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[Cobra 6 Actual]

Excellent acquisition, yokota57!

[mtnman]

H E L A T K L T R O N-3 

Helicopter Attack(lt) Squadron -3

SeaWolves

HA(L) - 3

 

Zippo lighter from UH1 Huey Seawolf Pilot Ensign Jim Beaird:

 

The Seawolves have a proud and distinguished history beyond what words can say and so I will simply let the words be spoken of someone far more qualified than me from the seal museum post that describes this storied and....

 

MOST DECORATED NAVY SQUADRON OF THE VIETNAM WAR. 

By Tom Hawkins

 

The Navy SEAL Museum has undertaken a project to refurbish a Bell UH-1B “Seawolves” helicopter for display on the grounds of the museum. Many will likely not know the story behind the helicopter squadron and their crews.

By early 1965 the Vietnam War was escalating at a rapid pace. Marines were making beach landings, and the U.S. Army’s air-mobile forces began extensive operations. It was determined by the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) that something serious needed to be done to slow down enemy supply routes in the South China Sea, Gulf of Tonkin, and the Gulf of Siam. In March, a coastal-interdiction force named Operation Market Time was established. Working with the Vietnamese Navy, the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard launched new tactics with conspicuous success. In July, Coastal Surveillance Task Force 115 was activated and took command of all coastal interdiction operations.

During December 1965, Operation Game Warden was established as Task Force 116, with the intent of “denying the enemy the use of the major rivers of the Delta and the Rung Sat Special Zone.” To carry out its mission, TF-116 was assigned 120 PBRs (Patrol Boat, River), 20 LCPLs (Landing Craft, Personnel, Large), one LSD (Landing Ship, Dock), and helicopter gunship support provided by the U.S. Army.

 

During April 1966, the Army’s 197th Aviation Company began providing helicopters, aircrews, and maintenance support to CTF 116. This joint arrangement, however, was short lived; because the Navy wanted and needed direct control of air operations to support its river patrols. To alleviate the complexity of assigning Army helicopters for extended periods, need was created for a dedicated Navy helicopter squadron. As a result, Helicopter Support Squadron One (HU-1), based at Imperial Beach, California, was task to assume the mission. Also in April 1966, HU-1 was redesignated Helicopter Combat Support Squadron (HC-1) and organized into four new squadrons. On 30 August 1966, the Army withdrew and relinquished ownership of eight UH-1B helicopters to the Navy and provided training to HC-1 Navy crews in Vietnam.

 

One of the new HC-1 squadrons was Helicopter Attack Squadron (Light) THREE, HA(L)-3, named “Seawolves.” A Navy-wide message was broadcast requesting volunteer Naval Aviators to man HAL-3, and from the response, 80 pilots were chosen. HAL-3 was officially established at Vũng Tàu, South Vietnam in April 1967. Follow-on HAL-3 pilots and crews completed Army training at Fort Benning, Georga (UH-1B helicopter training) and Fort Bragg, North Carolina (gunship training). The squadron fell under the command of TF 116; and, within time, also began supporting Army-Navy Mobile Riverine Task Force (TF-117). The army extended its allocation of HU-1 helicopters to 22 by the end of 1967.

 

With heavily armed helicopters, HAL-3 missions included search and destroy patrols, armed reconnaissance, medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), CTF 116 and CTF 117 support, including SEALs. From its inception the squadron was designed as a quick-reaction force. Two gun-ship formations would stand alert for 24-hour shifts and respond to close-air support (CAS) requests up to 50 miles from their base. HAL-3 Detachments and SEAL platoons regularly operated out of the same home-base locations; allowing the men to personally interactf face-to-face with one another.

