While visiting Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Maines found four CH-46E helicopters that he flew in Vietnam. He even has the serial numbers to prove they are the same birds.

Maines, a former captain in the Marine Corps, was a member of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 164 attached to Marine Aircraft Group 16 in Vietnam.

Forty years later, Maines son, Navy Lt. Mark T. Maines, is the base chaplain for Marine Corps Base Camp Kinser. Mark arranged for his father to be able to look at the aircraft on Futenma. Neither of them thought they would find the same helicopters he flew.

 “I didn’t expect them to still be flying, they were manufactured in 1966, it’s great to see that they are still around,” said Maines.

Seeing the old helicopters gave Maines the opportunity to reminisce about his past. “Seeing my old 46’s made me feel young again. It reminded me what it was like to be in the Marine Corps and it makes me very proud,” he said.

After finding his old helicopter, Maines met with staff noncommissioned officers and officers from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 to share a few of his stories and experiences from Vietnam.

“It’s great to know that this air station has such a deep history,” said Capt. Michael Bryant, the maintenance material control officer for HMM-262.

 The trip not only helped Maines reminisce, but it served as a way for him and his son to bond.

 “This was a very special moment for my dad, it’s great to share this cultural history together and have this military connection,” said Mark. After leaving the military in 1972, Maines joined the Mission Aviation Fellowship for 12 years, where he flew single engine Cessnas on missions for church and government. After that he became self-employed as a strategy consultant for businesses while still flying his personal plane.

 In 2008, after 40 years and 7,000 hours of flight, Maines gave up flying.

 “I now have a boat and nine grandchildren, it’s not quite as fast, but if I run out of gas I’m in much less trouble,” he said.