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
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"This looks like the Zippo lighters that were given to us when our tour was up and we went home," says Jim McLaughlin, who was with the 335th Assault Helicopter Company in Vietnam from 1967-1968. "The emblem is taken from the original Cowboy patch that was changed in late 1967 or early 1968. Early in the war the Dallas Cowboys football team gave the unit permission to use their name and logo, and the patch and emblem were worked up from some of their stuff."
The design was based on the logos that pilots with the 335th stuck on the doors of their Hueys. McLaughlin has a pristine version of the lighter in his collection.
"This [Cowboys lighter] was a special order," confirms Zippo historian Linda Meabon. "They were ordered through the division, or the battalion in Vietnam, so we don't actually have records. The company couldn't keep records for the hundreds of thousands that they did through the years. The minimum to even do the engraving was 50 lighters, and they could order 500 or up to 1,000. Even though I have worked at Zippo for over 44 years, I have not seen this one."
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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