Aviation Art: The Lighter Side
In wartime, a customized Zippo was part of an airman's identity.
- By Rebecca Maksel
- AirSpaceMag.com, September 07, 2011
Cowan's Auctions
The Vietnam War-era Zippo lighter—part pop art and part military artifact, according to author Sherry Buchanan—was sold in PX stores in-country, and engraved with personalized messages and drawings at Vietnamese village stalls.
This form of military art, says Zippo's Web site, actually began during World War II. "From 1943 until the end of World War II," notes the site, "Zippo's entire production was shipped to Army Exchanges and Naval ship stores for the soldiers in combat around the world.... Many soldiers customized their Zippo lighters, scratching in names, places, images, and messages of all kinds that suggest their hopes, dreams, fears and longings."
The lighter above features the iconic Bell UH-1 "Huey" helicopter. Phu Loi, the former French artillery training center, was located about 30 kilometers northwest of Saigon. It became (among other things) the base camp of the 128th Assault Helicopter Company.
Steve Dillman, a member of the 128th Assault Helicopter Company from 1967 to 1968, recalls: "In the gun platoon it was a common thing to have a Zippo cigarette lighter that had been engraved in downtown Phu Loi with your name, call sign, 128th AHC and an armed B Model UH-1. My engraved lighter is one of my most prized souvenirs from Viet Nam. I completed my active duty time with the Army in 1969, and searched for work as a helicopter pilot [in my hometown of Etna, California]. While at home, I participated in the recreational basketball program. At one of the games my Zippo was stolen from the locker room. In 1985 I was serving as an umpire for a ladies softball game [and] I was approached by a lady spectator. She asked if I was Steve Dillman and I told her I was. She then handed me the Zippo that I had not seen in 15 years. I asked her how she had come to have it. She explained that she had gone to a church-sponsored yard sale. It was at this sale that she picked up my lighter. I thanked her and told her how much that little Zippo meant to me."
See more engraved lighters in the gallery above.
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Comments (4)
The Cowboys were next to us Taipans at Camp BearCat...we had a few brawls with them...ahh...youthful testosterone
Posted by Snake on September 8,2011 | 02:46 PM
I still have mine & will not part with it. Prior to my shipping to 'Nam' on 5 May 69, I was assigned to the Returnee-Reassignment Center @ Ft.Lewis, Wa. We processed Vets returning from Nam, got them clean Class A uniforms to travel home in, saw to it they got a steak dinner, tickets for flights, buses etc. & transportation to Seatle. Once they showered, ate & boarded trans to Seatle-Tacoma Airport, we would kick through the discarded combat fatigues they had traveled from Nam in. Kicking through those uniforms is where I got my Zippo. I took that Zippo to 'Nam' for my tour, 69-70 with the 1st Aviation Brigade in 2 Corps & that well traveld Zippo did a second tour of 'Nam'!~I watrch for them @ estate sales & garage sales.
They are treasured items from a difficult time in our National history.
Posted by MARK on September 21,2011 | 08:01 PM
The Zippo with The Association's song title, "Never My Love" on the cap, and Snoopy on the body really got to me. These are two, very personal messages on probably the one item that soldier was allowed to personalize. It's my favorite Zippo in your collection.
Posted by Mark W. on September 22,2011 | 11:45 PM
I enjoyed the pictures.
Wish that I had known that Rebecca was collecting pictures of these.
My crew had a Zippo engraved for me before I left Vietnam from my first tour in 1967-68.
It is one of my most prized possessions.
If Rebecca is still collecting photos, I'd be glad to send one.
Posted by Steve Cover on November 4,2011 | 07:23 PM