A Conversation with Darkhorse One Four- Doug Hicks 

Great to hear his stories and how special to watch him back on the controls of a bird he actually flew in combat so many years ago. Just incredible!

So glad you made it back. I was a Cobra and Loach pilot with the 11th Armored Cav, 69,70. Black Horse 33.

Hands down some of the best storytelling ever. And the flying at the end is priceless. The intensity in his face is overwhelming; instantly back in time.

It was priceless watching Doug fly his old copter again.

WOW!! I just stumbled upon this wonderful video. To watch that man's eyes, expression and confidence change once he took the controls was the most touching thing I've seen in a long time. I'm glad he was not wearing sunglasses since that would have removed so much of the effect. The intensity of his face was remarkable. You could visibly watch the man time-travel from being in his 70's to being back in his 20's in seconds. As Doug put it most accurately: I was doing fine until I started thinking about what I was doing. Muscle memory, especially from that place and time, is truly powerful. Watching his eyes dart back and forth, the firm expression on his face, even the gum chewing intensity, were all revealing to his automatic reflexes and where his mind was. The only thing that broke his stride was the other pilot talking to him. Understandable, but damn- Put this guy back in the seat, add cameras focused on his feet, hands and face, put a more appropriate flying suit on him and let's do that again! Darkhorse One Four!! Somebody below said it best... "just smiling, too many thoughts!" Agreed. Doug- Thank you for sharing, thank you for your service and thank you for being a proud AMERICAN! Stephen- Excellent work, you have started my day on an inspiring note. I'm looking forward to watching more of your videos. AHF- Thank you for your efforts. Nice restoration work on the Loach, although you should seriously think about adding back the bullet holes. It wasn't until a Vietnam Vet explained to me, that in Vietnam, by far the majority of the damage came from the underside and exited through the top. This is an important detail to fully understand the history of that war. PS: I was fortunate to have a similar, yet completely different "50-years later" mechanical reunite with my past. I now realize I should have filmed my face during the first few drives. It's available on my channel if anyone wants to see it. I am not trying to "get views" ...it's just available, and from this era. PPS: I wonder if Doug's wife commented later that evening: Honey, what's the deal, you sure are frisky tonight after that dumb ol' helicopter ride? HAH!

C Troop (Air) 16th Cavalry, 164th CAG 1st Aviation Brigade Soc Trang and Can Tho RVN Normal daily flight; Oh-6A (4), UH-1 (D & H) (5), AH-1G (4) Born from: D Troop 1/4 Cav, 1St Infantry Division, Phu Loi, RVN

The focused look, chewing gum... he was pushed back in time. ❤ What an awesome man. Thank you for your service!

Thanks for your service!! Everyone please remember the ones that didn’t make it back home!!!!! Thanks

Thanks for sharing, low level flying is the best

look at that old dude smile, I'll bet inside he still feels 18

What a man. What a machine. The knight and his war horse once again together. His book was amazing. My favorite. It’s so moving to see him flying that outstanding machine again. God bless him and everybody who made it possible. God bless you all 🇺🇸

Great video. I have a little in common with you, I flew military Gazelle’s, North Sea SAR/Oil Rig Support and later Air Ambulance SA365N’s, Police AS355 before going fixed wing. Ended up in Vietnam for Six Years Flying A320’s 2006/2012. I remember well Cần Thơ airport. When we first went there there was no terminal and we had to load/de load on the Runway (new terminal now). Great to see you having a clutch of 435 .. looking good. PS in about 1980 I was in Jacksonville FL, for my US CPL/R, the instructor was an ex loach pilot from Vietnam days, he still flew using his military helmet complete electrical connector and he gave me a low level ride over a small part of the everglades …. Something I will never forget!

How incredibly awesome was that Doug got to fly the SAME bird after all these years. My God that is just so cool! There are some good people still with us. To track Doug down and trust him to take a couple laps in that helicopter is so honorable.

