The Dirty Thirty

In Apr 1962, 30 USAF pilots were sent as advisors in the VNAF 43rd Air Transport Group. They usually served as co-pilots in VNAF C-47s on missions including flare drops, airborne assaults, airborne resupply, leaflet drops, loudspeaker broadcasts, and cargo and troop movements.

Around-the-clock duty hours with 40-50 missions a month often forced them to live in their flight suits. After a "by-the-book" officer made a passing comment about "these dirty pilots," they adopted the name "Dirty Thirty."