I Joined the 478th Flying Crane Company in March 1963 and served with the CH-54 continuously until August 1975. I served in all the Flying Crane companies: 295th Jun 69-Aug in Finthen Germany; 273rd Avn. Co. 1st CAV div Aug 70-Aug 71; 273rd Avn. Co. Ft. Sill, Ok, Aug 71-Aug 75. From there I went on to serve with the U.S.Army Executive Flight Detachment. I retired in 1982 at Ft. Rucker, Al where my career started in 1962 at basic helicopter maintenance courses. I have many fond memories of my service on the CH-54 and lots of stories of those years. The crazy things we did when the first four 1964 Model CH-54's were delivered. It was our first turbine engine helicopter and we learned as we went. Those aircraft were 64-14202, 203, 204 and 205. Ship 205 was the first of the first four to go down tragically in 1965 with the loss of four great friends.