Here is some history
of the H-19B in Vietnam. In January of 1963, a sixty-man USAF advisory
detachment arrived at Tan Son Nhat airbase to train VNAF H-19 pilots on the
H-19. A total of fifteen cadets were pinned with flying wings on the 1st
graduating class. Some of these graduating pilots were later instructors
themselves or became top leaders of the VNAF.
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I have built this kit
straight from the box except for the home-made Vietnamese national
insignia and serial numbers. The hoisting mechanism was modified
from the H-34 kit. I like this particular H-19B because it already
carries the Vietnamese national insignia although still marked with U.S.
Air Force.
Last but not least,
I would like to dedicate this H-19 to all the VNAF pilots who flew the H-19’s,
all the USAF instructors/advisors who taught the 1st VNAF H-19 class.
In particular, a special thanks to Mr. Lou A.
Danny Dinh
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