Captain Richard Buzen *Signature Value : £50 (clipped)
| After joining the service in September 1966, Richard Buzen was posted to the 1st Cavalry Division flying Huey UH-1Ds and UH-1Hs with the 229th Assault Battalion. He flew his first Huey combat mission in Vietnam in January 1969, becoming a flight Commander in April. During his tour in Vietnam he commanded over 200 combat missions and was shot down twice – first in April, and then in July, after which he was hospitalised for six months, and awarded two Purple Hearts. Seriously disabled by his wounds, Richard retired from the service in 1971. |
Chief Warrant Officer Michael J. Novosel MOH (deceased) *Signature Value : £55 (clipped)
| Enlisting in the Army Air Corps in 1941, Michael Novosel saw combat in the Pacific flying B29s out of Tinian against Japan, and was called up to active service again during the Korean War, eventually reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Again requesting active duty during the Vietnam War, he was informed that the Air Force was over strength in senior officers, so he promptly accepted an appointment as a Warrant Officer Aviator with the US Army. Flying two tours on Hueys in Vietnam as a 'Dustoff Pilot', he was assigned first to the 283rd Medical Detachment, and for his second tour the 82nd where, on 2nd October 1969 in Kien Tuong Province, he saved the lives of 29 wounded soldiers in 15 extremely hazardous extractions under withering enemy fire. For this he was awarded the Medal of Honour. During his tours in Vietnam, he evacuated a total of 5589 wounded soldiers. When he retired in 1985 after 42 years service and 2038 hours combat flight time, he was the last active duty military aviator on flight status who had flown combat during World War II. Sadly, Michael Novosel died 2nd April 2006. |