time, the use of the pylon turn allowed the AC-47 to deliver continuous, accurate fire to a single point on the ground.[13][14]

 

In 1967, JC-130A 54-1626 was selected for conversion into the prototype AC-130A gunship (Project Gunship II). The modifications were done at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base by the Aeronautical Systems Division. A direct-view night-vision telescope was installed in the forward door, an early forward-looking infrared device was placed in the forward part of the left wheel well, with miniguns and rotary cannons fixed facing down and aft along the left side. The analog fire-control computer prototype was handcrafted by RAF Wing Commander Tom Pinkerton at the USAF Avionics Laboratory at Wright-Patterson AFB. Flight testing of the prototype was performed primarily at Eglin Air Force Base, followed by further testing and modifications. By September 1967, the aircraft was certified ready for combat testing and was flown to Nha Trang Air Base, South Vietnam, for a 90-day test program.[13] The AC-130 was later supplemented by the AC-119 Shadow (Project Gunship III), which later proved to be underpowered.

Seven more warplanes were converted to the "Plain Jane" configuration like the AC-130 prototype in 1968,[15] and one aircraft received the "Surprise Package" refit in 1969.[16] The Surprise Package upgrade included the latest 20 mm rotary autocannons and 40 mm Bofors cannon, but no 7.62 mm close-support armament. The Surprise Package configuration served as a test bed for the avionic systems and armament for the AC-130E. In 1970, 10 more AC-130As were acquired under the "Pave Pronto" project.[17] In the summer of 1971, Surprise Package AC-130s were converted to the Pave Pronto configuration and assumed the new nickname of "Thor". Conversion of C-130Es into AC-130Es for the "PAVE Spectre" project followed.[18][19] Regardless of their project names, the aircraft were more commonly referred to by the squadron's call sign, Spectre.

 

Another aircraft Webster would've been involved in commanding and testing was good AC 119 shadow and stinger iterations of the gunship for CAS as well as Ho Chi Minh trail "truck busting" for the stinger with its larger cannons and its armament. The "stinger" included two M61 20-mm cannons in addition to the four miniguns that were standard in the "shadow" iteration. The 20 mm cannons would turn an enemy truck transporting troops to kill Americans and supplies to do so, into red mist and small metal and rubber shards. I have provided pictures of these different gunships below as well as his 2nd lighter which gives a little more information about his service next to his first one I posted from his AC 47 spooky gunship days of 66 – 67, flying in and commanding the first missions utilizing this new weapon, the "gunship", in the CAS arsenal of the U.S. Air Force special ops wings, the territory of the Air Commandos.

 

In his close air support missions, Col. Webster worked diligently with the ground units fighting for each other since the United States had long abandoned this place to communism, walking on broken glass to appease the communist tyrants in the talks being carried out in Geneva. The 101st Airborne gave Col. Webster a mark of their undying gratitude for the lives he saved with his crew, the Screaming Eagles he kept safe in battle for which he received his bronze and silver stars as well as the Legion of merit with Oakleaf for his leadership. That lighter thank you gift he held close and never used it once even though he was a smoker as evidenced by the other lighters. I also included a picture of the inside of the packing in his 14th air commando wing lighter, where there were still 2 1/2 flints from the 60s still extant and safely packed under the bottom cotton cover of the lighter's insert.

 

I will start with pictures of the AC 119 shadow gunship and the 2nd picture is the 4 mini gun configuration on the port or left side of the AC 119. The 3rd picture starts with an early AC 130A first iteration of the C-130 conversions in Vietnam in flight. The next picture is a crew from Vietnam who flew the AC-130 specter gunship behind them during Vietnam. These boys had one harrowing night where they got hit from below by antiaircraft cannons. It blew a hole in the bottom of the aircraft at which time the gunnery control crewman, after he recovered enough from the blast to open his eyes, noticed he was looking at the aircraft with his head at floor level and he couldn't figure it out at first. The antiaircraft blast had blown a hole in the aircraft flooring big enough for him to fall through and just catch himself by the girth of his body. The other man pulled him up and fully into the aircraft and dressed his wounds with turnicates made of rags and rope! Thinking the plane was going to have to crash land at the very least, they made their way back to base where the pilot landed safely! The last picture was from the US where they were putting together the prototype for the aircraft in the 3rd picture, the AC 130A. 

 

The final pics are of Webster's second Super Ace 14th Air Commando Wing lighter he had inscribed in Vietnam. A lot of the airmen used Super Ace and Penguin lighters from what I have encountered, which must've been common at the PX locations on base. Attached is the same distinctive unit insignia of the 14th air commando wing. Col. Webster Had engraved the anonymous quote "Tigers don't always have stripes". I don't know specifically what it means but the tiger was used on the 1st Air Commando Wing patch and the 606 Air Commando Squadron within the 14th Air Commando Wing. It is likely an allusion to something related to this use of the Tiger representing air commandos and of course there were 5 stripes to identify the commando aircraft in Operation Thursday, the first aerial invasion by glider behind enemy lines in the jungles of Burma in 1944 which started the Air Commando legend.

