November 2009 C-7A Caribou Association Page  C-7AC-7A Caribou Association Volume 20, Issue 2

20th Caribou Reunion Rocked in Branson by George Harmon [537, 69] We enjoyed our 20th Reunion at the except for our business meeting and of us “Welcome to Walmart” now has most “veteran friendly” city on earth, banquet which were conducted by our a new meaning. The on board dinner Branson, Missouri, from 2-6 September VP, Pat Hanavan. was also excellent. 09. The accommodations for our 105 On Wednesday, September 2, our On Saturday afternoon at 1400, 75 of members and 88 guests were the best members started arriving for the re- us enjoyed the legendary singing and that I have experienced in my ten years ception which was held in our well- showmanship of Andy Williams with of attending reunions. Pam Brown’s appointed War Room with seating for his new Variety Show. At 1700, it was reunion planning group, Gatherings 300. The reception was well attended group picture time in the lobby, master- Plus, helped us plan our reunion and and continued from 1900 to 2100. The fully organized by Al Cunliffe and his then was responsible for the operations War Room was well stocked with beer, crew of volunteers. Saturday night, our during the reunion. Pam, her staff of wine, soda, and snacks during all 4 days banquet started at 1900 with Pat Hana- Norma, her Mom, and Jodie and the and stayed open until midnight daily. van as our M.C. The colors were posted hotel staff of Yvonne Costales and Alicia Hanavan set up and restocked by the Junior AFROTC from Branson Kenny did a superb job of ensuring the War Room several times each day High School, who did a very nice job that our accommodations were excel- and she and Pat ran our very popular and then joined us for a delicious meal lent and that our transportation to and memorabilia room. of prime rib and shrimp. Pat and Curry from the shows was comfortable and On Thursday, 39 of our members and Taylor conducted our Memorial Service on time. We didn’t even wait in line to guests attended Clay Cooper’s Country for the Caribou Association members enter the theaters since we filed in as a Music at 1000, and 90 were thrilled who passed away in the past two years. group after debarking from our buses. with the Dixie Stampede at 1730. At Chaplain Jon Drury said grace and we Gatherings Plus actually ran everything 2000, 102 of us walked across the street enjoyed our fine meal with red and to the Hits of the 60’s. The music cer- white wine selected by Pat. In This Issue tainly awakened some old memories, Instead of a guest speaker, we were President’s Corner...... Page 2 and so did the 3 minute Caribou video treated to the talent and patriotism of Pat Phillips ...... Page 3 that the owner of the show produced Dr. Dale’s American Kids who per- Awards Project...... Page 3 from Caribou action footage filmed formed 30 minutes of patriotic and 2009 Business Meeting...... Page 4 in 1969 by George Harmon and Mike religious songs. We’re still allowed to Harley Bou ...... Page 7 Riess. do that in Missouri. They were an inspi- Emergency Resupply ...... Page 7 On Friday at 0900, 58 of us rode rational group of 10 to 19 year olds. We Mail Call ...... Page 8 two WWII DUKW’s (Ducks) on Table passed the hat after their performance Byplanes in SEA ...... Page 9 Rock Lake and toured the local area. and collected $624 for them – the larg- The First Team ...... Page 11 Our drivers were skilled, informative, est sum ever donated to them after a A Quick Trip to SEA ...... Page 11 and funny. At 1500, 67 of us attended performance. Way to go, Caribous! Maintaining the Bou ...... Page 12 Legends in Concert. The impersonators Editor’s note: We just signed a con- Bou Drops Cargo ...... Page 13 were great! At 2000, 145 of us boarded tract with the Marriott City Center in Serendipitous Altruism ...... Page 14 the “paddle-wheeler” Showboat Bran- Macon, GA to be our headquarters for Loading Cargo ...... Page 15 son Belle for a great show of singing Reunion 2010. The banquet will be Katum ...... Page 16 and dancing theme songs from 29 “Under the Wings” at the Museum of WASPs Loved to Fly ...... Page 18 musicals, and a ventriloquist who per- Aviation at Robins AFB. I hope to see The American Thinker...... Page 20 formed with his live “talking” dogs. We you at Warner Robins from 25-29 Aug A Different Caribou Tour...... Page 25 laughed until our sides ached! For all 2010. More details are on the website. Page  C-7A Caribou Association November 2009