 

The Bell helicopters provided by the U.S. Army were known as the “Huey.” The helicopter derived its nickname from the phonetic sound of its original designation, HU-1. The Museum’s UH-1B is an original flown by Seawolf pilots and crews in Vietnam. Information about the Museum’s refurbishment project can be found at: https://www.navysealmuseum.org/home-to-artifacts-from-the-secret-world-of-naval-special-warfare/seawolf-helicopter

SEALs and Seawolves

During Vietnam, everything was new for Navy SEALs. This included helicopter supported “air” capabilities, which were developed as elective methods of operation, that is, when helicopter support could actually be obtained. No helicopters were ever totally dedicated for SEAL operations during the Vietnam War; however, no discussion about SEALs in Vietnam would be complete without recognition that the Seawolves of HAL-3 never failed to support SEALs when needed.

With increasing necessity, Seawolves provided pre-mission and armed reconnaissance, gunfire support and insertion and extraction operations for SEAL squads and platoons. UH-1L Huey “Slicks,” called “Sealords,” were later added to the HAL-3 inventory. Sealord helicopters were intended primarily for logistic resupply operations; however, working in combination with Seawolves, they too conducted combat missions inserting and extracting SEALs. Indeed, SEALs and HAL-3 became a unique, inseparable, and a dominating warrior team in areas where they were co-located.

Best of the Best

“We Seawolves had a ‘Great’ mission.’ If it weren’t for the Seawolves and their sacrifices, many more names would be on this wall. Indeed, we Seawolves were the ‘Best of the Best.’ We dared to go when and where others would not go. People need not take our word for this. All they have to do is ask the units our squadron supported. Ask the ‘Brown Water Navy’ Sailors, including the SEALs and UDT. Ask the U.S. Army and Marine Corps Special Forces and advisors. Ask the Green Beret, LRP [Long Range Patrol], Mobile Strike Force, and Ranger Team members. Ask the South Vietnamese villagers who were in danger of being overrun by the VC and NVA.”

Tom Olby, HAL-3 Seawolves, Det 1 (1968-1971)
Vietnam Memorial Speech
Washington DC, 4 July 1996

 

“Scramble SEAWOLVES!”

 

The Seawolves story was nicely characterize by Chief Gunners Mate Barry Enoch, a Vietnam veteran and highly decorated Navy SEAL, including the Navy Cross Medal. Master Chief Enoch is now deceased but completed a book in 1996 entitled: “Teammates: SEALs at War” about his platoon’s actions and activities in Vietnam. His quotation below can be found in the Forward introduction in the book “SEAWOLVES: First Choice,” By Daniel E. Kelly.

 

“Navy SEALs operated in Vietnam in commando units as small as four men and rarely more than fourteen. They penetrated deep into Viet Cong and North Vietnam Army strongholds to capture or eliminate the communist infrastructure. The SEALs were soon to become masters of camouflage, and were able to move through the jungle without detection and under the cover of darkness. Upon reaching their objective, they were often met with overwhelming odds. Then, the tip of the spear needed help from above, and radio silence had to be broken. The word went out: ‘Scramble Seawolves!’

“In Vietnam for maximum mobility and firepower over the jungles and rice paddies, the helicopter was the essential support vehicle for our riverine forces. The navy’s answer to the problem of SEAL support in an operating environment of unbroken jungle, rice paddies, or open water was the UH-1B helicopter gunship, call sign “Seawolf.” Mounted on each side of the Seawolves’s Huey helicopters were 2.75-inch rocket launchers, and two M-60 flex-mounted machine guns per side. Unique to the Seawolf gunships were its two gunners, one seated on each side of the helicopter with a freehand, shoulder-fired M-60 machine gun. These very special young gunners hung out of the helicopter with one foot on the rocket pod and fired to the side, under, and to the rear, as the gunship rolled in and out of an attack run.

“Not only does many a SEAL owe his life to the Seawolves, but the units often operated together as a team. Very often located at the same base of operations, we developed friendships that are still alive today. Operating well outside standard operating procedures, the Seawolves lifted many SEALs out of enemy encirclements, and I have known them to land in a hot LZ [Landing Zone], to lift out caches too large for the SEALs to pack out. The also evacuated our wounded, when MEDVAC [Medical Evacuation] helicopters were not available. Most important they were always there for us, when we were down in the mud and darkness; the night illuminated with red and green tracers; the VC behind every shadow. Many times, after we were out of danger, they stayed with us until we were safely extracted, in the middle of the river, and out of range of enemy fire.”

