Is that what they called an evac helicopter with no weapons?
Slick. Close, but no brass ring.
Good modeling!!
Randie
Never heard of a “Slip”, however a “Slick” is what’s commonly used as a term to identify a Helo other than a Gunship. For example a non-gunship UH-1H would be referred to as a “Slick”. Slick’s were hoever usually armed with an M-60 on each side…usually. OH-58’s and OH-6’s were called “Scouts” or “Loaches”.
Ah! Thanks guys. [;)] Does my non-helicopterness show? LOL
Slicks and Snakes.
Slicks for dust off and Snakes to bite!
Don
Dustoff! - That was what I was trying to remember. It started as a random callsign for a medical evacuation mission, was made permanent, and became associated with the requirement, the aircraft, the capability, etc that is still in use today. From a Dustoff website:
The DUSTOFF call sign was acquired by the 57th Medical Detachment (Helicopter Ambulance) in January, 1964, ironically and quite appropriately/proudly, by way of medical necessity.
The occasion was a bloody two-day operation, west of Saigon, near the Cambodian border in early Jan 1964 that churned out many casualties throughout a day and night of battle.
At the time, all combat units utilized randomly selected call signs controlled by the Navy Support Activity, Vietnam and were changed periodically in accordance with Signal Operating Instructions (SOI) in the interest of security. The call sign of 57th Med Det (HA) on that day and at that time, per the SOI, happened to be “DUSTOFF”.
Fighting was heavy, casualties were mounting, evacs were continuous and communication between the evac helicopters and ground commanders was ever-running. At the time that the code changeover was ordered to occur in accordance the SOI, the major ground commander as well as the medevac aircrews became concerned that due to the battlefield chaos that included some loss of communications between units, switching to a new call sign may jeopardize evacuation. At the request of the ground commander, the 57th Med Det commander, MAJ Lloyd Spencer, agreed immediately to delay the call sign changeover while also requesting a temporary exception to the SOI from the approving headquarters. The exception was approved for a specified period (probably for 24 hours or possibly until the time of the next call sign change, per the SOI).
After the operation, MAJ Lloyd Spencer and MAJ Charles Kelly discussed the call sign dilemma and determined that a permanent aeromedical evacuation call sign would help avoid possible future mission impairment and more closely conform to the spirit of the Geneva Convention. (At the time, MAJ Spencer was outgoing commander - MAJ Kelly, incoming commander, assuming command on 11 Jan 64)
Within a few days, in concert with ground unit commanders, MAJ Spencer requested and received official approval for the permanent call sign change to “DUSTOFF”.
A Medevac was also know as a “target”. Especially in mid 1971 when some one got the bright idea to paint them all white with Red Crosses everywhere you would have a crewmember or vital component. Hit a Red Cross and you get a flight crewmember or bring the bird down. The first ones that left Chu Lai on missions came back long over due being “sling loaded” under a CH-47.
Amen!
Those fellows sure had to walk through the fiery furnace sometimes, and a lot of men got to see their children graduate because of them. Charlie didn’t discriminate, unfortunately, and went for the best “target” all the time… (that’s when those evil grinning 174th birds came in handy!!!) [;)]
Take care,
Frank
Here are a couple of UH-1D/H “Slick” troop transports with M-60 Flex-mount door guns.
The early gunship models were mainly UH-1B/C models as below.
Later, the AH-1G Cobra, aka. Snakes, took over the gunship role to escort the slicks.
An unarmed evac helo was known by the callsign “Dustoff”, as mentioned above and a UH-1B and UH-1D/H versions below.
Hope this clears it up.
Gino,
Nice pictures you posted! Thanks for “show and tell”!
Frank,
Heck of a “stretched” CH-47! Love the prints!
In the Air Force, the term “slick” was used to refer to an aircraft whose wing pylons had been removed.
Don [alien]
In the USCG a Slick was a pilot who thought he was S*** hot and couldn’t hover to save his(or anyone elses) life.
Don