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Prescott Aviation History Program: The Flying Banana, Vietnam’s Unsung Hero

Helicopter celebrated during Prescott Aviation History Program at Embry-Riddle’s Prescott DLC Auditorium

prescott aviation history erau embry riddle roger messickEveryone is invited to the next ERAU Prescott Aviation History Program, this Wednesday, 19 March. The presenter will be Roger  Messick, US Army, Ret. who served two tours in Vietnam, 1962-63 and 1965-66. His talk is entitled “The Flying Banana; Vietnam’s Unsung Hero”. As an Amy combat helicopter pilot, he flew both the Piasecki H-21, fondly called the “flying banana” for its unique shape, as well the CH-47 Chinook.  Learn why Vietnam is often called the “helicopter war” and what it was like to fly missions in the central highlands around Pleiku.

The tactics that Roger and others experimented with in those early days would eventually lead to what is known today as “Combat Assault”. (See flyer for details.)  As always, the presentation will be at the ERAU Prescott DLC Auditorium at 7:00pm. The talks are free and open to everyone, so bring a friend!

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