A Walt in court...
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So he used to wear his hair in a quiff, tucked up into and through his hat back then?
![Cool](https://www.pprune.org/images/infopop/icons/icon6.gif)
FB
Posting because it has personal interest.
Problem is, the period he claims to have served in Vietnam I was there, and 2i/c of the platoon he claims to have been in, also the call signs he claims to have used he couldn't have, as they belonged to other individuals.
You might note that he also claims being in the British Army 1955 to 1957, and has the British General Service Medal and Suez Medal. Any way of checking his British Army bona fides?
WO1 Clive "Clive-o" H. Collins was a VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 04/27/2021 at the age of 84.7Stuart, FL
Flight Classes 70-25 and 70-21
Date of Birth 08/22/1936
Served in the U.S. Army
Served in Vietnam with B/3/17 CAV in 70, 135 AHC in 70-71
Call signs in Vietnam STOGIE, EMU 22, TAIPAN 33
This information was provided by Sammie Williams - obit
More detail on this person: Clive Herbert Collins, 84, of Stuart, FL passed on Tuesday, April 27, 2021. Born in Southgate London, England, son of Herbert and Myrtle Collins. Clive was raised in England, completed primary school, graduated from Mincheden High School, and attended London University in the UK. He joined the British Army from 1955 to 1957, where he served his country honorably earning the British General Service Medal and Suez Medal. Clive then traveled the world from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean, Thailand, and Australia working various aviation-related jobs. He arrived in the United States in 1967 as an Operations Officer for Braniff International Airlines in Miami and worked there until he began his military career with the United States Army. Clive, a true patriot, volunteered for the United States Army in 1969 and served for 11 years, including a tour in Vietnam as a Helicopter Pilot flying the Hughes TH-55, Bell TH-13, OH-58, and, mostly, his beloved Bell UH-1 gunships as Aircraft Commander. He also flew the CH-47 in Europe after Vietnam. He earned the rank of Chief Warrant Officer and was the recipient of numerous awards including a bronze star, purple heart, Distinguished Flying Cross among others before his retirement in 1980. Clive then followed his love of the ocean becoming a 1st Mate on a commercial fishing boat and private yacht before purchasing his own 30' commercial fishing boat. Clive's love of flying and his experience in both the British and United States Military led him to a successful civilian career as a helicopter pilot for Air Logistics, Louisiana until 1991 when his cancer diagnosis and laryngectomy forced his retirement. In retirement, Clive focused on his passion for gun and military antique collecting and history. He also enjoyed collecting, tinkering, and driving his many cars and motorcycles. A lifetime patriot and military man. He was a life member of VFW, Post 10132 Hobe Sound, FL, and a life member of The Military Order of the Purple Heart. He is survived by: his children: Justin A. Collins and his wife, Ellison, of Naples, FL; Nicole Perlman and her husband, Glen, of Walpole, MA; his brother Barry Collins; his grandchildren, Ellie, Jack, and Travis as well as his future granddaughter, daughter of Justin and Ellison; Dear friend Stephanie Yerkes of Stuart. A service will be held graveside at All Saints Cemetery, Jensen Beach, FL on Saturday, May 1, 2021, at 9:30 am. All County Funeral Home, Stuart, Florida Published in TC Palm from Apr. 29 to Apr. 30, 2021
Burial information: All Saints Cemetery, Jensen Beach, FL
Flight Classes 70-25 and 70-21
Date of Birth 08/22/1936
Served in the U.S. Army
Served in Vietnam with B/3/17 CAV in 70, 135 AHC in 70-71
Call signs in Vietnam STOGIE, EMU 22, TAIPAN 33
This information was provided by Sammie Williams - obit
More detail on this person: Clive Herbert Collins, 84, of Stuart, FL passed on Tuesday, April 27, 2021. Born in Southgate London, England, son of Herbert and Myrtle Collins. Clive was raised in England, completed primary school, graduated from Mincheden High School, and attended London University in the UK. He joined the British Army from 1955 to 1957, where he served his country honorably earning the British General Service Medal and Suez Medal. Clive then traveled the world from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean, Thailand, and Australia working various aviation-related jobs. He arrived in the United States in 1967 as an Operations Officer for Braniff International Airlines in Miami and worked there until he began his military career with the United States Army. Clive, a true patriot, volunteered for the United States Army in 1969 and served for 11 years, including a tour in Vietnam as a Helicopter Pilot flying the Hughes TH-55, Bell TH-13, OH-58, and, mostly, his beloved Bell UH-1 gunships as Aircraft Commander. He also flew the CH-47 in Europe after Vietnam. He earned the rank of Chief Warrant Officer and was the recipient of numerous awards including a bronze star, purple heart, Distinguished Flying Cross among others before his retirement in 1980. Clive then followed his love of the ocean becoming a 1st Mate on a commercial fishing boat and private yacht before purchasing his own 30' commercial fishing boat. Clive's love of flying and his