The motto of the 240th AHC was “Go Greyhound and leave the flying to us,” a play on the bus company’s famous motto.
The Greyhound Bus Company became aware of the 240th AHC’s use of their logo via the Commander of the Company, Major Glen Hoffman, who wrote to the company to gain their permission for the logo use in 1967. The Bus Company was honored and became an official sponsor of the 240th AHC, sending care packages to the troops fighting in Vietnam.
When Greyhound received the letter it marked the beginning of a decades-long friendship between the transportation provider and members of the 240th Assault Helicopter Company.
In response to the letter, Greyhound delivered running dog logo decals to the 240th AHC which they displayed prominently on their helicopters, vehicles, and company signs.
In September of 2021, Greyhound was able to create a special charter bus for surviving members as they took to the skies once again in a refurbished Greyhound Huey Helicopter at the Yankee Air Museum in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
The 240th Assault Helicopter Company (AHC) operated with three specialized divisions:
“Mad Dogs” (gunships),
“Greyhounds” (transport)
and “Kennel Keepers” (maintenance).
The unit, which received official support from the Greyhound Bus Company, became known for its camaraderie, courage and creative spirit.
https://miflightmuseum.org/aircraft-collection/
In 1968, the 240th were located at Bearcat, Binh Hoa Province, Vietnam.
Bearcat was located near Saigon on Highway One.
Known as the “Greyhounds, Mad Dogs, and Kennel Keepers,” the 240th operated UH1C gunships, armed with mini-guns and rockets in the gun platoon, call sign “Mad Dog” and a transport or slick platoon flying UH1H slicks, call sign “Greyhound.”
The maintenance platoon was known as the “Kennel Keepers.”
https://sogsite.com/240th-assault-helicopter
https://sogsite.com/240th-assault-helicopter
Jesse, Thanks for posting this presentation of the 240th AHC. We flew into Bearcat a number of times. As I recall that was the main base camp for the 9th Infantry Division. The the 240th was very well known and we would see their aircraft from time to time. The 116th AHC was who I flew with as a door gunner on a B model gunship as you might remember from our 20mm gunship "Big Daddy". Thank you for honoring all Vietnam Veterans no matter their jobs! And Thank You for being a sub guy. Now that takes balls! Catch you later. Rotorhead George.
ReplyDeleteYou're sure welcome! It's a sum of several cool things; trivia, that they went for a name, that was the same as the bus company, who thought it was great, and sponsored them a bit with care packages during the war, and some graphics... plus, the helicopters, plus the US military, and the long term connection where both sides remained long term connected 5 decades later and had an event, where both participated!
DeleteAnd all of that took a couple hours to source, edit, arrange, and post - to showcase a very interesting group of guys doing ONE job, on the other side of the planet, to transport soldiers in and out - under fire, in a battle zone.
I got total respect.
Jesse, I will l link this to a number of crews and company personnel. I'm sure that you will hear from a number of them and possibly they will become Just A Car Guys as I am! Catch You Later Sir!
DeleteI just get a kick out of learning cool things, and sharing them! I don't know if you realize it, but I wish I had more time, and more to share!
DeleteI know this blog is your life. Ashamed it doesn't pay you enough to retire at some point that you want to.
DeleteIt's never paid me anything, but readers have occasionally tipped! That's the coolest, to find that some people are so impressed with the work, they put some cash in the tip jar, or mail me a birthday or christmas card!
DeleteOverall, it's cost me far more in gas, laptops, internet, and I have no clue how much stuff I've bought and shared on the blog, like the books from the 50s on how to do car repairs, I don't even recall the names of the brands of books, but kept them, of course, and looked through them for great stuff to post, like the Owens Magnetic Drive transmission.
But I've had a hell of good time, earned a press pass to SEMA, Con Expo, CES, D23, and Comic Con - all without working for anyone.
I've come to be penpals with great guys like you! I haven't met you, but I have met Steve in Vegas, and Paul from Ohio, I think it was, and have chatted in the comments section with hundreds of others.
There have been 45000 comments, roughly, since I got this blog going. I've been blessed with lots of readers!
I have to agree, though, there will be nothing to retire on from this blog.
I'm still hoping that someone reads my blog, sees that I say "Hey Santa!" and decides they'd love to be an elf, maybe tell me of a late 40s early 50s Harley that is for sale to a good home, or an M16, some collection of car books, magazines, carbs, lol, whatever.
Frankly, just being ABLE to retire? Is looking highly unlikely.
I doubt you, or anyone else reading this blog, are making it just on social security, especially single people.
I'd like to retire and do my goofy car enthusiast life on the road someday. Go see the museums, the events, the places, and all the people I've only found online. But I don't think it's possible without actually having money to burn. Afterall, just having a place to sleep, and food to eat, each and every day, even if it's a small teardrop trailer (I love those too) means having to have a car or small truck to tow it, and insurance, and gas, and just food alone is likely to be 400 dollars a month by the end of this year, or this decade. It's never going to get cheaper, same thing with gas and insurance.
I will keep you in mind if I hit a big lottery. Guess I had better go buy those tickets!
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