The C-7A Caribou Association Newsletter is the official publication of the President’s Corner C-7A Caribou Association. Elected Officers and Board Members.... It hardly seems possible that another year has gone by. They say that time flies by when you are having fun, but I think perhaps President/Chairman of Board - Peter Bird [535, 71] there is a time compression associated with advancing years. I Vice President/Board Member - Pat Hanavan [535, 68] haven’t even got the photos posted from this year’s reunion and Treasurer/Board Member - Mike Murphy [537, 68] Secretary/Board Member - Al Cunliffe [458, 68] we are already well into the 2010 reunion planning. Although Board Member at Large - Jerry York [537, 67] things worked out well with the last-minute change in the loca- Board Member at Large - Fred Dimon [535, 68] tion for the 2009 reunion, that is far from how we like to plan Board Member at Large - Bob Neumayer [459, 69] things. I am therefore very pleased to report that we have a hard date for 2010 (25 to 29 August), a signed hotel contract with the Appointed Positions Marriot Macon City Center Hotel, and a contract for a Dinner Bereavement Chairman - Jay Baker [535, 66] Under the Wings at the Robins AFB Museum of Aviation. We Chaplains - Sonny Spurger [537, 68], Jon Drury [537, 68] will also be dedicating the Memorial Bench that is already in Historian - Robert Blaylock [457,70] place at the museum (see http://www.c-7acaribou.com/memo- Newsletter Editor - Pat Hanavan [535, 68] rial/robins/Robins.htm for photos). Start making plans! Newsletter Editor Emeritus - Dave Hutchens [459, 69] Pat Hanavan has been working on a project to document the Reunion 2009 Planner - George Harmon [537, 69] significant awards and decorations of our members and in the Reunion Advisor - Wayne DeLawter [458, 66] Webmaster - Peter Bird [535, 71] process of researching the records at Maxwell AFB, he has also President Emeritus - Nick Evanish [457, 66] added several hundred more names Chaplain Emeritus - Bob Davis [457, 69] to our Roster. If anyone would like to help out with either tracking down Squadron Representatives... the new names we have found or 457th Royal Moulton [457, 66], phone 540-720-7092 assisting Pat in his research, please 457th Mike Thibodo [457, 70], phone 651-483-9799 let us know. Pat and I also worked 458th Lee Corfield [458, 69], phone 724-775-3027 to integrate the awards data into the 458th Al Cunliffe [458, 68], phone 334-285-7706 Roster so that the data can be ac- 459th Bob Cummings [459, 66], phone 865-859-0888 cessed more easily. I have a basic th 535 Cliff Smith [535, 69], phone 804-453-3188 search form up on the web site, but I will be adding more features 535th Mike Messner [535, 70], phone 321-453-0816 as time goes on. 536th Dana Kelly [536, 70], phone 407-656-4536 536th Chuck Harris [536, 68], phone 325-465-8096 We found that we have a huge amount of data related to the 537th George Harmon [537, 69], phone 951-695-0630 Caribou, its people, and its operations; far too much to place on 483rd Gary Miller [483, 68], phone 262-634-4117 the web site. Currently, I am laying out a three DVD set that we 4449th Bill Buesking [535, 70], phone 210-403-2635 plan to make available to members at a nominal cost. This is a 18th AP Bill Buesking [535, 70], phone 210-403-2635 large project with no logical end, so be patient. If anyone has old manuals, documents, or other related data that you would All members are encouraged to communicate like included, please let me know. with the Editor of the Association Newsletter. Meanwhile, have a wonderful holiday season and I hope to Please send any change of address, phone see you all next August in Macon, Georgia. number, or e-mail address to: Pat Hanavan 12402 Winding Branch San Antonio, TX 78230-2770 2009 Reunion: First Time Attendees [email protected] 210-479-0226 (home), 210-861-9353 (cell) Brown, Lawrence and Karilyn Kottak, Joseph and Nita Christen, John and Kathy Lehman, Eugene $10.00 dues are payable each January. Send your check to Del Monte, Denis and Pamela Patrick, George and Suzanne Mike Murphy Dick, Edward and Carole Selvidge, George and Rusty 2036 Trailcrest Ln Apt 2r Finck, George and Jan Shankles, Troy and Byron Kirkwood, MO 63122-2263 Hedrick, Richard and Debbie Tidmore, Billy and Carol [email protected] Hensch, William and Shari Toon, David and Dianne November 2009 C-7A Caribou Association Page 

