Army helicopters with pilots, n.d. Photograph by Richard Tregaskis, 1962-1963. Richard Tregaskis Papers, American Heritage Center.

Richard Tregaskis documented much of the Vietnam War from the air. Spending the majority of his time with marine units heading ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam) troops, Tregaskis usually went along with whatever missions he could attach himself to. Sometimes these missions entailed ambushes in Viet Cong territory, other times supply drops to Vietnamese villagers. While by no means a less dangerous way to experience the war, photographing from a helicopter allowed Tregaskis to remain somewhat distant from the realities of war on the ground. The majority of his ground images are of non-combat situations.

Troops landing from helicopter. Photograph by Richard Tregaskis, 1962-1963. Richard Tregaskis Papers, American Heritage Center.

"The crew chief...seemed as enthralled as I with the magnificent, eerie scenery below us. It was unnerving to see the country growing wilder moment by moment, with never a place to put the plane down in those dense trees if there should be an engine failure." (Richard Tregaskis, Vietnam Diary)

Richard Tregaskis and War

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