The Hangardeck Podcast

In this episode of The Hangardeck Podcast, “Pitchlock” Pete, Fast Eddie and Raging Rick talk with Vietnam veteran Buzz Lockwood.  Lockwood is a decorated helicopter pilot. During his 2 ½ tours in Vietnam Lockwood received 3 purple hearts among other medals honoring his bravery during service. Lockwood faced many hardships during his service, including being shot down a total of 13 times. Regarding his medals Lockwood was extremely humble stating, “There were tens of thousands of acts of valor, bravery, and courage done by Americans every day during the war – only a few people got recognized, most acts went unrewarded.” He added that he would gladly return all three of his purple hearts, in turn for not having to endure what he did to get them, stating the hearts were basically rewarding any near death experience. Lockwood graduated from Fort Rutgers Alabama flight school, and three months later he was in Vietnam. He flew a light observation helicopter, nicknamed a Loach by the military men. The loach helicopt