 

Obituary of Jim Beaird:

 

September 10, 1944 – November 26, 2023

Jim passed away on November 26, 2023, in Palm Harbor, Florida. He was born to Robert H.T. Beaird and Avril Margaret Schultz Beaird on September 10, 1944, in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from High School in Pawhuska, Oklahoma where he played baseball, football and basketball. He then attended Oklahoma State University. He later attended college in Florida after he was discharged from the military.
Jim enlisted in the U.S. Navy Reserve in 1965. He became a helicopter pilot as part of the Navy Sea Wolves. He served as a Naval Officer in Vietnam where he flew 400 missions and was wounded. He received a Purple Heart, The Air Medal, and other service awards. When he returned home from Vietnam he trained helicopter pilots at Pensacola Naval Air Station in Florida until he was honorably discharged from the military. His father served in the Navy in WWII.
Thereafter Jim had a family and owned a business in Clearwater, Florida where sons Jason and Jim Beaird were born and raised. He moved to Summit County, Colorado in 1990 where he was in charge of irrigation systems at the Keystone golf courses.
In 1993 Jim married Kathleen (Kathy) Ann Vawter at the Keystone Ranch in western Colorado. The family lived in the Dillion, Colorado area during the time their three boys, Matthew, Andrew and Patrick attended and then graduated from Summit County High School. In 1990 they moved to Palm Harbor, Florida.
Jim gave a helping hand to anyone in need. 

 

Needless to say, this is one of the most amazing finds I've ever come across. Enjoy gentlemen.

 

 

[yokota57]

11 minutes ago, mtnman said:

H E L A T K L T R O N-3 

Helicopter Attack(lt) Squadron -3

SeaWolves

HA(L) - 3

 

Zippo lighter from UH1 Huey Seawolf Pilot Ensign Jim Beaird:

 

The Seawolves have a proud and distinguished history beyond what words can say and so I will simply let the words be spoken of someone far more qualified than me from the seal museum post that describes this storied and....

 

MOST DECORATED NAVY SQUADRON OF THE VIETNAM WAR. 

By Tom Hawkins

 

The Navy SEAL Museum has undertaken a project to refurbish a Bell UH-1B “Seawolves” helicopter for display on the grounds of the museum. Many will likely not know the story behind the helicopter squadron and their crews.

By early 1965 the Vietnam War was escalating at a rapid pace. Marines were making beach landings, and the U.S. Army’s air-mobile forces began extensive operations. It was determined by the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) that something serious needed to be done to slow down enemy supply routes in the South China Sea, Gulf of Tonkin, and the Gulf of Siam. In March, a coastal-interdiction force named Operation Market Time was established. Working with the Vietnamese Navy, the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard launched new tactics with conspicuous success. In July, Coastal Surveillance Task Force 115 was activated and took command of all coastal interdiction operations.

During December 1965, Operation Game Warden was established as Task Force 116, with the intent of “denying the enemy the use of the major rivers of the Delta and the Rung Sat Special Zone.” To carry out its mission, TF-116 was assigned 120 PBRs (Patrol Boat, River), 20 LCPLs (Landing Craft, Personnel, Large), one LSD (Landing Ship, Dock), and helicopter gunship support provided by the U.S. Army.

 

During April 1966, the Army’s 197th Aviation Company began providing helicopters, aircrews, and maintenance support to CTF 116. This joint arrangement, however, was short lived; because the Navy wanted and needed direct control of air operations to support its river patrols. To alleviate the complexity of assigning Army helicopters for extended periods, need was created for a dedicated Navy helicopter squadron. As a result, Helicopter Support Squadron One (HU-1), based at Imperial Beach, California, was task to assume the mission. Also in April 1966, HU-1 was redesignated Helicopter Combat Support Squadron (HC-1) and organized into four new squadrons. On 30 August 1966, the Army withdrew and relinquished ownership of eight UH-1B helicopters to the Navy and provided training to HC-1 Navy crews in Vietnam.