Board Administrative Law Judges. New Board Member He is an AOPA Panel Attorney and is Awards Project Pat Phillips [535, 68] a member of the Florida Bar Aviation Status Law Board Certification Committee. by Pat Hanavan [535, 68] He is a regular presenter at Embry- Riddle Aeronautical University Flight The project began some time ago Instructor Refresher Course and other when I began asking members to send aviation related seminars sponsored me their citation for significant awards by institutions of higher education. (e.g., Air Force Cross, Silver Star, Mr. Phillips is Co-Chair of the EAA DFC) during their C-7A assignment Legal Advisory Counsel and EAA in Vietnam. As these citations started Government Relations Committee. He coming in, some also included the 7th is a Board Member of Orlando Youth Air Force Special Order, which gave Aviation Center, The Rotary Club of clues about awards to other Bou guys. Orlando and Sun’n Fun Fly In, Inc. In a little while, I had nearly 30 citations He sits as a member of the Orlando- and Peter Bird implemented a way to Orange County Airport Zoning Board include them on our web site. of Adjustments and the West Orange A search of the web sites of the Pat Phillips is in private law practice County Airport Authority. DFC Society and the Air Force Cross in Orlando, Florida. He received his Society, led to an ever increasing list. B.S. degree in economics in 1966 from The citations began to unfold a unique the University of Florida. After gradu- picture of Caribou operations from ation, he entered the United States Air 1966-1972 when viewed alongside the Force and flew C-7A Caribou aircraft history accounts of significant battles, in all areas of Southeast Asia, including Caribou Reunion especially attacks and sieges of Special 850 combat hours in Vietnam. Later, 25-29 Aug 2010 Forces camps. while flying as an Aircraft Commander Macon-Warner Robins, GA A friend of mine is the historian and and Instructor Pilot on Lockheed C-141 newsletter editor of the Air Weather Starlifter Aircraft, he flew in virtually Our 2010 reunion will be in Macon, Reconnaissance Association. He told every nation in the free world. He is GA from 25-29 Aug. Our headquarters me about his research into records held a Lieutenant Colonel in the United will be at the Marriott City Center Hotel by the Air Force Historical Research States Air Force Reserve, Retired. He in Macon. Agency (AFHRA) at Maxwell AFB. holds an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Possible activities include: The possibility of finding many more rating, a current FAA flight and ground awards led me to include a side trip to instructor certificate for both single • day trip to Andersonville National Montgomery, AL when my wife and and multi-engine airplanes and instru- Historic site (http://www.nps.gov/ I visited Florida for a conference I ment, an FAA Airframe & Powerplant ande/index.htm) needed to attend to maintain one of my mechanic’s certificate, and an unlimited • lunch enroute to Andersonville at engineering credentials. ground level aerobatic waiver. a quaint Amish restaurant Wow! Talk about striking gold. In a Mr. Phillips received his J.D. degree • tour of historic homes in Macon day and a half I doubled the number of from Cumberland School of Law in (http://www.historicmacon.org/) DFCs we knew about. Two subsequent 1975. He has been intensively engaged • visit to the Museum of Aviation trips have raised the totals to: 2 AFCs, in the practice of law in all areas of (http://museumofaviation.org/) 24 SS, and 384 DFCs. In addition, I civil and criminal litigation in all fed- • dedication of our memorial bench found 695 names to add to the roster. eral and state courts and is Florida Bar at the Museum of Aviation We don’t know where these Bou guys Board Certified in Aviation Law. He • tour of Robins AFB are today, but we may be able to find is a founding member of the National • banquet “Under the Wings” at the them. Transportation Safety Board Bar Asso- museum on Saturday evening So far I have examined about 8,000 ciation, and has represented numerous of the 22,600 Special Orders at AFHRA professional pilots, mechanics, air- Watch our web site for more details and also found wing and squadron his- craft operators, charter services, flight tories which will add much more detail schools and fixed base operators before http://www.c-7acaribou.com/re- to our history records. Next data gather- the FAA and National Transportation union/2010/advance_plans.htm ing trip is planned for January. Page  C-7A Caribou Association November 2009

the donation will be the “C-7A Caribou Minutes of 2009 Association” and it shall be in memory Reunion Report – George Harmon and Business Meeting of Lieutenant Colonel James L. Collier, Pat Hanavan USAF (Ret.). A post reunion survey was handed Al Cunliffe announced at 10:04 AM February 2009: out to the attendees. that with approximately 88 members in 20080209: Approved the expenditure Report on the Roster - Pat Hanavan attendance that a quorum was present. of $4850 (bench and shipping included) We have 2400 names listed on the The meeting was called to order for a memorial bench (duplicate of the roster of which approximately 800 are at 10:05 AM by Vice President Pat one we installed at the NMUSAF) by current with their “Bou Tax.” Hanavan. contracting with Dodd’s Monuments Audit Committee Report The pledge of allegiance was fol- in Xenia, Ohio for the construction and Audit committee: Jesse Cogley [535, lowed by an invocation by Jon Drury. shipping to the Museum of Aviation at 68], Don Harz [536, 67], and Dale A motion to adopt the agenda as Robins AFB, GA. Spence [483, 71] published was made by Larry Gill, April 2009: The audit committee selected Don seconded by Al Rice, and unanimously 20090416: Appointed Stoney Fau- Harz to be their chairman and reviewed approved. bus, Marty Hillman, and Rick Patterson the Association financial records for Officer and Committee Reports: as the 2009 Nominating Committee. 