During the Vietnam War, helicopters were the workhorses of the air cavalry, transporting materiel and troops to and from hot spots. Because of their low altitude of operation, helicopters were sensitive to attacks by concealed aggressors. As bursts of intense gunfire blasted into the air, the door gunners would fire back through the open doorways on each side of the helicopters. For efficient operation, the doors were often removed. Each gunner fired his M60 on the edge of the sky, concentrating on the many threats around him and pushing away any thoughts of his precarious position. When the helicopter finally touched down safely in the LZ, the door gunners switched to protective cover fire, shooting over the heads of the disembarking troops.Door gunners were the extra eyes for the helicopter’s pilot and co-pilot. They were always on the alert for threats from the ground or in the air, such as enemy gunfire or another aircraft straying into their airspace. Through the communications link in their helmets, they transmitted their vital information to the rest of the crew. The gunners used gas-operated, air-cooled M60D machine guns that fired off 550 shots per minute and had spade grips, a ring-type sight, and a bipod in case they needed to use the gun on the ground. One of every five bullets was a “tracer” that left streaks of flame in the air, to help the door gunners check their aim. This allowed them to “walk” the rounds onto the target by moving the gun until the glowing tracers fell where the gunners wanted to strike. Their typical uniform was a fire-resistant flight suit, a protective vest with ceramic plates inserted into the front and back, flight helmet, and leather boots.Two door gunners flew on each U.S. Army Huey and Chinook helicopter. On Hueys, the doors were completely removed; on Chinooks, the upper doors were taken off. Either way, the door gunners were clearly exposed to enemy fire and assaulted by tremendous “G forces as the helicopters dove, turned, and pulled out at severe angles. After a flight, with the earth once again beneath their feet, door gunners took their M60s with them, to clean and store them until the next perilous flight through the skies of Vietnam.
Equipment List: Super-poseable G.I. Joe figure, shirt, pants, body armor vest, belt, pistol with holster, boots, M60 D machine gun with folding bipod, dog tags, flight helmet with boom mike and radio cord with plug – Vietnam War collection – Figure stands approx. 12″ tall- Ages 5 and up – Hasbro 2001
Box shows tearing on the front at the top, along with edge wear, creasing, and scuffing. The plastic shows scuffing and scratches. The rubber bands inside the box have deteriorated.
