This is in reference to the story from your Oct 4, 2012 issue (I think) from M/Sgt Howard J. Fuller.
I was in HMLA-269 Gun Runners New River, NC, from '83 – '86. We deployed on a NATO Med. cruise from Feb. 84 – Aug. 84, our final destination was to support and cover the final withdrawal from Beirut. At that time, there were no COMBAT AIRCREW wings but a few friends and I had thought there should be something for those flying missions that weren't actual aircrew and whom did not rate Aircrew Wings.
We had discussed designs etc. but that was the last I had heard of it. Later, of course there are now Combat Aircrew Wings. I can't vouch for who gets credit for the idea but I would like to think my buddies did because they were the kind of go-getters (one of them made SSgt in 6 YEARS!) that would make things happen. At that time I was dual qualified as a plane captain on the AH1-T Cobra and the UH1-N Huey but cross trained for Door Gunner (I actually was utilized to help water survival qualify others due to my vast previous life of experience). Go figure.
Somehow my records were lost and only 18 of the required 20 flight hours that were required at the time could be verified so I never got my Combat Aircrew Wings. I Did however go on to get my Aircrew Wings that year, so I guess all was not lost. Here's a couple of pictures of me getting ready to fly a mission. Nice big red helmet. A big target or "better to see you with" if you ditched in the ocean?
CPL Joe "MRMOLOTOV" Thompson
'82 – '86