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The US Army had the largest helicopter force in the world during the Vietnam War. And flew a lengthly list of different types of choppers during the conflict: Sioux (whirlybird), CH-19, CH-21 Shawnee, CH-47 Chinook, CH-34, UH-1 Iroquois (Huey), AH-1 Cobra, OH-58 Kiowa, OH-6 Cayuse...to name a few.

The US Navy flew CH-53 Sea Stallions, while the US Marines preferred the CH-46 Sea Knight (which looks like an army CH-47 Chinook).

The US Air Force flew Jolly Green Giants and Flying Cranes, both of which were versions of the US Navy CH-53 Sea Stallion. The mission of USAF chopper airmen was to rescue downed US fliers (jet pilots) and recover shot down US aircraft (mainly spotter planes and other helicopters...there usually wasn't too much left of jets when they crashed).

All branches at one time or another flew the US Army's UH-1 Iroquois (Huey) in Vietnam...especially the US Navy & Marine Corps. The USMC also flew the US Army's AH-1 Cobra in Vietnam. NOT to be confused with the current SUPER Cobra flown by 21st century US Marines...that craft has TWO engines. The Vietnam Cobra, which was the world's first "designed & built" fielded combat Attack Helicopter had only ONE engine.

So, the short version of answering your question is: The men that flew helicopters in the Vietnam War were from all branches of the US Military...but primarily from the US Army.

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Q: Were the pilots who flew the helicopters in Vietnam war Air Force or Army?
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Continue Learning about Military History

When did people start using helicopters?

Soon after WW2 helicopters became very popular, reaching a peak of use in the Vietnam war, when the US Army and Marines had more helicopters than all the services regular airplanes


Did Air Force personal fight in the jungles of Vietnam?

This was the 20th century; in which the Air Force did Air Force jobs, the Navy did Navy jobs, and the Marines & Army did Marine/Army work. TODAY; each branch of service has their own "bells and whistles department." In Vietnam, with the exception of some very specialized and/or covert operations (or even secret experiments) the USAF fought in the skies over North & South Vietnam (and Cambodia and Laos); unless of course their pilots and aircrewmen were shot down...THEN THEY FOUGHT IN THE JUNGLE.


AVRN South Vietnam what do the initials mean?

It is actually ARVN meaning Army of the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam War.It is actually ARVN meaning Army of the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam War.It is actually ARVN meaning Army of the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam War.It is actually ARVN meaning Army of the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam War.It is actually ARVN meaning Army of the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam War.It is actually ARVN meaning Army of the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam War.


Did females pilot helicopters in the Vietnam war?

No, political correctness came after the war when the all volunteer military was created. From WWII to the Vietnam War females were not part of the fighting units; they had their own branch, the Women's Army Corps (WACs). The US Navy had the WAVES. These were support units, to relieve the men from support functions, which in turn would allow the men to fight the wars.


Viet Cong was the military force for?

Southern sympathisers living in South Vietnam. Another words, they were not from North Vietnam and not members of the North Viet Army (NVA). But they were on the same side as the NVA and were taking orders from Hanoi (Capital of North Vietnam).

Related questions

In the Vietnam War when did the first Helicopter get interduced?

US Army helicopters landed in South Vietnam in 1956. They were used in the Korean War in 1950-53.


When did people start using helicopters?

Soon after WW2 helicopters became very popular, reaching a peak of use in the Vietnam war, when the US Army and Marines had more helicopters than all the services regular airplanes


What are all the organizations for the Vietnam war?

All branches of the US military (Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard); Army, Navy, Air Force of Australia; Army of New Zealand; Army of S. Korea; all branches of the military for S. Vietnam; Army elements from Thailand, Philippines. Verses all branches (Army, Navy, and Air Force) of N. Vietnam.


Does the U.S. Army have more aircraft than the U.S. Air Force?

During the Vietnam War (1945 - 1975), the US Army had more HELICOPTERS (Rotor Wing Aircraft) than all of the branches combined (Air Force, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard). Taking into account all types of aircraft (fixed wing and helicopters); Today (2010) the US Air Force has far more aircraft than the Army.


What percent of marine officers fly in the marines?

in every branch (excluding army, for army has no fixed wing aircraft, and warrent officers fly helicopters) it averages 10% are officers, and 5% of officers are pilots.


What are the names the fighter jets use in army?

The US army has no fixed wing aircraft. This was part of the 1949 agreement that separated the Air Force from the Army. Air Force gets all fixed wing aircraft, Army gets helicopters.


Is there a list of helicopter pilots who served in Vietnam?

Vietnam Helicopter Pilot's Association (VHPA) maintains a list of all Army helicopter pilots trained by the US Army. Most served in RVN. Try contacting the webmaster at http://www.vhpa.org/. He may or may not answer individual questions, buy unlikely he will publish the list. Vietnam Helicopter Pilot's Association (VHPA) maintains a list of all Army helicopter pilots trained by the US Army. Most served in RVN. Try contacting the webmaster at http://www.vhpa.org/. He may or may not answer individual questions, but unlikely he will publish the list.


Did Air Force personal fight in the jungles of Vietnam?

This was the 20th century; in which the Air Force did Air Force jobs, the Navy did Navy jobs, and the Marines & Army did Marine/Army work. TODAY; each branch of service has their own "bells and whistles department." In Vietnam, with the exception of some very specialized and/or covert operations (or even secret experiments) the USAF fought in the skies over North & South Vietnam (and Cambodia and Laos); unless of course their pilots and aircrewmen were shot down...THEN THEY FOUGHT IN THE JUNGLE.


What planes does the army fly?

During the Vietnam War, the US Department of Defense (Formerly called the War Department) issued a memo to the army (in 1964) directing them to transfer all fixed wing aircraft to the US Air Force. With the exceptions of some 0-1 Bird Dog artillery spotting airplanes, which the US Army had in "Airplane Companies" spread out in South Vietnam. These Bird Dog observation airplanes were to be used until the new helicopters (Cayuse) came on line as artillery spotting aircraft. No fixed wing jets for the Army. Jet helicopters are OK.


What branches of the military use helicopters?

All of them. The Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy all use helicopters.


What type of military does Vietnam have?

1. Army 2. Navy 3. Air Force Same as they had when they were called North Vietnam during the war.


How many Helicopters are in the Australian Army?

we use chinooks, blackhawks, tigers and kiowas. I believe the person is asking how many, as in the number, of helicopters are in the army.