Al “Hollywood” Billings developed a reputation as a Maverick while flying for the Sea Wolves.  The Sea Wolves (Helicopter Attack Squadron Light 3) were formed specifically to support Navy Special Warfare and Mobile Riverine Forces during the Vietnam War. They would become the most decorated Navy squadron of the war. We talk to Billings as part of our educational partnership with the Distinguished Flying Cross Society.

He enlisted in the Naval Aviation Cadet program. “If you made it through you got your wings and commission on the same day. If you didn’t you were on a ship in the Pacific somewhere chipping paint.”  He flew four tours of duty in Vietnam.

On October 8^th 1968 he was approached by the SEALs for support on a mission but only one aircraft was available. The Officer in Charge told him he was not going. Squadron policy was to never send out a single ship on a mission. Billings says he thinks the OIC knew he was going to ignore that order and go anyway.

They received an alert that the SEALs had three wounded and were cut off from their insertion boats. Billings and his crew provided air to ground support, returned to base, refueled & rearmored for another flight. By that time the medevac helicopters were on station and Billings and his crew suppressed the enemy such that they were able to retrieve the SEALs.  Before he could be reprimanded for disobeying orders, the SEAL Commander had called his CO. Billings would be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for that mission.

Thirty days later on November 8^th two river patrol boats on an extraction mission were ambushed. One boat was disabled with several crew members wounded. Because of the intensity of the enemy fire, Billings was ordered to not go in.  He once again disobeyed orders – he was NOT going to let anyone to die on his watch. He actually rested his helicopter’s skid on the disabled boat allowing his crew to extract the wounded crew members. He was so close that river water began to collect in the nose of is helicopter. Once again, instead of taking his wings for disobeying orders, he was awarded the Silver Star.

You can find more on Billings’ career here.

TAKEAWAY: “We were the meanest guys in the land and went out looking for trouble sometimes.”