Official VMO-6 Patch - 1967. This patch was worn by members of the squadron in 1966 and 67. The patch reflects the evolution of VMO-6 from a fixed wing observation squadron, flying small single engine airplanes over Okinawa in World War II and Korea, to a light helicopter squadron. In Korea, VMO-6 was the first helicopter squadron to conduct extensive medevac operations and thus the cat "Sylvester" is carrying a litter, binoculars, a radio, and a tail rotor. Image: VMO-6 cruise book.

Combat Aircrew Wings. Historically the US Naval Service has awarded the Combat Aircrew Insignia to enlisted personnel engaged in aerial combat, but after the Korean War, the Department of the Navy replaced the Combat Aircrew Wings with the Aircrewmen Wing to designated all enlisted Aircrew personnel, regardless of combat experience. The U.S. Marine Corps retained the special Combat Aircrew Insignia, to recognize and distinguish those Aircrewmen engaged in combat missions and these were proudly worn by many of VMO-6's enlisted personnel.

UH1E Gunship. Photo: VMO-6 cruise book.

VMO-6 Slick - Shipboard. A VMO-6 prepares for takeoff from a helicopter aircraft carrier such as the USS Tripoli. The slicks were the same airframe as the gunships, with the rocket and gun mounts removed. Photo: VMO-6

Chu Lai Flight Control Tower. Photo: VMO-6 cruise book.

Lt. Colonel Joe Nelson, USMC. Col. Nelson was the commanding officer of VMO-6 for much of 1967. He was in command when the Pless MOH incident occurred. The squadron saw much hard fighting in 1967but not a single man was killed in VMO-6 while he was in command. A veteran of three wars, Nelson witnessed the atomic bombing of Nagasaki from the cockpit of his fighter plane.

Colonel Nelson has provided extensive interviews and documents to the sculptors working on the Pless memorial project. Photo: VMO-6 cruise book.

Klondike Door Gunner. A door gunner or crewchief firing his M-60 machine gun from the door of a UH1E. Photo: VMO-6 cruise book.

Operations Duty Officer. Capt. Rupert Fairfield on duty as the Operations Duty Officer in the squadron ready room. Photo: VMO-6 cruise book.

Line Section Leader and crew. From the right, Staff Sergeant Al G. Storms. LCpl John G. Phelps. and Sgt. R. M. Hockenberry. Storms was line section leader for both Phelps and Rick Ault who is pictured elsewhere. Ault serves as an advisor to Valor Remembered on the history of VMO-6 and the Pless MOH mission. Photo: VMO-6 cruise book.

Rick Ault, Klondike Crew Chief. Rick Ault was a crew chief and NATOPS NCO when Pless, Fairfield, Poulson and Phelps flew their historic POW rescue mission. Photo courtesy of Rick Ault.

Rick Ault - former Klondike Crew Chief. Rick Ault served in VMO-6 in 1967 in the same section of crewchiefs as John Phelps. He has provided valuable assistance in the creation of this memorial website, loaning his cruise books, personal photos, and answering many questions about the equipment, uniforms, weapons, and proceedures that were employed in the squadron at the time of the Pless MOH incident. This photo was taken at the reunion of the USMC Vietnam Helicopter Association in 2000 in San Diego. MABS photo.

Gunny Poulson's haircut. This photo was the only readable profile view available to the sculptors for the creation of the Poulson bust. To view the bust, see the page titled "Art Gallery." Photo: VMO-6 cruise book.

Fairfield's Navy Cross. Capt. Rupert Fairfield recieved the Navy Cross for his valor during the POW rescue on My Lai beach along with the other members of Pless's crew, Gunny Poulson and LCpl Phelps. He received his in a formal parade at DaNang. (See "Art Gallery" to view sculptural bust Fairfield) of Photo courtesy of Rupert Fairfield.

Crashed UH1E. This aircraft's fusalage, a shell like an egg, is damaged beyond repair and will be stripped for replacement parts for other aircraft. Photo: VMO-6 cruise book.