1968. Records included the 1968 Bal- Secretary’s Report – Al Cunliffe re- June 2009: ance Sheet, Profit and Loss report, Bank ported on the motions considered and 20090607: Approved the formation of America statements, list of Board passed by the Board of Directors for of an audit committee to review the approved suppliers, monthly Treasurer the previous year: C-7A Caribou Association books for reports, QuickBooks reports, etc. using October 2008: calendar 2008. The volunteer mem- the Association’s audit checklist. Pat 20081002a: Election of Peter Bird as bers are Jesse Cogley [535, 68], Dale Hanavan was present at the meeting to Chairman of the board of Directors. Spence [483, 71], and Don Harz [536, provide additional information as need- 20081002b: Change the check sign- 67], assisted by non-voting member Pat ed. The chairman initialed each audit ing authority for checks drawn against Hanavan [535, 68]. The committee will item when all members agreed that the the Association’s Bank of America make its report to the members at the item was satisfactory. Two items were checking account to Pat Hanavan and 2009 reunion. not completed at the meeting so the Mike Murphy. August 2009: committee requested more information 20081002b: Purchase of a refur- 20090810: Added Caribou Associa- which was provided to each of them bished laptop PC with Windows XP tion Decal to Memorabilia Inventory. by e-mail. The additional information Pro, Norton Anti-Virus protection, and satisfied the committee and the audit wireless Internet connectivity to run Earl Reynolds pointed out that the checklist was completed by the chair- the QuickBooks application and be registration packet did not contain the man. The committee recommended dedicated to the use of the Association motions passed by the Board since the that several QuickBooks reports be Treasurer, cost of $690.64. last reunion. This was requested at redesigned to enable an audit team to 20081007: Motion that Sgt Maj Ed the last Business Meeting, but it was do their work more efficiently. Komac, USA, Ret. be added to the overlooked during the construction of Treasurer’s Report – Mike Murphy roster as a FOA with annual Bou Tax the registration packet. Pat Hanavan The Association’s 2008 Balance waived as long as he is still with us. took an action item to ensure that this Sheet and P&L were provided in the 20081029: Add the Caribou DVD to item is added to the checklist for the registration packet. the list of Memorabilia Stocked Items registration packet. C-7A Caribou Association and to increase the limit on inventory Bereavement Committee Report Balance Sheet value from $5,000 to $6,000. Jay Baker provided a report of the As of August 31, 2009 December 2008: previous year’s activities, which con- ASSETS 20081213: Designate Branson, MO sisted primarily of providing a letter of 1101-C-7A Chk Acct 7827 $5,026.09 as the location for Reunion 2010. condolence or suitable condolence card 1310-CD 1036 Risk Free $10,669.89 January 2009: to the deceased’s family, and an offer 1320-CD 0930 Promo $22,587.14 20090101: Approved the sum of for the widow to become an Honorary 1600-Memorabilia Inv. $4,796.04 $500 to be donated to: Intrepid Fallen Associate Member of the C-7A Caribou 1700-Postage/Pkg pre-paid $1,195.55 Heroes Fund, One Intrepid Square, Association if they so desire. We have TOTAL ASSETS $44,274.71 West 46th Street and 12th Avenue, New lost 21 members since the 2008 Dayton York, New York 10036. The source of reunion. November 2009 C-7A Caribou Association Page 