experience in both the British and United States Military led him to a successful civilian career as a helicopter pilot for Air Logistics, Louisiana until 1991 when his cancer diagnosis and laryngectomy forced his retirement. In retirement, Clive focused on his passion for gun and military antique collecting and history. He also enjoyed collecting, tinkering, and driving his many cars and motorcycles. A lifetime patriot and military man. He was a life member of VFW, Post 10132 Hobe Sound, FL, and a life member of The Military Order of the Purple Heart. He is survived by: his children: Justin A. Collins and his wife, Ellison, of Naples, FL; Nicole Perlman and her husband, Glen, of Walpole, MA; his brother Barry Collins; his grandchildren, Ellie, Jack, and Travis as well as his future granddaughter, daughter of Justin and Ellison; Dear friend Stephanie Yerkes of Stuart. A service will be held graveside at All Saints Cemetery, Jensen Beach, FL on Saturday, May 1, 2021, at 9:30 am. All County Funeral Home, Stuart, Florida Published in TC Palm from Apr. 29 to Apr. 30, 2021
Burial information: All Saints Cemetery, Jensen Beach, FL
You might note that he also claims being in the British Army 1955 to 1957, and has the British General Service Medal and Suez Medal. Any way of checking his British Army bona fides?
Best left in peace is my opinion - too late to call him out on any fabrication and all it'll do is hurt people who weren't responsible for it.
Not as if he's a major historical personage with a record that needs correcting
I'd hope the history is mainly correct but it's too late now![Frown](https://www.pprune.org/images/smilies/sowee.gif)
RIP
Not as if he's a major historical personage with a record that needs correcting
I'd hope the history is mainly correct but it's too late now
![Frown](https://www.pprune.org/images/smilies/sowee.gif)
RIP
Posting because it has personal interest. Problem is, the period he claims to have served in Vietnam I was there, and 2i/c of the platoon he claims to have been in, also the call signs he claims to have used he couldn't have, as they belonged to other individuals.
You might note that he also claims being in the British Army 1955 to 1957, and has the British General Service Medal and Suez Medal. Any way of checking his British Army bona fides?
You might note that he also claims being in the British Army 1955 to 1957, and has the British General Service Medal and Suez Medal. Any way of checking his British Army bona fides?
Using Ancestry there is a Clive H Collins with a USA Aviation background who has the date of birth given. The record is from 1972 and has him as a CW2 in the USAR.
There's a photo of him - here
I wonder whether this is more a result of confusion (either the late Mr Collins's memory failing him towards the end of his days, or on the part of a proud relative attempting to decipher personal papers and getting entirely the wrong end of the stick - the RAF Historical Branch has regular instances where someone's great uncle clearly wasn't adopting a Mitty-esque approach but that his family pieced together information from stories and personal papers and ended up with a very different career for their late relative, and one which said relative had never, in fact, claimed for himself...)
Using Ancestry there is a Clive H Collins with a USA Aviation background who has the date of birth given. The record is from 1972 and has him as a CW2 in the USAR
"I wonder whether this is more a result of confusion (either the late Mr Collins's memory failing him towards the end of his days, or on the part of a proud relative attempting to decipher personal papers and getting entirely the wrong end of the stick -"
I've dabbled in Family History and seen the same effect - people's memories change and when they are related 2nd or 3rd hand they become quite unreliable - often a useful guide as to where to go and look but the actual dates and facts are often skewed badly
I've dabbled in Family History and seen the same effect - people's memories change and when they are related 2nd or 3rd hand they become quite unreliable - often a useful guide as to where to go and look but the actual dates and facts are often skewed badly
Not even that many generations apart. My Grandfather was in the army at around the turn of the 18-19th century, but denied having gone to the Boer war. However, one of his friends told my father and uncle that he definitely had. There's no one by his name on the nominal roll, but it's possible he changed his name for some reason - it seems there was some sort of family estrangement. Another family member claims that he went to Sydney University, but they have no record of him. Where does the truth lie? Who knows, and it's unlikely we ever will.
Gnome de PPRuNe
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My paternal granddad was a Spitfire pilot in WWII. So my brother told me. A bit of simple investigation shows he was actually in the RFC/RAF in WWI so MAY have been a pilot. I don't know. But the Spitfire bit was cobblers, appropriate as he later owned a shoe shop in Birmingham.
My paternal granddad was a Spitfire pilot in WWII. So my brother told me. A bit of simple investigation shows he was actually in the RFC/RAF in WWI so MAY have been a pilot. I don't know. But the Spitfire bit was cobblers, appropriate as he later owned a shoe shop in Birmingham.
