I was in the basement today and found a class photo from one of my Father’s helicopter trainings. The photo itself is awesome! The photo shows a different era of the Army with OD Green Flight suits, baseball caps and aviator sunglasses. The group seemingly was rushed out to the side of the building for a class photo.
I laughed when I saw the photo. In this crew of newly certified Cobra Pilots, you’ve got one guy straightening his cap, one guy looking off to the side, some guy in back looking at his boots, and one guy showed up that day in the wrong uniform.
But, then I look at my Dad, being about the only one doing what he is supposed to be doing (even though the guy next to him is talking to him).
The photo was taken in April 1971, in front of the Attack Helicopter Training Department (“Cobra Hall”). Cobra Hall was “the Army’s first attack helicopter school whose purpose was to train pilots in the AH-1G Cobra, the world’s first purpose-built attack helicopter.” I was not even a year old during this time. My Dad was on his way to Vietnam, where his orders would be changed during his flight over, from a Cobra pilot to a Chinook Company Commander.
The photo is a great reminder of what has changed in the Army…and in some ways, what has not.
The back of the photo reads:
U.S. Army Flight Training Center
Ft. Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield, Ga.
09-076-522-1/AJ71
T/G Class 71-20.
Photographer
E. Leschnar, SP4
DC-E, AVSD
16 Apr 71
—–
During my research, I found another group of class photos at the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association. If you are looking for old class photos, this would be a great place to start.
Keith Andrews says
Thank you Gerry, for stopping by! The only place I know to get any photos is http://www.vhpadata.org/ I scanned this photo from my father’s records. I hope you are able to find what you are looking for!
Gerry Shanahan says
Where do I find a copy of the very first Cobra Class from Ft Stewert, GA?