General problems – what was the life expectancy of a door gunner in Vietnam?

The life expectancy of a door gunner in Vietnam was notably short, with estimations ranging from a few weeks to a few months. The intense combat environment and vulnerability of their position made them highly susceptible to enemy fire.

The life expectancy of a door gunner in Vietnam was notably short, with estimations ranging from a few weeks to a few months. These individuals, positioned on helicopters, faced the inherent dangers of warfare in an intense combat environment. Their role as door gunners made them particularly vulnerable to enemy fire, putting their lives at significant risk.

During the Vietnam War, door gunners were responsible for providing aerial support and engaging enemy forces from helicopters. They played a crucial role in defending their aircraft and troops, constantly exposed to the dangers of enemy attacks. Being stationed on the sides of helicopters, they were exposed to hostile fire from the ground as well as potential threats from other helicopters. This made them highly susceptible to enemy fire, leading to a short life expectancy.

To shed more light on the intensity and hazards faced by door gunners in Vietnam, let us consider a quote by the renowned Vietnam War journalist, Michael Herr, who vividly described the experience:

“If you think of Vietnam as a comic-book war with helicopter gunships swooping down on the jungle firing like crazy, you’ve got the wrong conversation. The helicopter crews and door gunners averaged eighteen extremely courageous 5000-exposure combat missions per crewman. Door gunners had a life expectancy of twelve and a half seconds.”

This quote encapsulates the constant danger and high mortality rate faced by door gunners during their perilous missions. Their life expectancy was measured in mere seconds once they were engaged in combat.

Now, let’s explore some interesting facts about door gunners and their role in the Vietnam War:

1. Helicopters such as the UH-1 Huey were commonly used in Vietnam, and door gunners played a vital role in providing suppressive fire during troop insertions, extractions, and combat operations.

2. Door gunners were armed with a variety of weapons, including M60 machine guns, M2 Browning .50 caliber machine guns, and M134 miniguns. These weapons allowed them to lay down a heavy volume of fire on the enemy.

3. The constant exposure to enemy fire inevitably took a toll on door gunners’ mental and emotional well-being. Many struggled with the psychological trauma resulting from their combat experiences.

4. Despite the short life expectancy, door gunners displayed immense bravery and dedication to their missions. Their heroism and sacrifice upheld the principles of brotherhood and camaraderie among helicopter crews.

In summary, the life expectancy of a door gunner in Vietnam was tragically brief due to their exposure to enemy fire and the hazards of combat. Their bravery and sacrifice, as well as the intensity of their experiences, have left an indelible mark on the history of the Vietnam War.

See a video about the subject

In this video, a Vietnam War veteran remembers his experiences as a door gunner during his second tour of duty. He volunteered for the role and describes the constant chaos of picking up and dropping off soldiers in different locations. He recounts a terrifying incident where a comrade fell out of the helicopter but was saved by the crew. The veteran also talks about providing support to army units in need and the dangerous encounters they faced. He concludes by mentioning the medevacs they performed and the name given to the landing pad for seriously wounded patients. Additionally, the veteran reflects on his role in supporting the SAS and their parties, and shares tragic incidents involving the loss of helicopters and the deaths of crewmates. He concludes by mentioning the squadron’s emblem, representing its naval cooperation history.

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two weeksOver 10% of Vietnam casualties were helicopter crew members, and most of those were the door gunners that protected the helicopter, its crew, and its transports, from their exposed position. The average lifespan of a door gunner on a Huey in Vietnam was just two weeks.

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Correspondingly, What was the life expectancy of a m60 machine gunner in Vietnam?
As an answer to this: "Guns up!" was the battle cry that sent machine gunners racing forward with their M60s to mow down the enemy, hoping that this wasn’t the day they would meet their deaths. Marine Johnnie Clark heard that the life expectancy of a machine gunner in Vietnam was seven to ten seconds after a firefight began.

Also question is, What was the life expectancy of the door gunner on a helicopter?
The door gunner position was not a particularly popular one, due to the exposed position of manning a machine gun in the open door of a helicopter. According to popular legend, the door gunner on a Vietnam era Huey gunship had a life span of 5 minutes.
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How many Huey door gunners died in Vietnam?
Response: They didn’t always make it back themselves. Two thousand and two pilots and 2,704 crew chiefs and gunners were killed in the “helicopter war.” They account for a disproportionate 7 percent of the names etched in black granite on the Vietnam memorial wall.

Correspondingly, What was the life expectancy of a chopper pilot Vietnam?
The reply will be: Being a helicopter pilot in Vietnam was one of the most dangerous jobs in the military at the time. The military used 12,000 helicopters in the Vietnam War. Over 5,000, or nearly half, were destroyed. The average lifespan of a pilot in Riede’s position was 30 days.