"Sir, I Was Shot!"

Readers...I've been calling Col Mohd Amin Bin Mohd Razi RMAF (R) to pen down his experiences during those adventurous days. Well, he is kind enough to oblige me by sending this article.

Dear all xnuri pilots….

I was called for several times to put on my comments and relating experiences during my tenure as nuri pilot both at Kuantan and Butterworth.

It was from June 1975, converting myself as Nuri Captain till April 1979, I flew a total 772 sorties (figures from my log book) with the highest monthly flying hours of 79.50 hours in the month of March 1977.

It was such an experience during that time as you are virtually flying everyday to support the operations. One thing for sure, these experiences happened 30 over years ago and I cannot possibly recall and relate what actually happened at that time.

It was barely after 2 months after getting my “C Cat”, I was on Butterworth detachment and involved with the operations.

Recalling on the tragic loss of 11 members during Ops Pukul (Gubir) on 26 April 1976, I came into the picture about 4 days later when my aircraft was shot with 8 bullet holes during troop insertion sorties in the Thai territory. With Gunship escort, I flew the aircraft back to Gubir and later back to Kuantan the next day with the same aircraft.

Two years later, on 14 August 1978, I was again involved in Ops Selamat Sawadee One when the aircraft sustained 14 bullet holes with my AQM (F/Sgt Patrick Lee) was down with gun shot through his upper left hand. The sortie, Capung 473J with LtM (U) Mohd Som was to transfer 1x105 Gun and pay personnel to Marker “F”, an Artillery Gun position. I was escorted with 2 x Gunship and the flight was uneventful until when I moved my aircraft to the landing pad after unloading the gun into the pit. Sound of gun shots strewed on the aircraft and seconds later I heard “Sir, I was shot!” from the AQM. I saw him sprawling on the floor and immediately I put the aircraft to a vertical climb before heading back to Kroh. I presumed we were lucky in vacating the LP as it was reported that a M79 shell landed on the LP seconds later. Otherwise………..

That was the most horrifying experienced that I had as far as flying the Nuri. During that time we used to say our prayers before flight and even some of the pilots slipped in a small “Quran” in their flying helmets.

Col Amin...Thank you.