Welcome home Darkhorse One Four. Seeing the smile on your face in the cockpit brought a smile to my face today.

I bet he had a lot of memories come back once he flew that lil bird..

Great video! I really enjoyed the interview with Doug Hicks. But I absolutely loved the end of the video watching Doug back on the controls in his bird from Vietnam. I was smiling watching him fly. I loved watching Doug buzzing the field down low. I had the chance to fly in U.S. Border Patrol OH6's (they were Vietnam veterans) 25 years ago and fly down low like that. It was a total blast.

Incredible story, I had a lump in my throat watching your expression flying that Loach again.

This guy has some great stories. It was awesome to see him flying his old bird 50 years later. My dad is a vet and told me that the loach pilots where where nuts. They would fly treetop to draw fire for the cobras.

Awesome story from a true hero!!!!

great to watch you Doug, you aint lost it, thank you for your service sir.

My dad flew hueys in vietnam also. Royal coachmen 62nd aviaton company. He was awarded a DFC for saving a downed pilot. Then transitioned to Blackhawks and joined 160th in 1983. He was in operation just cause where he flew Noriegas whore out and desert storm where he was awarded another DFC.

WOW That 30 mins went by fast! What a great video and interview. You could feel his pain talking about the loss of his friends 💔 Watching him fly at the end was so cool and looked like it came back to him quickly.

I'd say you didn't lose a thing I'm not a pilot but I flew SAR with the Army National Guard as a Deputy Sheriff for eleven years no one (almost) ever shot at us. No one ever gets lost or hurt in good weather. You were doing good for not flying for 50 years. I'm happy for you. I'd love to ride in an OH58 or a Huey again after 35 years.

How cool is that to be able to fly your Old Warbird 50 years later.

Charlie 16th?? COOL! I was in Charlie 1/6 Cav out of Ft Riley for a couple of years. I was the first Apache pilot assigned after they parked their Kiowas... I showed up and they had ZERO apaches for me to fly for the first several months. AIR CAV!!!

Look at his Eyes and at his face! The Memorys came back fast. I love to see you have been reunited with your old Workhorse. Years ago i took up a 93yr old German Fighterpilot with a YK52TD and we "got engaged in a mock Dogfight" with a Pilatus P3, the Old Man was pulling 5Gs and sat in no Time behind the other Aircraft(He had never flown after the War). I think he just had a Flashback in Time..... He had the same Look in his Eyes!

Awesome story!! Glad to see him get to fly that same helicopter years later.

26:10 That high speed, low level flying took him right back to 1971. And he was living every second. He barely keeps from grinning on camera.

GREAT TO SEE YOU FLYING ONCE AGAIN BEST STORY OF A Helocopter pilot from vietnam , back in his Ship!!!!

Welcome home brother. I flew two tours in rvn, 70-71-72. I started out being trained in the OH6, when I got to Nam they needed me in maint on slicks. When loh finally came up for grabs, they asked me if I wanted to be a CE on a 6...I couldn't say "hell yeah" fast enough. Long story short, on my first flt we went down and I ended up being evaced. Later I was asked to crew a slick as a gunner, several weeks later I was given my own ship as CE, and finished out that tour. When I got back to the world it kinda sucked so I asked to go back to nam and I went back, this time to fly scouts and nothing but scouts, which they gladly gave me my wish. I ended up up on the DMZ for that whole tour and we were busy to say the least. Was shot down in Laos in mid dec 71. We went into a bamboo thicket, my ac pulled every ounce of power to get us back in the air and across the border back into s.vietnam. We hobbled our was back to our staging area and shut down. The recovery slick and crew quickly took what was left of our blades, hooked up their sling and took it back to Camp Evans where we were based out of by then. My avatar is me standing next to my much loved 962. Now, my 962 is in the US Army Aviation museum at Mother Rucker along with my scout scarf. Take care brother, and God bless, SCOUTS OUT. 65-12962

Ever know a Randy Clark? Loach pilot and later Navy fighter pilot I flew with. I loved hearing all his stories of flying the Loach.