 

One of the new HC-1 squadrons was Helicopter Attack Squadron (Light) THREE, HA(L)-3, named “Seawolves.” A Navy-wide message was broadcast requesting volunteer Naval Aviators to man HAL-3, and from the response, 80 pilots were chosen. HAL-3 was officially established at Vũng Tàu, South Vietnam in April 1967. Follow-on HAL-3 pilots and crews completed Army training at Fort Benning, Georga (UH-1B helicopter training) and Fort Bragg, North Carolina (gunship training). The squadron fell under the command of TF 116; and, within time, also began supporting Army-Navy Mobile Riverine Task Force (TF-117). The army extended its allocation of HU-1 helicopters to 22 by the end of 1967.

 

With heavily armed helicopters, HAL-3 missions included search and destroy patrols, armed reconnaissance, medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), CTF 116 and CTF 117 support, including SEALs. From its inception the squadron was designed as a quick-reaction force. Two gun-ship formations would stand alert for 24-hour shifts and respond to close-air support (CAS) requests up to 50 miles from their base. HAL-3 Detachments and SEAL platoons regularly operated out of the same home-base locations; allowing the men to personally interactf face-to-face with one another.

 

The Bell helicopters provided by the U.S. Army were known as the “Huey.” The helicopter derived its nickname from the phonetic sound of its original designation, HU-1. The Museum’s UH-1B is an original flown by Seawolf pilots and crews in Vietnam. Information about the Museum’s refurbishment project can be found at: https://www.navysealmuseum.org/home-to-artifacts-from-the-secret-world-of-naval-special-warfare/seawolf-helicopter

SEALs and Seawolves

During Vietnam, everything was new for Navy SEALs. This included helicopter supported “air” capabilities, which were developed as elective methods of operation, that is, when helicopter support could actually be obtained. No helicopters were ever totally dedicated for SEAL operations during the Vietnam War; however, no discussion about SEALs in Vietnam would be complete without recognition that the Seawolves of HAL-3 never failed to support SEALs when needed.

With increasing necessity, Seawolves provided pre-mission and armed reconnaissance, gunfire support and insertion and extraction operations for SEAL squads and platoons. UH-1L Huey “Slicks,” called “Sealords,” were later added to the HAL-3 inventory. Sealord helicopters were intended primarily for logistic resupply operations; however, working in combination with Seawolves, they too conducted combat missions inserting and extracting SEALs. Indeed, SEALs and HAL-3 became a unique, inseparable, and a dominating warrior team in areas where they were co-located.

Best of the Best

“We Seawolves had a ‘Great’ mission.’ If it weren’t for the Seawolves and their sacrifices, many more names would be on this wall. Indeed, we Seawolves were the ‘Best of the Best.’ We dared to go when and where others would not go. People need not take our word for this. All they have to do is ask the units our squadron supported. Ask the ‘Brown Water Navy’ Sailors, including the SEALs and UDT. Ask the U.S. Army and Marine Corps Special Forces and advisors. Ask the Green Beret, LRP [Long Range Patrol], Mobile Strike Force, and Ranger Team members. Ask the South Vietnamese villagers who were in danger of being overrun by the VC and NVA.”

Tom Olby, HAL-3 Seawolves, Det 1 (1968-1971)
Vietnam Memorial Speech
Washington DC, 4 July 1996

 

“Scramble SEAWOLVES!”

 

The Seawolves story was nicely characterize by Chief Gunners Mate Barry Enoch, a Vietnam veteran and highly decorated Navy SEAL, including the Navy Cross Medal. Master Chief Enoch is now deceased but completed a book in 1996 entitled: “Teammates: SEALs at War” about his platoon’s actions and activities in Vietnam. His quotation below can be found in the Forward introduction in the book “SEAWOLVES: First Choice,” By Daniel E. Kelly.

