The helicopter is from the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, which was in Vietnam with air assets between 1966 and 1972. I did a little digging and a Facebook comment chain alleging the helicopter as having registration number 68-15659 and being specifically an “H” model UH-1. There was some dispute between some Vietnam vets about if the helicopter is on display in Fort Irwin but I believe the most credible information is that it is in quonset hut at Fort Irwin but is not outside on display. Below is supposedly the same helicopter as in the photo. This door window is different that the photo, but who knows what’s been replaced over the years.
Definately an M60 AVLB. The bridge is stowed and given the tow straps between it and the helicopter this looks like some sort of utility transport that’s going on.
Usually I can find more on photos like this but there weren’t a lot of results to go through.
Amazing
Tank-bridge-Copter.
We asked if we could but never asked if we should.
The bridge launches the copter, like a spring
And by tying the helicopter’s tail to the bridge, the launched chopper can tow the bridge with it over any obstacle to the next launch site, where the cycle repeats. Ingenious.
