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Victor Adams's helicopter was shot down during a mission to rescue a trapped Six-Man Special Forces Long Range Reconnaissance patrol. The six men were subsequently rescued by Captain James Fleming, pilot of a transport helicopter, and Captain Fleming was subsequently awarded the Medal of Honor for this action. UH-1F Pilot Major Leonard Gonzales was also awarded the Air Force Cross for his own role in the rescue. After his Vietnam War service Victor Adams flew VIP helicopters in Washington, D.C., until his retirement from the U.S. Air Force on May 31, 1975.
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Cross to Technical Sergeant Victor R. Adams (AFSN: 13533712), United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force while serving as a UH-1F Helicopter Aerial Gunner of the 20th Special Operations Squadron, Nha Trang Air Base, Vietnam, in action near Duc Co, Republic of Vietnam, on the night of 26 - 27 November 1968. On that date, Sergeant Adams' aircraft was shot down by hostile ground fire and crashed in dense jungle. Disregarding his own injuries and the imminence of hostile activity, he assisted the co-pilot from the burning helicopter and returned to rescue the trapped personnel. He succeeded in pulling another man from the wreckage, before the severity of the fire and subsequent explosions forced him to abandon further rescue efforts. Through his superb airmanship, aggressiveness, and extraordinary heroism, in the face of hostile forces, Sergeant Adams reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
I served with Vick Adams in 1st Helicopter unit back in early 70's ,, never heard him talk about Viet Nam other than he had been there and I had as well during same time frame . But then few of us ever did talk of those things.
Benjamin Pritchard
MSgt, (Ret.)
1956-1957, H-19 Chickasaw
From Year 1956
To Year 1957
Personal Memories
Not Specified
Image
H-19 Chickasaw Details
Aircraft/Missile Information
Specifications (H-19) H-19 at National Museum of the United States Air Force, showing unusual mounting of engine H-19 at National Museum of the United States Air Force, showing unusual mounting of engine UH-19B rotor head UH-19B rotor head
General characteristics
* Crew: 2 (pilot, copilot) * Capacity: 12 troops or 8 litters * Length: 62 ft 7 in (19.1 m) * Rotor diameter: 53 ft (16.16 m) * Height: 13 ft 4 in (4.07 m) * Disc area: ft� (m�) * Empty weight: 4,795 lb (2,177 kg) * Loaded weight: 7,200 lb (3,266 kg) * Max takeoff weight: 7,900 lb (3,587 kg) * Powerplant: 1� Pratt & Whitney R-1340-57 radial engine, 600 hp (450 kW)
Performance
* Maximum speed: 101 mph (163 km/h) * Range: 405 mi (652 km) * Service ceiling 10,500 ft (3,200 m) * Rate of climb: 700 ft/min (213 m/min)