How are there not 1000 comments rejoicing in this video?! Absolutely fantastic. Im just a random av geek with an interest in helos, and this was wonderful. What an amazing reconnection for this veteran and his former ride. Kudos to the channel and the vid maker. The end was special.

I love the little bird. So agile that it’s like it’s my outer skin. The 500MD was more powerful but the 6 is my old favorite. Thanks for the memories! Glad you got to fly one again Doug!

Well first off . Welcome home brother . Interesting that you guys flew RED Teams all the time . Cobra only unit , Blue Max maybe ? I ended up as a Blue ( medic ) in lll Corp before I came home . Unless the area was red hot , always a Pink team . Stay strong brother , less of us around by the day ..

See there? Comes right back It's like riding a bicycle...on top of a beach ball.

Great video ......just by chance stumbled onto it and now I'll have to dig through my archives and locate my photos and other material from 1968 of the OUTCASTS (1/4 Cav) at Phu Loi when i was a gunner with the Rebels gunships ( A Co 1st Avn Bn 1st Infantry Div ) ........the crew chief that schooled me on "the way of the Yaqui" to gun on Bravo and Charlie model Huey was "transferred " over to the 1/4 Cav Loach Platoon ( 'The Notorious' Dennis Hall ... a Great crew chief/gunslinger and wildest SOB I've ever known or been friends with ,and like myself from the mean streets of Southern California , I.E. " perfect for Vietnam" ).....where he was shot down at least twice the first couple of months and survived taking THREE AK rounds across his 'chicken plate ' ( they hung it on the wall in Operations ) from twenty feet away and took out the "very surprised " enemy with his 60' (of the other rounds from burst four hit the bulkhead with one hitting the bubble over the pilots head narrowly missing him ) ......Hall laughed like hell upon coming across the runway that night to tell us Rebels how much fun he was having in the Loach platoon , and convinced me that he could "guarantee me a kill " and could get on a mission for a day filling for guy he knew who wanted a day off when I could fit it in , ...told him he's nuts and they'd never allow it !.....crazy as it sounded even then he says he's set it all up and to report on time and who I'm flying with , so did still not believing this is real but the pilot shows up helmet in hand , introduce' s himself saying Hall vouched for me and we're goin up west of Lai Khe in what i figured was the 'rocket belt' and off we went with our wing ship , did a couple BDA's looking into these smooking craters , then on to a swampy water area along a small river and sixty'd the hell out three empty sampans sinking them and all the time I'm thinking this fifteen foot' low level hell 'is just that' and the prospect of getting another "guaranteed kill" could easily get me killed ,or worse ......but it's damn sure exciting .....the next thing i know we're heading east in morning sun toward Lai Khe for fuel . Ive got the nozzle in and were fueling hot as usual when all of a sudden I hear a couple of Huey's commin in behind to the POL pad , I look over and DAMN it's the REBELS .....oh HELL ,..... they see me and recognize me as I pretend not to notice them while dragging the hose back ,.....HELL they're only a hundred feet away , I caught a glimpse of them gesturing ........Dang man I'm in fer now when I get back to Phu Loi and I definitely was !.........He' He' ....whata they do Send Me Ta Vietnam ?.......I jumped in 'monkey strapped' up as the pilot pulled pitch and the "bewildered " Rebel fire team fell away beneath the climbing Loach as we turned right and headed south .......It was a nice day with blue sky and scattered low lying cumulus ......deep in thought with the cool wind at 1500 'the 60' across my lap .......yea there'll be trouble ....and NO guaranteed kill....and NO I didn't fall victim to all the perils ,.but Yes the Rebel hooch will whoop it up that Stone pulled it off.