 

The final lighter is the Penguin gift of thanks he never used as it is unstruck. This was a lighter he kept all his life as a memoir of the lives in the 101st Airborne units counting on him on the ground below as he flew his close air support and recon missions to keep these men alive as best he could from the air.

14th SOW (Part 2) / 101st AB. Again, great research and photos. Ichi-ban!

[mtnman]

Just now, yokota57 said:

14th SOW (Part 2) / 101st AB. Again, great research and photos. Ichi-ban!

You guys are the ones who make it all worthwhile! I really enjoyed your 3rd Helicopter Squadron post and the pictures were spectacular. Great research yokota 👍. Excellent history

[yokota57]

4 minutes ago, mtnman said:

You guys are the ones who make it all worthwhile! I really enjoyed your 3rd Helicopter Squadron post and the pictures were spectacular. Great research yokota 👍. Excellent history

Glad you enjoyed that one. The question remains: Was the 3d Helicopter Company involved with the Army Executive Flight Detachment at Ft. B? No definitive info yet.

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Nothing to report, Elizabeth, but I have my settings at “no notifications”. Instead I just check my “Manage Followed Content” daily. Meanwhile, here’s a new lighter:

 

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Just ordered one of these:

 

 

Always my favorite medal.

[yokota57]

 Tokyo Ordnance Depot (Oasis Club #14). Japanese-made "Penguin".

[mtnman]

On 7/5/2023 at 2:26 PM, yokota57 said:

 Tokyo Ordnance Depot (Oasis Club #14). Japanese-made "Penguin".

Love the pictures of the actual Depot yokota! Well done sir!

[mtnman]

On 6/20/2023 at 9:11 AM, Cobra 6 Actual said:

Nothing to report, Elizabeth, but I have my settings at “no notifications”. Instead I just check my “Manage Followed Content” daily. Meanwhile, here’s a new lighter:

 

Wow Cobra! This is one of my favorite lighters ever! What detail on that Bradley Fighting Vehicle! Don't be fooled by that small light armor piercing and antipersonnel cannon, these babies pack a hidden punch, they have a two round reloadable TOW anti-tank missile battery on that weapons system, which can take out just about any tank in the world! 

 

Awesome lighter Cobra! 

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Thanks very much, mtnman! Of course, in and of itself, double-sided engraved lighters are very collectable, too!

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Here are directions that I just saw on the Internet that describe how to light and extinguish the WWI trench style lighter:

 

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Earlier, way back, I posted a photo on this thread of Windy, the Zippo “model”, posing in cammies:

 

 

Here’s one of her as a Techo Grrl:

 

[yokota57]

44 minutes ago, Cobra 6 Actual said:

Earlier, way back, I posted a photo on this thread of Windy, the Zippo “model”, posing in cammies:

 

 

Here’s one of her as a Techo Grrl:

 

Nice! Thanks for posting the "Windy" variations. Ichi-Ban!!

[Cobra 6 Actual]

[easterneagle87]

Found two lighters while on vacation.

First, ZIPPO , NAVSUBSUPPFAC, NEW LONDON, RES NOSTRA SUSTENTARE

[easterneagle87]

Second, US Army 9th INF on one side, MICHAEL P. PAVILONIS, HSB 3/34 ARTY, VIETNAM 1969. 
 

HADSON SPARKY, Sure Quality Lighter. Butane not lighter fluid. 

[Salvage Sailor]

On 7/22/2023 at 10:30 AM, easterneagle87 said:

Found two lighters while on vacation.

First, ZIPPO , NAVSUBSUPPFAC, NEW LONDON, RES NOSTRA SUSTENTARE

 

Nice one

 

 

 

[stratasfan]

Testing . . . 

[Cobra 6 Actual]

3D printed grenade lighter case with Clipper lighter insert:

 

[yokota57]

Military Assistance Advisory Group-Vietnam. LTC Donald Verner Schnepf, USA (Ret) 1923-1994 (WW2 Korea Vietnam). Japanese-made "Wellington".

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Whoa, “perfect attendance” … all three wars! That’s a beauty, Yokota57!

[yokota57]

7 minutes ago, Cobra 6 Actual said:

Whoa, “perfect attendance” … all three wars! That’s a beauty, Yokota57!

Glad to share this MAAG-VN lighter with the community. He is interred at Chattanooga National Cemetery. RIP