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OK, 12 Combat Aviation Brigade out of Illesheim... Honestly, I thought there were in Afghanistan, sorry it is that we don't refer to it as Balad, but Anaconda... They don't come to us for FARP... anyway...

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Us AF guys go by the city.. i.e. ...you dont say "i'm going to nellis" you say .. "i'm off to vegas bitches"

LOL LOL LOL.... *sigh*

Enthusiast Joined: Nov 12, 2006 Posts: 45 Status: Offline

There were definately a few Apaches at Balad when I was there. Not saying they were stationed there, but were there.

Newbie Joined: Jan 04, 2008 Posts: 16 Status: Offline

When I started a crewing 16s at Homestead back in 86. I had a pilot that had a custom lightweight helmet that was painted metallic silver and had the Pratt & Whitney eagle with the sombrero, gun belts, and sixguns airbrushed on the back with his nickname airbrushed on the front. For the life of me I cannot remember his name.

Elite 1K Joined: May 10, 2005 Posts: 1124 Status: Offline

viperloader wrote:

There were definately a few Apaches at Balad when I was there. Not saying they were stationed there, but were there.

They are based there...scads of them.

Enthusiast Joined: Jul 17, 2007 Posts: 99 Status: Offline

In todays AF..........no freaking way..!!!

Newbie Joined: Dec 27, 2007 Posts: 16

GERBY,

What you meant to say was "I'm off to Vegas BEE-YATCHES"! Laughing

Back in the '70s, the VaANG's white helmets had the confederate battle flag painted on the visor cover. That lasted until the grey helmets came into use. In the early '90s, our governor (the first black elected governor in the nation) made us take the 149 FS's patch off our airplanes. That patch consisted of a round ball with the confederate flag painted on it and an eagle with a bomb in one talon and a machine gun in the other flying above it. Needless to say it caused controversy within the unit.

I used to have a set of books called the Power Projection series, published circa mid to late 1980s. One of the books was about the Air National Guard, very interesting. Even had a picture of the oldest Viper driver in exsistence(at the time), his name escapes me unfortunately. However, they had a pic of a rack of Texas ANG pilot helmets(don't know what type, looked like what the T-birds and Angels use) painted entirely like the flag of Texas. That pilot may have been from that Guard unit as well, wish I could remember his name- if I saw him again I would recognize him.

Elite 2K Joined: May 13, 2004 Posts: 2945 Location: Utah

Early 70's (early 80's too) I saw all kinds of individual painted helmets, shame that old tradition was stopped almost at once...I enjoyed it and the pride in ones helmet was quite apparent...I always thought is was cool

Elite 2K Joined: Jan 14, 2004 Posts: 2815 Status: Offline

Most likely, those were HGU-33/P helmets. They can be decorated, and often were. They were also true "crash helmets" as they were fairly thick shells. Those were about their only saving graces though. They're heavy, and they suck to wear for prolonged periods. The 55/Ps fit much lighter on the head. However, the 55/Ps can even have their "moments", from time to time, IMHO.

Guys,
When citing Guard examples of what is and isn't done in the USAF please bear in mind that ANG units are generally not as strict as the AD, particularly when it comes to LSE and especially personalizing helmets. Not a slam on our Guard bretheren...but they do take pride in ignorring some of the overarching "analisms" of the "regular" USAF

Since the advent of the of the 55/P helmet, legal customization has been limited to the visor cover.

Elite 2K Joined: Jan 14, 2004 Posts: 2815 Status: Offline

Roger that Arctus! I remember back when I was an LS troop, we hosted the Fort Smith, AR ANG unit during their TDY, and all of their 55/Ps were painted gloss gray. My personal helmet is, decidedly NOT customized. Come to think of it, my visor cover isn't either. Then again, us airlift guys usually aren't as flashy as the fighter and bomber outfits. Also, when I fly, I really don't wear my helmet enough to even bother with customizing it anyway.

On the topic of helmet customization, I still think one of the best custom jobs I've ever seen was on a Vietnam-era helmet (2/P I think?). The pic can be seen in the old Time Life book "Fighting Jets". The helmet was worn by a Rhino Driver, then-Captain Harry J. Eckes. His helmet was painted sky blue, with a black boar on one side of the visor shield, and his name on the other side of the shield. Great looking helmet. If anyone knows the pic I'm talking about, please post!

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Do pilots have their personal helmet?