Excellent video/interview format. The audience listened only to the subject for half an hour. This was very interesting. I’m a (civilian) fixed wing pilot but living in Arizona, Florida’s Sun n Fun hasn’t yet been convenient enough for me to attend. But THIS experience- this reunion of Man and his machine- this was a far more relevant and poignant event. within the event 🎩♠️💙

Thank you for sharing your story and your service 💪🏻🇺🇸

That was awesome. I listened to every word. Rock on.

Captain Donald J Ball passed away about 7 years ago.. he was shot down in Nam as a commander of his helicopter and was rescued while under constant fire from the VC. His back was broken and had to get himself strapped up so he could be hauled to safety. He spent a long time in traction and recovery. He was one of brothers best friends.. a great friend to my family. Passed President of the Pro Bowlers Association PBA. Truck driver until his passing. Donnie… God Bless you and all our service men and women..I was honored to be at his funeral. His final Dust Off..

Great job, Doug. Not rusty at all!

Maybe someone here knows of this incident: FLC Red Beach, DANANG 1968: I'd been in-country for about a week when a Loach buzzing the compound smacked into a 100' antenna guy cable. It went practically vertical into the paddy, impacting upside down. Four or five of us Marines ran to the bird, tipped it on it's side, pulled both guys out. The pilot was dead, the other fellow died before the ambulance arrived about 10mins later. (MSgt USMC, '68-'88)

darkhorse is probably the most badass call signs ive heard of. a guy from my hometown Lake Preston SD curtis anderson flew a loach and was KIA 1969

Seriously...if I hear that DAMN SONG on another Vietnam video....FFS

The sound, smell, vibration, feedback in the controls. I still have the dreams.

Is this the same gentlemen who owned the bar in Yuma called "The Hangar"? There was a lot of Dark Horse memorabilia in that place.

For the last couple of months, I've been Immersed in books about the Vietnam, helicopter War. Loach pilots, Cobra pilots, Gunship pilots and Slick pilots. This was an absolute joy to watch! Thank you!.

Awesome, thank you for your service, sir.

Thank you for your service sir and seeing you still as if you never forget how to handle the OH-6

Glad you made it back. I was USAF EOD, Tactical Air Command (TAC)

Wow what a amazing video!! Thank you for doing this inteveiw!

Just stumbled upon this , i was just transfixed, listening to his stories, and clearly alot of emotion from way back. then to see him at the controls of "his" helicopter, absolutely fantastic. Helicopter pilots were just aa amazing bunch during that time. Thanks for sharing this. made my day

I flatter myself into thinking I'd be as good now as I ever was in a Huey or and OH-58. I flew Loaches a few times but never in Vietnam other than a few trips to Long Binh and back. 5400 Hrs in the UH-1 all models but mostly H Model time. I taught Instruments at Rucker in 1970 and taught the Examiner's Course. You'd have to be an aviator to know what that means. I went to work for the FAA and had to give check rides in whatever cast a shadow on the ramp. Once I had to give a CFI ride to a guy in Oklahoma in an OH-23 which is what I learned in back in 68. I enjoyed it but the whole time the guy was demonstrating the Autorotation I was petrified. Funny how that works.

I was in some USCG helicopters in youth. As a 21 y/o volunteer Sheriff’s SAR deputy, I was dropped off in the Sierra’s by one of these kooky OH-6 pilots from the Vietnam War. My first deployment was a one skid drop on an upward slope. Skipper says “ lay down, so I can leave without hitting you.” Every time since, I get antsy when hearing aircraft headset comms. My respect for his military and LEO service helped set my 30+ year service attitude toward “service.” A couple years later, a SO LT wanted to tag along. He was a political jack@ss and wanted to supervise our recovery from a narrow river valley. We all had to hump down, then up because the LT wanted the MD500 for himself, which would leave us to litter carry the body up. Only LZ was on a river shoal 2’ under the river surface. Needless to say, pilot made a splash. LT had enough. Deceased went up in the MD5. LT learned about hoofing. Word was, the front passenger seat was recovered from the LT’s anus the following week. Thank you guys (men & women). You took and returned me and my people many places where we could’ve suffered casualty on the ground.

