keywords: vietnam war, combat, uh-1 huey gunship helicopter, door gunner, side gunner, shotgun rider
Synopsis: A “lesson learned” in Vietnam was the value of adding a second door gunner, nicknamed “shotgun rider”, to the crew of the UH-1 Huey gunship helicopters. This film follows volunteers through a rigorous training program and into combat missions as a shotgun rider or second door gunner on helicopters in Vietnam... (read more)
Soldier, candidate for helicopter door gunner school, taking physical examination, including hearing and eyesight test. Candidates take first helicopter flight. Instructions on the M-60 machine gun. Shows candidates firing the M-60 machine gun from prone position, standing position, and from a mock-up of a UH-1B helicopter. Trainees get orientation lecture, like a briefing for a combat mission, before making first firing run on gunnery range in Hawaii. Shows shotgun rider firing M-60 on gunnery range from UH-1B Huey in flight.
Army trainees doing calisthenics, push-ups, survival training in pool and in the field, and medical training. Footage of the U.S. Army Tropic Lighting Museum, Schofield Barracks, Oahu Hawaii. Candidates take R&R with dates, view of Royal Hawaiian Hotel and Waikiki Beach. Game of girls on guy's shoulder in water shoving and pushing, young men and girls relaxing (sunbathing) on the sands of Waikiki Beach, and two couples in Ford convertible driving down street in Hawaii.
Helicopter door gunners arrive in Vietnam, are issued helmets and flack jackets, given orientation on armament carried by the Huey UH-1B gunship. Briefing for armed visual reconnaissance mission. Helicopter lifts off, in flight, and providing covering fire while troops are dropped in an assault drop or landing zone.
Wounded soldier on litter being loaded into medical helicopter, Dust Off insignia and Red Cross on door of medevac Dustoff helicopter. Vietnamese civilians are remove from area by helicopter. Shows door gunner on CH-47 Chinook helicopter. Shows bullet holes in helicopter after mission. Helicopter is re-armed with rockets and M-60 ammunition. Scenes of soldiers in civilian clothes taking cycle cabs into town. Shows helicopter night mission.