AngryJoe Posted October 31, 2018 Report Share Posted October 31, 2018 Im seeking information on the background story of the chow birds at Ranger School. Being a former Ranger School student, the chow birds were as near and dear to my heart as the mysterious soda machines that appeared in the middle of the woods at night while on patrol at Ranger School 😂 As I recall, we were told by several people (IBOLC Instructors, RIs, fellow students, etc.) that our aviators that gave us a lift were flight students at Fort Rucker. We were told that they give us pogey bait on the birds because a Ranger School platoon successfully evacuated some pilots from a downed aircraft back in the day. Im currently stationed at Rucker in WOBC and no one seems to know what Im talking about, even the Aviation Historian! Does anyone have a credible source of info on whether or not these pilots are Fort Rucker flight students, or if the background story is true?  This all started as a curious interest in wanting to be on the flight detail following school, and has turned into an even more curious interest of whether or not this has been a complete apparition to reality! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gideon Posted October 31, 2018 Report Share Posted October 31, 2018 The only bit I've heard about this is that it is possible for Blackhawk flight students to get on the Ranger school detail. However, that was only recently from my fellow primary student. As far as providing food if I manage to get my way onto it I would be doing it purely bc I know how much it sucks to be starving in the woods and the joy even the most random of food can provide I'm those times. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhrogGuy Posted October 31, 2018 Report Share Posted October 31, 2018 I cannot speak to the history of how it started. However, I will say that those Blackhawk course students that got to do the Ranger mission did in fact bring food out for the students. So, to answer your question. Yes, at least one of the pilots at the controls was a student and his stick buddy was probably sitting in back in one of the crew chief seats. Hope this helps some. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedude Posted October 31, 2018 Report Share Posted October 31, 2018 The 60 course at Rucker flies the Ranger lift every few courses from what I understand. Two friends of mine did it a couple years apart when they went through Rucker. The birds are always loaded heavy with pizza and pogey bait. I’ve never heard the story you told and always assumed it was done by Rucker since they have a ton of hawks, lots of student pilots needing training time and are close to Benning. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BM1 Posted October 31, 2018 Report Share Posted October 31, 2018 We never heard a specific story or history behind it. It was definately instilled that the relationship with the ground forces gets established for alot of us right there, as well as the contract that we will always make every attempt possible to get them out of harms way, knowing that if we go down they return the favor. Had a student dedicated to lining up the food. We were told it probably wouldnt be with yall very long once you stepped off that 3 minute flight. I vividly remember watching some poor dude devour an entire little ceasars pizza and two gatorades while the cadre just smiled and shoot his head. I wonder how long he kept it down, I watched them make it to the tree line and get dropped immediately and start pushing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flanker Posted November 1, 2018 Report Share Posted November 1, 2018 Never heard a specific story like the others mentioned but we definitely did bring pizza and cold drinks for the guys that day. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Creep0321 Posted November 2, 2018 Report Share Posted November 2, 2018 When I was in the 47 course at Rucker we were tasked with the ranger mission. The wives and students made up bags with a soda, sandwich, protein bar, and energy bar for each guy..... however the flight got cancelled day of due to weather. Unfortunately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerBattBoy Posted January 2, 2019 Report Share Posted January 2, 2019 Near and dear to my heart. Every Ranger student remembers exactly what he got on that flight from the flight crews. My bird got four pizzas and two logs of Copenhagen. Concur with Angry Joe that the story was told to us about the downed A/C back in the day. True or not, it lets the boys on the ground know that some gives a damn that they are sucking. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngryJoe Posted January 5, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2019 Battboy, if our birds delivered Copenhagen, I would have jumped into the cockpit and kissed those pilots! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zaurus Posted January 5, 2019 Report Share Posted January 5, 2019 AngryJoe They may have been female pilots and you would have been kicked out of Ranger school. Ok, if they were male pilots. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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