President Biden’s tragically avoidable ‘Saigon Moment’ in Afghanistan may be a closer parallel than initially thought. Not only were the images of helicopters flying from U.S. embassies eerily similar in both crisis evacuations, but it turns out that the same exact helicopters may have been used in 1975 and now in Kabul.
While the most iconic photo from Saigon in 1975 is that of a civilian UH-1 Huey sitting on top of the US embassy taking on embassy staff, quite a few dual rotor Ch-46 ‘Phrogs’ (officially known as ‘Sea Knights’) – flying from the deck of the USS Hancock – were also used during Operation Frequent Wind, the U.S. mission to rescue as many people as possible from Saigon as communist North Vietnamese troops engulfed the city.
During my time in the Marines, I flew on many Phrogs, especially when I was with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit – Special Operations Capable (MEU-SOC’s) helicopter assault company. I even had a minor crash landing in one in South Korea.
And some keen observers noted that at least one of the helicopters seen flying over Kabul could match one seen in Vietnam-era photos of the Saigon evacuation. These two-tone blue and white CH-46Es belong to the State Department’s Air Wing, and according to The Drive:
The Bureau Number (BuNo), a serial number applied to all aircraft that the U.S. Navy purchases regardless of their ultimate recipient, on one of the helicopters in the photo could read 154038, matching a CH-46E that was indeed transferred to the State Department as N38TU in 2012. If accurate, at least one Sea Knight may have participated in both historic evacuations.
First, a Getty image of Dep’t of State Air Wing CH-46 N38TU (BuNo 154038) over Kabul evacuating the US Embassy today. Second, what appears to be 154038 on the deck of USS Hancock during Frequent Wind, the evacuation of Saigon. The more things change, the more they stay the same. pic.twitter.com/EqVMxxqFZw
— whatismoo (@whatismoo) August 15, 2021
The Drive adds:
Nicknamed the “Phrog”(or Battle Phrog) by a Marine Corps major due to its frog-like appearance from the front, the CH-46 Sea Knight was originally procured by the Marines in 1961. Exactly why Marines used the “ph” has apparently been lost to time. Whatever the origins of the spelling, the “Phrog” moniker is apt in more than one regard…
During Operation Frequent Wind, 71 helicopters flew over 650 sorties between Saigon and elements of the Seventh Fleet off shore. The high operational tempo led to some accidents, with a CH-46 flown by Captain William Nystul and First Lieutenant Michael Shea crashing into the sea after a night mission, killing both men. The enlisted crew survived the accident, but the bodies of the two pilots were never found…
Ultimately, the CH-46 played a pivotal role in saving the lives of more than 7,800 people in the helicopter airlift portion of the closing chapter of the Vietnam War.
And now, it seems, similar helicopters, or maybe even some of the same ones, are evacuating Americans and allies from the current disaster in Kabul, Afghanistan.
The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AmericanActionNews.com
Well isn’t that special?
Well, it’s about time. Joe Biden is so worried about bringing tens of thousands of Afghans to America that I saw one Afganie riding on an Aircraft wing. I think he may have Covid 19 Virus so the Pilots may have refused to allow the Afghani to ride inside the Aircraft.. Just sayin
Imagine That the Same bird, during both U.S. Unconditional surrenders and Cut And RUN Escapes, And at the Same Time Both Escapes Orchestrated by Retarded civilians in the white house
What a humiliating history for an otherwise long serving proud bird……………
Looking in my old Marine flight log book, I flew the CH-46 helicopter with 154038 buno number in 1970. Flew it from NC to San Diego where it was dispatched to Vietnam. I had already been.
Have you flown aboard the HH-43 Huskie? (Pedro callsign) One of the post-flight procedures for the crew and pax was to count your teeth.
We sure got our money’s worth from the old Chinooks (Okay: Sea Knights). They’re among the most durable of our combat helicopter resources. Just like the B-52, our military forces found a workhorse that will keep plugging for decades.
The same kind of helo’s, but I doubt seriously, 46 years after Saigon, the same birds are still in service.
You would be surprised…….they are rebuilt and made virtually new
Of course the designs are upgraded, but the basic airframe and systems were tried and true. BUFFs were refitted with fan jet engines, and the vertical stabilizer was shortened. Avionics and weapon systems are now light years from the original complement. I worked and flew with B-52 drivers. They had stories to tell that would curl your hair.
Ok, now do the people that actually voted for bid en/har ris COMMUNIST REGIME, see what they voted for??? I mean the situation in Afghanistan is BY FAR the WORST thing, well border crisis as well, but this am he had to THREATEN the governor’s of the states that refuse masks, and NOTHING ABOUT HIS AFGHANISTAN CATASTROPHE, HE RAN AWAY ANSWERING NO QUESTIONS!!! I REFUSE TO BOW DOWN TO COMMUNISM, pudding head joe and runaway kamala are pushing their COMMUNIST beliefs, how about austin and milley today!!! THIS COUNTRY HAS TO GET IT BACK!!!!
You are right, sir. AND I sure wish old Pence had grown a pair of c.o.j.o.n.e.s and halted the certification of the election. If he had, this might not be happening.
Pence is a traitor!
Its disgusting that this is happening. Does anyone put themselves in those peoples shoes? How terrifying! These people are terrified of the Taliban. They are murderous monsters.
Imagine that coming to our country. If tge biden admin would put Americans at risk over their you know damn well they will do it here.
These poor people are desperate to escape.
Now, i don’t think they should come here, or anywhere else in the world.
But we spent 20 years fighting this war. We can finish it once and for all. But no…..the biden admin loves this distraction from the election fraud being brought to light. That’s what this is all about. Along with ccp virus, as well. All distractions. Half of this country is that damn dumb to fall for it. Afghani lives is a expense the biden admin is willing to pay to protect their election fraud.
Disgusting. A special place in hell for these so called leaders.
We have to keep this chopper in service for when our idiot “leaders” get us into wars and then later retreat!!!!
For “cut and run” ops, it’s the chopper of choice by our military commanders.
Yep but Chinook has 2 exhaust ducts near rear rotor
46 years old! Speaks well of the vehicle doesn’t it?