The severe wave of fires that began on January 7 in southern California has forced the mobilization of aircraft from the US Armed Forces.
One of the units mobilized for these firefighting tasks is Helicopter Light Attack Squadron (HMLA) 367, part of Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, based at MCAS Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, California. This unit was created on December 1, 1943, during World War II, and participated in that war as well as in Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq.
In 2011, HMLA 367 became the first Marine unit to be equipped simultaneously with Bell UH-1Y Venom transport helicopters (the most recent version of the famous Huey from the Vietnam War) and Bell AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters (the most recent variant of the Huey Cobra used during that same war).
The UH-1Y Venom helicopters have been enlisted for this firefighting mission, as they are equipped to carry a bag to collect water from swimming pools and reservoirs thanks to their ventral hook (in this case, the one known in the US as the Bambi Bucket system). These helicopters can activate the water release system using a hook located on their starboard door, as we can see in the following photo.
The major drawback of these helicopters for a mission like this is their camouflage scheme. The UH-1Y Venom are helicopters designed for combat assault missions, so they are decorated with a low-visibility scheme with two light gray colors.
In a smoke-filled area, these helicopters would not be easily distinguished, which is ideal in a combat zone but can cause problems in areas where firefighting aircraft are operating, even running the risk of colliding with other aircraft.
For many years now, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) has had an agreement with the Armed Forces, so that military helicopters (generally those of the National Guard) can assist in firefighting efforts if required.
It is common practice in California to paint military helicopters with fluorescent "shocking pink" paint to make them more visible amid the smoke from wildfires.
These markings are often improvised with a paint roller, as seen in these photos posted by Marine Corps Lance Corporal Jennifer Sanchez and published Friday by the U.S. Army multimedia portal DVIDShub.net.
In addition to the pink markings, numbers of the same color are also painted on the helicopters, in order to improve their location in the coordination efforts of the aircraft operating in the areas affected by the fires.
Hot pink is the official color used in California by all helicopters from other agencies that collaborate in firefighting efforts, but it is not the only bright color that can be used in these operations, as Miguel Ortiz pointed out in an article published by coffeeordie.com. When there is a large concentration of aircraft, it is possible that they run out of paint, which forces you to go to a civilian store and choose the most striking color available.
In the following video published by the Marines you can see the painting of these UH-1Y helicopters for their participation in the efforts to extinguish the fires that are affecting the metropolitan area of Los Angeles County:
Finally, here we can see two photos of UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters of the California National Guard, attached to the 1-140th Aviation Battalion (Assault), during the wave of fires that affected that state in 2012.
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Photos: U.S. Marine Corps / Army National Guard.
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