 

“Navy SEALs operated in Vietnam in commando units as small as four men and rarely more than fourteen. They penetrated deep into Viet Cong and North Vietnam Army strongholds to capture or eliminate the communist infrastructure. The SEALs were soon to become masters of camouflage, and were able to move through the jungle without detection and under the cover of darkness. Upon reaching their objective, they were often met with overwhelming odds. Then, the tip of the spear needed help from above, and radio silence had to be broken. The word went out: ‘Scramble Seawolves!’

“In Vietnam for maximum mobility and firepower over the jungles and rice paddies, the helicopter was the essential support vehicle for our riverine forces. The navy’s answer to the problem of SEAL support in an operating environment of unbroken jungle, rice paddies, or open water was the UH-1B helicopter gunship, call sign “Seawolf.” Mounted on each side of the Seawolves’s Huey helicopters were 2.75-inch rocket launchers, and two M-60 flex-mounted machine guns per side. Unique to the Seawolf gunships were its two gunners, one seated on each side of the helicopter with a freehand, shoulder-fired M-60 machine gun. These very special young gunners hung out of the helicopter with one foot on the rocket pod and fired to the side, under, and to the rear, as the gunship rolled in and out of an attack run.

“Not only does many a SEAL owe his life to the Seawolves, but the units often operated together as a team. Very often located at the same base of operations, we developed friendships that are still alive today. Operating well outside standard operating procedures, the Seawolves lifted many SEALs out of enemy encirclements, and I have known them to land in a hot LZ [Landing Zone], to lift out caches too large for the SEALs to pack out. The also evacuated our wounded, when MEDVAC [Medical Evacuation] helicopters were not available. Most important they were always there for us, when we were down in the mud and darkness; the night illuminated with red and green tracers; the VC behind every shadow. Many times, after we were out of danger, they stayed with us until we were safely extracted, in the middle of the river, and out of range of enemy fire.”

 

Obituary of Jim Beaird:

 

September 10, 1944 – November 26, 2023

Jim passed away on November 26, 2023, in Palm Harbor, Florida. He was born to Robert H.T. Beaird and Avril Margaret Schultz Beaird on September 10, 1944, in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from High School in Pawhuska, Oklahoma where he played baseball, football and basketball. He then attended Oklahoma State University. He later attended college in Florida after he was discharged from the military.
Jim enlisted in the U.S. Navy Reserve in 1965. He became a helicopter pilot as part of the Navy Sea Wolves. He served as a Naval Officer in Vietnam where he flew 400 missions and was wounded. He received a Purple Heart, The Air Medal, and other service awards. When he returned home from Vietnam he trained helicopter pilots at Pensacola Naval Air Station in Florida until he was honorably discharged from the military. His father served in the Navy in WWII.
Thereafter Jim had a family and owned a business in Clearwater, Florida where sons Jason and Jim Beaird were born and raised. He moved to Summit County, Colorado in 1990 where he was in charge of irrigation systems at the Keystone golf courses.
In 1993 Jim married Kathleen (Kathy) Ann Vawter at the Keystone Ranch in western Colorado. The family lived in the Dillion, Colorado area during the time their three boys, Matthew, Andrew and Patrick attended and then graduated from Summit County High School. In 1990 they moved to Palm Harbor, Florida.
Jim gave a helping hand to anyone in need. 

 

Needless to say, this is one of the most amazing finds I've ever come across. Enjoy gentlemen.

 

 

What a fantastic find! This one goes to "11". 

[mtnman]

Lol! Thanks Yokota! You're a blessing my friend, your encouragement and edification is always appreciated.

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Wow, another excellent score, mtnman! Congratulations!

[yokota57]

MAAG-Vietnam "Saigon Enlisted Open Mess". Shewchuk's meager obit indicated that he was a 20-year USAF veteran from the Rochester/Western NY state area which was the source of this lighter. *Note what I presume is the engravers slightly shorter "ghost" pattern just above his name. Japanese-made "Wellington".

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Wow, you keep on finding the winners, yokota57!

[mtnman]

11 hours ago, yokota57 said:

MAAG-Vietnam "Saigon Enlisted Open Mess". Shewchuk's meager obit indicated that he was a 20-year USAF veteran from the Rochester/Western NY

Outstanding research yokota! Splendid find!

