Vietnam War Helicopter Photos | Combat and Aerial Chopper Pics

Vietnam War helicopter photos showing Bell UH-1 Iroquois “Huey” helicopters, Dustoff medevac aircraft, Cobra gunships, and Kiowa scout helicopters. The collection includes combat and aerial chopper pics from landing zones, jungle clearings, river operations, and reconnaissance flights during the 1960s and early 1970s.

Chopper Action Pics from the Vietnam War

The 11 wartime images feature troop transport missions, medical evacuation scenes, armed gunships, and door gunners flying over the Vietnamese countryside. Several photos feature the Huey helicopter, officially known as the Bell UH-1 Iroquois.

The gallery, originally presented in Drew’s World of Choppers, shows choppers performing transport, reconnaissance, and close air support. Drew M. Endacott had a longstanding interest in military aviation and also served in the U.S. military. He was also editor of Roaring Rockets, an old space adventure fan site.

Navy Gunship Goes to Work

Black-and-white image of a Bell UH-1 Iroquois “Huey” helicopter hovering above a military supply ship during Vietnam War operations, highlighting the aircraft’s troop transport and air assault role.

A Bell UH-1 Iroquois “Huey” helicopter flies low over a Navy vessel during Vietnam War operations. The image captures the aircraft in its gunship role. The chopper is close to the water and shipboard activity as it supports military operations from the air.

Snake Gets Down and Dirty

Black-and-white aerial image of a Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter flying low above dense jungle terrain during Vietnam War combat operations.

A Bell AH-1 Cobra gunship flies low over dense jungle during Vietnam War operations. It was nicknamed the “Huey Cobra” because it shared major components with the UH-1 Huey. The AH-1 became the world’s first dedicated attack helicopter and was involved in close air support missions throughout the conflict.

Snake Gets Down and Dirtier

Black-and-white image of a Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter banking in flight with rocket pods mounted on its stub wings during Vietnam War operations.

A Bell AH-1 Cobra gunship banks during a low-level combat flight over Vietnam. Visible rocket pods mounted beside the fuselage show the helicopter’s dedicated attack role. The Cobra gave U.S. forces a faster and more heavily armed escort helicopter for close air support and strike missions.

Slicks Head Back for Another Load

Two Bell UH-1 Huey helicopters flying low over a Vietnam War landing zone with troops positioned near jungle terrain and barbed wire.

Two Bell UH-1 Iroquois “Huey” helicopters fly low over a Vietnam War landing zone. Troops wait below near barbed wire and heavy vegetation. Known as “slicks,” these transport Hueys carried soldiers and supplies into combat zones throughout the war.

Navy Gunship Over a Village

Black-and-white image of a U.S. Navy Bell UH-1 Huey gunship flying low over a canal beside a village and dense vegetation in Vietnam.

A U.S. Navy Bell UH-1 Iroquois “Huey” gunship flies low over a canal-side village in Vietnam. The setting suggests riverine operations, where Navy helicopters supported patrol boats, SEAL teams, and ground forces across the Mekong Delta waterways.

Dustoff

Black-and-white image of a Bell UH-1 Huey Dustoff medevac helicopter loading a wounded soldier during Vietnam War operations.

A Bell UH-1 Huey medevac helicopter loads a wounded soldier during the Vietnam War. The red cross marking identifies it as a medical evacuation aircraft. Dustoff crews flew into dangerous landing zones to recover casualties and move them quickly to medical care.

Somewhere, It Will Get Very Hot, Very Soon

Black-and-white image of multiple Bell UH-1 Huey helicopters lifting off from a Vietnam War airfield before a combat mission.

Bell UH-1 Iroquois “Huey” helicopters lift off from a Vietnam War airfield. The scene shows several aircraft preparing to move troops or supplies into an active combat zone. The Huey became the main utility helicopter of the war and a symbol of American military service and patriotism during the Vietnam era.

Helicopter in a Hurry

Bell UH-1 Huey helicopter hovering over a rough clearing west of Kontum in South Vietnam during 1968 operations near the Cambodian border.

A helicopter hovers over a rough clearing as men throw out boxes of ammunition to support troops of the 4th Infantry Division west of Kontum in South Vietnam’s central highlands, April 23, 1968. A North Vietnamese Army unit had been caught in the area and was fleeing toward the Cambodian border, about six miles away. The hill had been scarred by continuous artillery and air strikes.

Dustoff Huey in a Mountain Clearing

Bell UH-1 Huey Dustoff medevac helicopter landing in a dusty Vietnam clearing with jungle-covered mountains behind it.

A Bell UH-1 Huey medevac helicopter comes in low over a dusty clearing in Vietnam. The medical cross markings identify it as a Dustoff aircraft. These helicopters carried wounded soldiers from remote landing zones to field hospitals and aid stations.

It’s Almost Pretty

Black-and-white image of a Huey door gunner watching the landscape from an open helicopter during a Vietnam War flight.

A Huey door gunner looks out across the Vietnamese landscape from an open helicopter. Another UH-1 flies in the distance. The wide view contrasts with the exposed position of the gunner and the danger of low-level combat flying.

Kiowa Lifts Off

Black-and-white image of a Bell OH-58 Kiowa light reconnaissance helicopter lifting off from a military base during the Vietnam War era.

A Bell OH-58 Kiowa light reconnaissance helicopter lifts off from a military base. Developed from the Bell 206 JetRanger, the Kiowa was used by the U.S. Army for observation, utility flights, and direct fire missions from the late 1960s onward.