I use my 209 I put wounded on there I use my mesh helicopter I can put it on there I use my observation pain I can put wounded on there you want to go to the hospital or be 5 minutes or less that's why they call me bird dog medical pilot in the air with a machine gun right behind you or a rocket pods don't worry about observation helicopter Navy Coast guard Marines forget the army there are many backs on the way it's slow forget the state army they're too slow

My dad did assembly work on the Hughes Cayuse from 1968 -1970. The building Hughes Helicopter leased to make the Cayuse is still there next to the 5 Freeway in San Diego. Looks like there is a Costco and a Harley dealership and more businesses there now. The Cayuse with 4 rotor blades was a lot quieter than the Bell helicopters with only 2. The saying at the time was "Bell, the noisiest ships in the world" from the Bell Brand potato chip slogan "Bell, the noisiest chips in the world".

THANK YOU FOR ALL INVOLVED FOR YOUR SERVICE ALL VETERANS 🇺🇸

Legit Dude.....Respect. I reviewed a military scholarship in highschool in 1971 or 72 and volunteered for Vietnam IF i could fly helicopters. Even tested in a simulator and instructor thot i could already fly. The "theory" of helicopter flying came naturally to me. Not fixed wing. When it came time to enlist i was told nope, no flying....i wore glasses. I could have gotten by without em if i had known. Got offered other things but told em , "i don't want to work on em, wash em or anything. If i can't fly I'll just go to college". My mistake. Lookin back if i had went i would have at least learned to fly on my own. At least perhaps door gunner and corpsman. As military contractor later in life, for bout 40yrs now, I've been inserted in a dozen countries. Mostly by local military in Vietnam era choppers. A bit tense that can be. Great hearing these stories and especially so that he got reunited with his LOACH. I'm 69 and dyin so guess bucket list of flying is gone. Ya'll take care. rick in Tennessee. "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing". Sir Edmund Burke....Not a pilot but probly wuda been a good one.

Cool story, would of loved to hear the sounds of the little bird not "Born to Be Wild."

Lady Bell and LBJ made a whole lot of money in Vietnam. What airfield did you get to fly it again?

This was an Amazing watch. Fixer not flyer. Lone Helo tour HSL-31 89-91. Sea Sprite. Watch him fly, inspiring!

Great stories. Thanks for sharing. Go Giants!

A huge congrats on getting to fly your old ship again!

That was awsome, Thank you for your service.........................

Great talk Brother! Fixer myself not a flyer, got my retirement ride in a Fox model Hornet though - God bless ‘F-Pole’ Miller for the care Fallon down to just North of cl.

C model 500, best helicopter to fly without hesitation.

Isn't todays AH 6 and MH 6 little birds a derivative of the OH 6 loach?

“It was a lot of Fun”, Warrant Officer D.Hicks, American Hero…US Army!!!

This was awesome!!

Great video and I am truly happy that Doug got to fly his helicopter once again.

(just smiling) too many thoughts

Great stories and so cool that Mr Hicks got to fly the same Loach. A lot of his friends lost and RIP to them.

Decent video I flew in a few h500

Like riding a bicycle, he's still got it! Watch his eyes...

I’d buy that jockey a whiskey! A salute to you sir!

I was ready for bed then stumbled onto this video! Thanks for sharing your story Sir! The flying at the end, it was evident that it all came back to you pretty fast. God Bless and Welcome Home. Lost 30 minutes sleep but very well worth it.

The look on his face 'your controls.'.....priceless and a very deep appreciation of his flying ability washed over me indeed.

Absolutely enjoyed watching this. You can see the younger Doug in his face taking control. Boys and their toys. Thanks

Awesome

Awesome

Una aeronave increíble y aún se mantiene vigente. Y lo más increíble es que no ha sufrido modificaciones en lo estructural demostrando las acertadas decisiones de sus ingenieros en su momento. Ha pasado por muchas compañías: en 1984 la compañía HUGHES fue adquirida por MC DONNELL DOUGLAS y en los 90' paso por BOEING .

