In exercises like this one, US ground commanders had discovered that the humble Piper Cub was quite useful in the field. The army air force didn't like it and changed the O-59 designation for an observation aircraft to L-4 for liaison to stress that such 'puddle jumpers' would better stay behind the frontline. Photo by: Dmitri Kessel / Life

A major rescue operation on the slopes of Alaska's big mountain, Denali, then named Mt McKinley. A bush pilot from Talkeetna landed his plane at 13,500 ft, where helicopters couldn't get to, to rescue a woman. Photo by: Grey Villet / Life

This Apache was part of a contract of 68 AH-64D Block IIs that were War Replacement Aircraft. This particular AH-64D was accepted by the US Army on 29 August 2008. It was delivered to the 1st Battalion (Attack), 82d Aviation Regiment "Wolfpack", as it still was during its deployment to Afghanistan.

87-00072 and 89-00142 resting in their revetments, created to decrease damage by indirect (rocket) fires. The Dutch Cougar above them is returning from another combat mission.

This Chinook started its life with Boeing as a new-built CH-47D with serial 92-00367 (c/n M4301). The helicopter was accepted by the US Army on 28 February 1994. It was converted to CH-47F from December 2007 and redelivered on 31 January 2009. It was directly assigned to the B/3-82nd AVN and deployed from Fort Bragg (NC) to Kandahar.

On the picture, the Lima was assigned to Company C "Vipers", 2d Battalion (Assault), 82d Aviation Regiment "Corsair". The Viper marking is just visible on the engine bay.

When pictured, this Black Hawk was assigned to the A Company "Mustangs", 3d Battalion (General Support), 82d Aviation Regiment "Talons"

A new-built Foxtrot, it was accepted by the US Army on 30 September 2008 and assigned to the Bravo company of the 2-82nd AVN at Fort Bragg (NC). The helicopter got damaged on 13 June 2009 while deployed to Kandahar, during the engine shutdown the aft rotor hit the fuselage. The Chinook could be repaired on the sport and returned to service. It is seen here joining our Cougar over Uruzgan during a local mission.

When pictured, this Black Hawk was assigned to the A Company "Mustangs", 3d Battalion (General Support), 82d Aviation Regiment "Talons"

This Black Hawk crashed on 21 September 2010 after recurring technical problems during flight. The helicopter came down in Zabul province, Afghanistan. Sadly, ten of the thirteen military on board were killed. On the picture, the Lima was assigned to Company C "Vipers", 2d Battalion (Assault), 82d Aviation Regiment "Corsair". The Viper marking is just visible on the engine bay.

On serial sequence... only the fiscal years are different, from left to right 04-08717, 06-08718, 06-08719, 06-08720, 07-08721, 07-08722, 07-08723 and leading the flight line (from this side), 07-08724. All these CH-47Fs belong to the B/3-82 AVN, normally based at Fort Bragg (NC).

This Chinook was built as a CH-47A with serial 63-07918. It was accepted by the US Army on 14 Oct'64. It was converted to CH-47D with serial 84-24186 from May'84 and was returned to service on 27 Nov'85. The Chinook was again converted from Aug'07. It became CH-47F with serial 07-08041. Like a cat with three lifes, the helicopter was accepted on 31 Jul'08 and assigned to B/3-82nd AVN. Its life came to an end on 18 Aug'10, only a few months after this picture was taken. It rolled on its side during a brown-out landing in Kandahar province (Afghanistan). The crew and passengers escaped uninjured

A new built Low Rate Initial Production CH-47F (Lot 1) that was accepted by the US Army on 29 June 2007. The Chinook is seen here in a war environment while deployed to Kandahar airfield, Afghanistan. Although no unit markings were carried, the helicopter was assigned to the 82nd AVN, 3rd Batallion, Company B, normally based at Fort Bragg (NC).

Taxiing for runway 31 departure.