Cobra AH-1F 67-15475 in Vietnam
Mike Peterson – Crew Chief
Standing alongside 475
 On Dec. 7, 2007 contact was made with Mike Peterson who now resides in Eugene, Oregon. Mike just happened to be surfing the internet when he came across his old Cobra helicopter now sitting in Veterans Memorial Park. Mike was a member of the 7th Armored Squadron, C-troop, of the 1st Air Cav. unit which operated out of Vinh Long, Vietnam. He was a crew chief and his helicopter was a Cobra attack helicopter with the serial number of 67-15475. Pictures of 475 in her early combat years started to surface. Many names, e-mail addresses, phone numbers and postal addresses were provided by Mike. Thanks to his contacts, we are now able to answer the many questions park visitors have concerning the combat history of 475 and the unit to which she was assigned.
Mike was the second crew chief of 475. The first was Clyde Strait from Pennsylvania. He had 475 for three or four months and was then promoted to line chief. Mike then took over Clyde's duties and was responsible for keeping 475 combat ready for the remainder of his tour. The first aircraft commander of 475 was a young "Snake Driver", 22 year old, WO1 Rob Bailey. Rob, fresh out of Cobra school in Georgia was soon transferred to the 7th of the 1st. Rob was the first and last aircraft commander of 475. The year was 1968 and with C-Troop being one of the first units in the Delta to receive Cobras, the call for snake protection was everywhere. The 1st Air Cav was mainly used in support of the 9th Inf. Div. They also supported the Special Forces camps, truck convoys, river patrol boats and small unit engagements. The land that was selected for base operations was below sea level, so the river was dredged and sand was used to build up the elevation. The men slept and worked out of tents. A water retention pond was constructed and it was from this pond that drinking water was provided. Of course, motor oil, gasoline, hydraulic fluid, jet fuel, diesel fuel and agent orange seeped into the pond. A truck with filtration system was supposed to keep the water at a safe level. Such was life for men of C-Troop, 7th Armored Squadron, 1st Air Cav. The following pictures and comments by members of C-Troop were designed to give you an idea of the evolution of 475. From "off the showroom floor" to "down and out", with 475 laying on its side at the end of a runway on 18 Nov 71. 475 was one of nine original Cobras assigned to 7th Armored Squadron, C-Troop. She logged more than 3000 combat hours in Vietnam and another 3000 hours in Korea and on border patrol in Germany. From March 1968 to July 2005, 475 served as a flight worthy attack helicopter. Rob Bailey, Aircraft Commander of 475, said that 475 was the best of the original nine Cobras assigned to C-Troop. According to Rob, it was the only Cobra that you could barrel roll and live to talk about. Mike Peterson, Crew Chief, stated that when he left C-Troop to return to the States, 475 had 27 patched up bullet holes in her. Mike would patch each hole as the Cobra returned from its mission and paint a small purple heart on the pilots door. It is not clear if this practice was continued after Mike left. In 1972 the 1st Air Cav was transferred to Ft. Knox where it was eventually disbanded in 1976. All its helicopters were distributed to other units. Vietnam Photos | 