Crashed UH1E. This aircraft's fusalage, a shell like an egg, is damaged beyond repair and will be stripped for replacement parts for other aircraft. Photo: VMO-6 cruise book.

UH1E Gunship. The primary mission of VMO-6 was to put about 20 of these aircraft in the air daily to support transport aircraft and troops on the ground with their six machine guns and 14 rockets. The aircraft were usually operating at maximum weight at take off - loaded with fuel, ammunition, and extra things that the crew knew they might need at any time. Photo: VMO-6 cruise book.

Rearming M-60 Machineguns. Linking the fragile metallic belts of 7.62 machinegun ammunition to the four fixed and two door mounted guns was a neverending chore for the flight crew, often performed in flight and under fire. Photo: VMO-6 cruise book.

Rearming a UH1E. Ground support personnel, and the flight crew rearming a UH1E gunship. The rocket pods in the foreground contain 2.75" folding fin aircraft rockets. Normally two such pods were carried on VMO-6 gunships. Under certain conditions larger pods carrying 14 rockets were used. Photo: VMO-6 cruise book.

Lt. Col. Joe Nelson and Captain James W. P. "Kimo" Andrews. Colonel Nelson presents Andrews with his commission as a regular officer in the USMC. Andrews preformed a rescue mission of a recon team and the crew of a VMO-6 flight crew trapped in Laos. Nelson witnessed the mission himself and wanted to recommend the Navy Cross, but he was ordered not to write it up due to the top secrect status of the covert mission. In 2001 Col. Nelson formally recommended that Andrews be awarded the Navy Cross for that mission, but the Marine Corps declined to reconsider the case. In his 2001 letter of recommendation Nelson wrote of Andrews, "With my combat experience in World War II and the Korean Conflict as a base of comparison and reference, I knew that nothing less than the Navy Cross had ben earned and was deserved by that flight leader (Andrews)." Photo: VMO-6 cruise book.

UH1E Weapon System. VMO-6 ordnance crew rearming a UH1E gunship. LCpl. D. J. Gay, kneeling, is inserting a rocket in the seven shot rocket pod. LCpl. D. G. Schoenherr is standing with a spare M-60 machinegun barrel. LCpl. M. J. Ferreira is in the aircraft working with the pair of fixed, forward firing M-60 machine guns or the pedestal mounted M-60. Photo: VMO-6 cruise book.

UH1E Weapon System. The pair of side mounted, fixed, forward firing M-60 machine guns are seen in this photo. Photo: VMO-6 cruise book

Special Landing Force Detachment. VMO-6 frequently supported Marine amphibious operations from helicopter aircraft carriers. In this picture a UH1E gunship is refueled aboard a carrier, possibly the USS Tripoli. Photo: VMO-6 cruise book.

Chu Lai Reaction Platoon. The defense of the perimeter of the base at Chu Lai was augmented by members of VMO-6. Many of the squadron's enlisted men, crewchiefs, mechanics, doorgunners, were regularly assigned this duty, in addition to their regular duties. This group may be waiting for their weapons inspection and assignment to the defensive positions in the gun towers and bunkers on the perimeter of the base. Photo: VMO-6 Cruisebook.

TAC(A) Klondike Playboy Patch. Only pilots who were trained and qualified as airborne tactical air controllers were given this patch. Many of the pilots of VMO-6 earned this qualification, reflecting the high level of professionalism in the unit. Image: VMO-6 cruise book.

VMO-6 Cruise Patch. Squadron members who were with the squadron during its time in Vietnam are eligible to wear this patch. Image: VMO-6 Cruisebook.

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VMO-6 Squadron Patch. This patch was apparently designed after 1967. The cat, often called "Sylvester" now carries a rocket, rather then a medevac litter, reflecting the primary mission of the squadron - gun and rocket support, although medevacs were still performed, as on the Pless POW rescue mission. Image: VMO-6 Cruisebook.