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Barber with a jump wings design lighter:

 

 

It looks like the closest Army base is Ft. Leonard Wood and that’s about a 3 hour drive. Too far for a haircut. Ideas?

 

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Thanks to Yokota 57 for taking the time to call that number on the Zippo: turns out the owner of the shop was a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne from 1979 to 1982. All the way!

 

[dskjl]

Not sure if I have posted this one, but here goes.

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Nice Big Red One lighter, dskjl. I had to look up that lighter company. It’s based in Germany, so probably this was made in the early post WWII years when the First Infantry Division had occupation duty until 1950, then followed up until 1955 as part of the newly-formed NATO forces.

 

[dskjl]

18 minutes ago, Cobra 6 Actual said:

Nice Big Red One lighter, dskjl. I had to look up that lighter company. It’s based in Germany, so probably this was made in the early post WWII years when the First Infantry Division had occupation duty until 1950, then followed up until 1955 as part of the newly-formed NATO forces.

 

Thanks for digging into to it.  It’s a fun piece and it’s great that it’s still working.

[Cobra 6 Actual]

I should mention that the First Infantry Division returned to Germany in 1970 and was deployed there until 1991, but I think your lighter looks like it’s from the earlier time period. yokota57 is the expert on lighters so perhaps he will weigh in with more definitive information.

[yokota57]

29 minutes ago, Cobra 6 Actual said:

I should mention that the First Infantry Division returned to Germany in 1970 and was deployed there until 1991, but I think your lighter looks like it’s from the earlier time period. yokota57 is the expert on lighters so perhaps he will weigh in with more definitive information.

C6A is spot on. Looks like a typical West German-made Ibelo "Monopol" from the early to mid 1950s. A very tasty lighter!

[Cobra 6 Actual]

This “little guy” is only about 1.5 inches in height and has the same design on both sides:

 

 

There are no markings but it is in the style of the WWI “hex nut lighters”, although this one is probably from the 1950’s-1960’s.

[mtnman]

On 10/1/2024 at 8:35 PM, Cobra 6 Actual said:

Nice Big Red One lighter, dskjl.

You took the words right out of my mouth Cobra, well done dskjl!!! That is a beauty, especially with the coloring display, outstanding. Love it that it lights up! Thanks for giving us a look see with it lit!

[yokota57]

35 minutes ago, Cobra 6 Actual said:

This “little guy” is only about 1.5 inches in height and has the same design on both sides:

 

 

There are no markings but it is in the style of the WWI “hex nut lighters”, although this one is probably from the 1950’s-1960’s.

Amazing "mini" !!! Thanks for posting this most unusual lighter. Ichi-Ban !!!

[easterneagle87]

Saw this one in antique store. Really beat up and non-functional. Too rich for my budget at $69. Did I pass up a gem? 
 

1964    VA-55

 

[yokota57]

7 minutes ago, easterneagle87 said:

Saw this one in antique store. Really beat up and non-functional. Too rich for my budget at $69. Did I pass up a gem? 
 

1964    VA-55

 

$69. would be a good price if it were "Mint-In-Box". $20.-$25. in this condition. Thanks for posting!

[yokota57]

17 minutes ago, easterneagle87 said:

Saw this one in antique store. Really beat up and non-functional. Too rich for my budget at $69. Did I pass up a gem? 
 

1964    VA-55

 

They were on Ticonderoga (CVA-14) with the A-4E in 1964.

[easterneagle87]

42 minutes ago, yokota57 said:

$69. would be a good price if it were "Mint-In-Box". $20.-$25. in this condition. Thanks for posting!

that’s what I thought. Thanks

[mtnman]

69 was too much, I agree with yokota fully. But thanks so much for sharing that picture Eastern eagle, it's a beauty!

[Cobra 6 Actual]

What they said, EE87. You did good to skip it.

[yokota57]

US Army / Company "A" 9th Aviation Battalion "Jayhawks". Dong Tam, RVN. Japanese-made "Vulcan".