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Captain Scott Robinson Alwin

Born: August 11, 1944
Died: June 26, 1976
Inducted: 2025

Born in Milwaukee on August 11, 1944, Scott was a second-generation aviator. His father, Walter, was a B-26 flight instructor in Oklahoma in the Army Air Corps. Raised in Fort Atkinson, Scott received an appointment to the Air Force Academy. After a single year he dropped out of the academy and enlisted in the Army to become a helicopter pilot.

Alwin earned his wings as a helicopter pilot in 1966. He arrived in Vietnam during August 1967, assigned to the 145 th Combat Aviation Battalion, 68 th Assault Helicopter Company flying a Bell UH-1 Iroquois “Slick” helicopter for his first tour. During his second tour he began flying “Gunships”, earned a field commission to Lieutenant and was eventually promoted to Captain. Alwin would continue his service in Vietnam completing five tours of duty.

Captain Alwin was the most decorated helicopter pilot in the Vietnam war. The medals, awards and commendations he earned during his time in Vietnam include the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star with four oak leaf clusters (OLC), Purple Heart with one OLC, and a record 136 Air Medals. Helicopter pilots in Vietnam were awarded an air medal for each 25 hours of combat flight time.

Loss of tail rotor effectiveness was causing the loss of numerous pilots and airframes as the air war over Vietnam continued. Alwin, assisted by his unit’s Safety Officer, developed a low altitude autorotation approach procedure that saved lives and aircraft.

Scott also found the time to complete his bachelor’s degree in political science from UW-Madison and earned a Commercial fixed-wing pilot certificate with Instrument and Multi-engine ratings.

Tragically, Scott Alwin was killed in a car accident on June 26, 1976, while driving from Fort Benning, Georgia, to the Army War College outside of Washington DC. Alwin was 31 years old at the time of his death.

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