Welcome home Mr. Hicks. Good interview. Thanks.

"A 'Gentleman' stepped out of the hooch with a AK-47 and emptied it into us." -ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Mr. Hicks do you know what is the definition of the term "Gentleman?" Gentleman 1. a chivalrous, courteous, or honorable man. "he behaved like a perfect gentleman" 2. a polite or formal way of referring to a man. "opposite her an old gentleman sat reading"

My dad was a medic vak in 69 ,, he didn't talk about it at all..

25:32. "OK, I'm all warmed up, so now it's time to buzz the tower". 147th Hillclimbers @Can Tho, 1970. Brought back some things I haven't thought about for a long time. The good things. Thanks.

Incredible piece! Many thanks! Old man with te AK sounds like that scene in Pulp Fiction when the kid busts out and unloads and doesn't hit anything. Read a lot of WO books on Vietnam. It's incredible the men who did what they did. Even more amazing for some of them that survived to tell their stories.

Dark Hourse 14, I was a tower controler at Can Tho AAF June 1970 to June 1971. Some time in 1971 I think you guys moved to Can Tho and I was lucky enough to fly with you guys once in awhile...I talked to you all the time. I was known as Woody then. I was the controler working when the Platus Porter with Air America had a mid-air with with Dark Hourse 32 on March 17, 1971...

Where can I buy one ? Had little 175 hp ? Might not be enough to get me my big but off ground ? I collective full throttle buddy ! Need bigger turbine . Shoot down drones .

Doug, I am proud to say I know you! I have shared this video out! Also, thank you for introducing me to this channel... my kids love knowing about the true badasses that this country has produced!

I love how he was all “ah I did ok I wouldn’t wanna fly with me” and you watch him flying and he’s immediately just low level whipping it around like a race car 😂 yea ok papaw your words aren’t matching your actions lol youve earned the right to not be so humble lol just embrace it😊

He has a lot of similar experiences that I have from the Marine Corps. I still fly today, not Loaches anymore, but civilian aircraft. It's still fun and hopefully for a lot more years. Semper Fi

So great to see you flying again, Doug! Thank you for your service and for sharing your experiences with us.

Awesome story by a top fella & what a memory for an ol' coffin dodger, getting to fly a genuine Vietnam Huey is on my bucket list, I just need to get my arse over his side of the pond, we have one genuine Vietnam Huey in the UK but it's not for flying by any ol' tosser, I think their insurance stipulates they have to have two type rated pilots at the controls, joy rides only.

Don't forget when you lift off on a Navy helicopter gunship don't forget the Navy carrier helicopter carrier they're small but they're effective let me tell you you call a helicopter aircraft carrier now you got to jump jet it's not the same what it used to be boy you do not want to go up against a helicopter carrier with a destroyer and three submarines destroyers ahead of you cuz you have to s***'s creek with a rally P3 and a radar play with gunships and back again

This was amazing. Like riding a bike for him I bet, you never for get. Like he said just don't think about it, it was all still there buried inside.

God bless! That’s awesome!🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🫡

These are the stories I live for. Thank you for you service and for everything you have done for our country. You sir, are a true hero! Thank you to all men and women for their service and for risking their lives for our freedom!! To those who never made it home, you will never be forgotten!!

Cratering charges are impressive as hell. Even the old school low explosive ones the army used back then

I always wonder what happened to the crew chief and gunner. while the pilots gets DFC's, did they not take the exact same risk of dying or capture? Maybe they got an Air Medal with a V. He does describe it accurately, you know he was there an for real! Love me some Steppenwolf. Damn what a rush that must have been to fly your old aircraft. Hell it excites me.

used to sit in the MO`s office and listen to CW4 larkin talk about the loach and his time in nam..