Vietnam War holds the record for the highest number of helicopter crashes. This is attributed to their massive deployment and the entry of sophisticated surface to air missiles, antiaircraft artillery and fighter interception weaponry. Vietnam War helicopter crashes have baffled many based on the magnitude of losses. In some cases, what caused the crash was never established. This adds to the strange twists and turns in the battle fields.
According to some analysts, a significant number of helicopters crashed due to errors in command. Others claim that there was a supremacy battle between Air Force and Army pilots which made it difficult to control the airspace. This is regarded among the most guarded secrets of this war alongside the extent of losses.
The percentage of people who died from incidences involving crashing helicopters is considered significantly high. Some sources place the number at ten percent of the total deaths. In the two months described as Lam Son 719, it is said that the losses were up to ten percent of all the incidences involving helicopters between 1961 and 1975. This number is considered too high for such a short period.
Death around helicopters was not necessarily due to a crash. In some cases, the crew was attacked while on rescue mission. They were either recovering equipment or crew that had been shot down. Such incidences caused a significant rise in the number of casualties. It has made it difficult to enumerate the actual crashes from such attacks. This explains the controversy in the numbers of accidents involving helicopters and their crew.
The statistics about Vietnam War do not only deal with crashing helicopters. Some sections have claimed that more bombs were dropped during the war than during the Second World War. It is said that Quang Tri had more bombs dropped than Europe witnessed during WWII. This created what came to be referred to as the moonscape. A large area of this province is now inhabitable.
The jungle that witnessed the war is expansive, making it difficult to trace the crashed helicopters. Veterans narrate of the possibility of getting lost within 20 meters of entering the forest. There are wild animals as deadly as cobras, tigers and crocodiles to deal with. The best option is Ho Chi Minh City which has a well kept museum with military gear and crashed aircraft recovered from battle fields.
The narrative of the war would be incomplete without the story of a masters in Biology graduate called Paul Zabriski. Paul was taking a break between graduate studies and joining dental school in Tufts University. He was advised by an army personnel officer, who also assisted him with the process, to join the army. This caused him to loose his deferment opportunity and saw him crash a total of four times. It is one of the most intriguing survival stories.
By 2013, 807 soldiers had not been accounted for. This number was reduced by the identification of one soldier who had been missing since 1970. He was buried in honor at the Arlington National Cemetery after circumstantial and forensic evidence was used to identify him. He was in the company of five others on command mission at the time of their crash. Only one soldier survived.
According to some analysts, a significant number of helicopters crashed due to errors in command. Others claim that there was a supremacy battle between Air Force and Army pilots which made it difficult to control the airspace. This is regarded among the most guarded secrets of this war alongside the extent of losses.
The percentage of people who died from incidences involving crashing helicopters is considered significantly high. Some sources place the number at ten percent of the total deaths. In the two months described as Lam Son 719, it is said that the losses were up to ten percent of all the incidences involving helicopters between 1961 and 1975. This number is considered too high for such a short period.
Death around helicopters was not necessarily due to a crash. In some cases, the crew was attacked while on rescue mission. They were either recovering equipment or crew that had been shot down. Such incidences caused a significant rise in the number of casualties. It has made it difficult to enumerate the actual crashes from such attacks. This explains the controversy in the numbers of accidents involving helicopters and their crew.
The statistics about Vietnam War do not only deal with crashing helicopters. Some sections have claimed that more bombs were dropped during the war than during the Second World War. It is said that Quang Tri had more bombs dropped than Europe witnessed during WWII. This created what came to be referred to as the moonscape. A large area of this province is now inhabitable.
The jungle that witnessed the war is expansive, making it difficult to trace the crashed helicopters. Veterans narrate of the possibility of getting lost within 20 meters of entering the forest. There are wild animals as deadly as cobras, tigers and crocodiles to deal with. The best option is Ho Chi Minh City which has a well kept museum with military gear and crashed aircraft recovered from battle fields.
The narrative of the war would be incomplete without the story of a masters in Biology graduate called Paul Zabriski. Paul was taking a break between graduate studies and joining dental school in Tufts University. He was advised by an army personnel officer, who also assisted him with the process, to join the army. This caused him to loose his deferment opportunity and saw him crash a total of four times. It is one of the most intriguing survival stories.
By 2013, 807 soldiers had not been accounted for. This number was reduced by the identification of one soldier who had been missing since 1970. He was buried in honor at the Arlington National Cemetery after circumstantial and forensic evidence was used to identify him. He was in the company of five others on command mission at the time of their crash. Only one soldier survived.
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