I worked with a lovely bloke a few years back who was insistent that his grandad was a Spitfire pilot in WW2, joining up at 16 and becoming a Squadron Leader at 17. I don't doubt he believed it was true (he was a very honest chap) as it was established family legend, but enough about his story flagged alarm bells to me and I could find no records of his grandad when I tried to help him research this character. Happy to leave him with the story though, could be true I guess but very unlikely and no need to burst his bubble....
I was asked to check on an "Ex Meteor pilot" who used to sound off down our local pub. I got him into conversation then , when he was in full flow, off handedly asked him what marks he flew .
He couldn't remember.
He couldn't remember.
Not that I could find. There is a site which covers 135 AHC and the yearbooks don’t seem to have him amongst the personnel, of whom there are mugshots at the end. Of course, he may have been omitted for some reason other than the obvious one of not being part of the unit in the first place. The yearbooks, I think, show the actual holder of at least one of the EMU or TAIPAN callsigns attributed to the chap in the obit.
Megan - based on your knowledge, is it feasible for a 33 year old to have been recruited into the Pilot training programme? The current age limit is 32, for the US Army. Also, how would he have been enlisted as a Warrant Officer as a non-national? Current rules forbid it (only into enlsited ranks) unless he had somehow gained US citizenship before then?
No mention here of a DFC: https://valor.defense.gov/Portals/24...4xca3DgA%3d%3d
No mention here of a DFC: https://valor.defense.gov/Portals/24...4xca3DgA%3d%3d
Gnome de PPRuNe
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No, he may have been in the Home Guard or something in WW2 but he returned to civvy life after the end of the First World War. My brother knew little about aircraft and "flew fighters" might have been translated into "Spitfire". My dad and his sister both had the aircraft bug.
based on your knowledge, is it feasible for a 33 year old to have been recruited into the Pilot training programme
The unit only served in Vietnam for four and a bit years, having been formed in Vietnam on the 29th September 1967, and have been a fairly close knit bunch up until very recent years. Thus far I've been unable to find any one who has heard of him in three of those years, but still have one response to come.
On the 1st October 2021 an email was circulated among the FAA community in good faith advising of the passing of US Army pilot WO1 Clive H. Collins who claimed to have served in the US Army 135th Assault Helicopter Company during 1970 and 1971 in Vietnam where he operated under the call signs EMU 22 and TAIPAN 33 and was decorated with the DFC, Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
The information originated from an obituary published in the July – August 2021 magazine “Aviator” published by the US organisation the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association.
![](https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1212x1602/col0_f05883e35fd5618f8f4f504ff511b35f3cf37150.png)
The final group of RAN personnel to serve with the 135th AHC did so from 9th September 1970 to the 16th June 1971, of which I was one, call sign EMU 27, 2 i/c of the second platoon, and at no time was there a WO1 Clive Collins serving, despite him saying he joined the second platoon in 1970.
US Army Register – Volume II 1 January 1972 records Clive Collins making WO1 rank on 24th August 1970, which was the day before the official graduation and awarding of wings ceremony. Graduates were then given a months leave before Vietnam arrival, so that would place him in Vietnam circa 24th September, two weeks after the last RAN group arrived.
Even if Collins had been a 135th member it could only have been for the three months between the RAN departure and his end of tour date, but he firmly states he joined the unit in 1970, didn't happen, also it would have been impossible for him to have operated with the call signs he states, even had he been a member of the unit.
EMU 22
WO1 Terry F. Mezera joined the 135th in early April 1970 and was KIA 16th January 1971
Captain Robert L. Moody served 1970 to 1971, assigned the call sign following Terry’s death, made the move from Dong Tam to Di An with the unit at the end July of and would have completed his tour circa the same time as Collins, if indeed Collins served in SVN.
CW2 Thomas G Suhrhoff served 1971 to 1972, Tom was a co-pilot at Di An when Bob Moody was still in residence, assigned the call sign following Moodys departure, he served until the 135th flew their last mission on 20th January 1972 and unit was subsequently stood down in February.
IPSO, there is no possible way he flew using the EMU 22 callsign.
TAIPAN 33
Sub Lieutenant W (Bill) J. Shurey RAN operated under the call sign during his period of service, 9th September 1970 to the 16th June 1971 .
CW2 Timothy J. Monti J joined 135th end of April 1971 on his second tour as a gunship pilot, assumed the call sign when the RAN (Bill Shurey) departed on 16th June. He served until the 135th flew their final mission on 20th January 1972 and unit was subsequently stood down in February.
IPSO, there is no possible way he flew using the TAIPAN 33 callsign.
Further, the US Army has no record of him being awarded the DFC, Bronze Star or Purple Heart.
