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Well my friends - here my “pucker-factor” story. I got a few more but they are nothing, I say NOTHING, compared to this.

I was in Vietnam from 4 June ‘69 to 5 June ‘70, initially with #1 Operational Support Unit as an Airfield Defence Guard and then as a helicopter gunner with 9 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force from August ‘69 to tour end.

My full name is Anthony (Tony) Pahl, so if you mention my name to an Australian Veteran and he looks at you kind of funny, it is likely that he knows me because I have the “not-so-splendid” reputation of being the only gunner in the history of 9 Squadron’s involvement in Vietnam (or anywhere else that I am aware of) to have fallen out of a Bushranger Gunship on a firing pass.

I’d like you to know that the reports of my death were grossly exaggerated; in fact, I only died for the length time it took me to climb back in with the assistance of my “monkey-strap”.

I think I was ready by the time we were setting up for the next firing pass - and that was no thanks to the crewman (Kerry Shipp) who, when assisting me to climb back in, grabbed the monkey-strap and started pulling.
Unfortunately, the strap was attached at the centre of my back and his actions promptly turned me upside down and I fell off the skid that I had spent considerable time to clamber upon. (You try it hanging face down, 200 feet in the air by a canvas strap attached to the centre of your back and 5 feet under the skid at 100 knots wearing a flack jacket and armour-plated vest)

Needless to say, my green nomex flying suit was brown, I was white (whiter than normal, that is) and according to Shippy, it was the first time that he'd seem me at a loss for words! Hmmmm - I wonder if that was because my intercom lead was shorter than the monkey-strap?

And I haven’t shut up since so I’ll just sign off now.

©Anthony W. Pahl
July 01, 2001

Page created: Monday, 06 May 2002