Noble sentiment Asturias, but as some one who fought in the conflict and having a Brother who lost his life in a fire fight in the same conflict it's not a sentiment I share
An item from our RAN FAA magazine this month.
![](https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1228x489/com_91f8fc1f172a1836c0331885f74b8225ec425e4d.png)
Deep Fake Update?
If there’s one thing that pisses veterans off, it’s someone who claims to be what he/she isn’t.
We suspect this might be such a case, above. Going by the name of Peter Lancaster the guy in the photo above was snapped in a Gloria Jeans cafe at an unknown location and date. I ran the picture a year or so ago asking if anyone knew him, but no response. Now he’s been spotted again at RANOPs lunch and in the area of the Runaway Bay shopping centre, QLD.
We suspect he might be ex-Schoolie Peter Lancaster, born in ‘43 who joined up in ’67 and thinks that wondering around shops in a Flight Jacket sporting badges he didn’t earn is cool. If you see him, call him out!
Would love to hear if anyone knows or knew of him, and what the story is.
PS - perhaps it is becoming fashionable to make false claims about your service record in
QLD? Ask the Mayor of Townsville!
Any thoughts to the Editor here, please.
The information originated from an obituary published in the July – August 2021 magazine “Aviator” published by the US organisation the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association.
![](https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1212x1602/col0_f05883e35fd5618f8f4f504ff511b35f3cf37150.png)
The final group of RAN personnel to serve with the 135th AHC did so from 9th September 1970 to the 16th June 1971, of which I was one, call sign EMU 27, 2 i/c of the second platoon, and at no time was there a WO1 Clive Collins serving, despite him saying he joined the second platoon in 1970.
US Army Register – Volume II 1 January 1972 records Clive Collins making WO1 rank on 24th August 1970, which was the day before the official graduation and awarding of wings ceremony. Graduates were then given a months leave before Vietnam arrival, so that would place him in Vietnam circa 24th September, two weeks after the last RAN group arrived.
Even if Collins had been a 135th member it could only have been for the three months between the RAN departure and his end of tour date, but he firmly states he joined the unit in 1970, didn't happen, also it would have been impossible for him to have operated with the call signs he states, even had he been a member of the unit.
EMU 22
WO1 Terry F. Mezera joined the 135th in early April 1970 and was KIA 16th January 1971
Captain Robert L. Moody served 1970 to 1971, assigned the call sign following Terry’s death, made the move from Dong Tam to Di An with the unit at the end July of and would have completed his tour circa the same time as Collins, if indeed Collins served in SVN.
CW2 Thomas G Suhrhoff served 1971 to 1972, Tom was a co-pilot at Di An when Bob Moody was still in residence, assigned the call sign following Moodys departure, he served until the 135th flew their last mission on 20th January 1972 and unit was subsequently stood down in February.
IPSO, there is no possible way he flew using the EMU 22 callsign.
TAIPAN 33
Sub Lieutenant W (Bill) J. Shurey RAN operated under the call sign during his period of service, 9th September 1970 to the 16th June 1971 .
CW2 Timothy J. Monti J joined 135th end of April 1971 on his second tour as a gunship pilot, assumed the call sign when the RAN (Bill Shurey) departed on 16th June. He served until the 135th flew their final mission on 20th January 1972 and unit was subsequently stood down in February.
IPSO, there is no possible way he flew using the TAIPAN 33 callsign.
Further, the US Army has no record of him being awarded the DFC, Bronze Star or Purple Heart.
Best left in peace is my opinion - too late to call him out on any fabrication and all it'll do is hurt people who weren't responsible for it.
Not as if he's a major historical personage with a record that needs correcting
I'd hope the history is mainly correct but it's too late now
Not as if he's a major historical personage with a record that needs correcting
I'd hope the history is mainly correct but it's too late now
An item from our RAN FAA magazine this month.
![](https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1228x489/com_91f8fc1f172a1836c0331885f74b8225ec425e4d.png)
Deep Fake Update?
If there’s one thing that pisses veterans off, it’s someone who claims to be what he/she isn’t.
We suspect this might be such a case, above. Going by the name of Peter Lancaster the guy in the photo above was snapped in a Gloria Jeans cafe at an unknown location and date. I ran the picture a year or so ago asking if anyone knew him, but no response. Now he’s been spotted again at RANOPs lunch and in the area of the Runaway Bay shopping centre, QLD.
We suspect he might be ex-Schoolie Peter Lancaster, born in ‘43 who joined up in ’67 and thinks that wondering around shops in a Flight Jacket sporting badges he didn’t earn is cool. If you see him, call him out!
Would love to hear if anyone knows or knew of him, and what the story is.
PS - perhaps it is becoming fashionable to make false claims about your service record in
QLD? Ask the Mayor of Townsville!
Any thoughts to the Editor here, please.
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