LIABILITIES & EQUITY these awards, please send the citation less expensive than their competitors. Long Term Liabilities to our newsletter editor. Research Our non-profit permit is at an Okla- 3800-Advance Dues $4,971.19 at the Air Force Historical Research homa post office and Dave Hutchens is Equity Agency, Maxwell AFB is planned for on-site to assist, if needed. The newslet- Equity Reserve (Adv Dues) -4,971.19 late September. ter editor tracks detailed expenditures Opening Bal Equity $39,744.67 New Business: for printing and mailing which are Retained Earnings $2,346.70 Board Motions – none reviewed when any significant change Net Income $2,183.34 Member Motions – none happens, e.g., change in postal rates. TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY Floor Nominations for Board Nomi- The size of the newsletter and the man- $44,274.71 nees – none ner in which it is prepared for mailing Note: Adv Dues Liability formula in Election of Board members were changed recently in response to Board policy 20071231. Randy Smith moved that the proposed changes by the Postal Service in order slate of Board members, as presented to improve the cost effectiveness of the Nominating Committee – Stoney Fau- by the Nominating Committee, be newsletter production. bus elected by acclamation. The motion Answer to #6: There is no limit on The C-7A Caribou Association was seconded and it was passed unani- the amount of expenditure(s) by the Nominating Committee (NOMCOM) mously Board without member approval in consisting of Stoney Faubus, Marty New DVD: Additional materials, e.g., the By-Laws or the Crew Duties. An Hillman and Rick Patterson started on Technical Orders, training materials, expenditure of $500 or more requires 22 April 2009. We queried the current maps, TADs, C-7A art work, newsletter Board approval. officers and board members. Except for editions, Caribou Clarion editions, are Informal discussion by members: Jerry York all current Board members available and a new DVD may be put Future reunion locations were dis- and officers were agreeable to serv- together in 2010 or 2011. cussed: Warner Robins 2010. Others: ing for another year. The committee New memorabilia items: Round En- Seattle; Spokane; Addison, TX; Ft. requested a group e-mail be sent to the gine t-shirt, inside decal, license plate Walton Beach, FL; Dover, DE; Windsor membership requesting volunteers for holder, etc. are items which may be Locks, CN; Fairfield, CA; Ft. Camp- open officer or board member positions. considered as additions to our memo- bell, KY. No positive responses were received. rabilia or replacements for current Fourteen free room nights were avail- Several suggestions were received for memorabilia. able. Drawing was held prior to the possible replacements. After asking the Questions and Issues raised by Randy business meeting. suggested individuals if they would be Smith: Tour of Vietnam: Aubray Abrams re- willing to serve the following names are 1. Crew Duties of the Secretary may ported on his research into a possible presented as nominees for the Board of not be consistent with the By-Laws. tour of Vietnam. Directors for 2009 – 2010: 2. Motions passed by the Board Adjournment Pete Bird – President, Pat Hanavan should include the $ amount. Randy Smith moved for adjournment - Vice President, Mike Murphy – Trea- 3. The motion passed at the 2006 at 1135. All present concurred. surer, Al Cunliffe – Secretary, Members Business Meeting was to have 4 non- Pat Hanavan adjourned the meeting At Large - Fred Dimon, Bob Neumayer, Board members on the audit committee, at 1136. Pat Phillips but only 3 members have served on the 2009 Reunion Old Business: last two audit committees. Our Memorial Bench has been de- 4. It is not clear that the Board is fol- Attendance by Unit livered and installed at the Museum lowing the Check Writing procedure. 457 Member/Spouse 10/6 of Aviation at Robins AFB, GA. The 5. Are competitive bids sought for 458 Member/Spouse 15/12 location is at the entrance to Hangar printing and mailing the newsletter? 459 Member/Spouse 9/7 1 which serves, temporarily, as the 6. Is there a limit on an expenditure 483 Member/Spouse 5/3 Vietnam War hangar. The bench was by the Board without approval of the 535 Member/Spouse 18/12 inspected by Doug Lewis after its in- members? 536 Member/Spouse 24/14 stallation and found to be undamaged Pat Hanavan took an action item to 537 Member/Spouse 25/21 during shipment. look into items # 1-4 above and initiate 4449 Member/Spouse 1/0 Awards and Decorations citations corrective action, as needed. AFAT2 Member/Spouse 1/0 (Air Force Cross, Silver Star, DFC, Answer to #5: Competitive bids were 908 TAG Member/Spouse 1/1 Vietnamese awards) are being posted explored in 2007 and the existing sup- Guests of Members 21 on the web site. If you have one of pliers were found to be considerably Total 206 Page  C-7A Caribou Association November 2009

Grissom, Kelly and Susan Riess, Michael 2009 Reunion Haigler, Steven and Mary Ryland, Keith and Opal Attendance by Name Hainkel, Tom and Cheryl Schmitz, Chuck Hamilton, Robert and Sarah Schuepbach, John Abrams, Aubray and Judy Hanavan, Pat and Alicia *Selvidge, George and Rusty Allison, Max and Shirley, and guests Harmon, George and Rebekah and *Shankles, Troy and Byron Richard and Shirley DeVries guests Helen Follmer and Smith, Randy and Christine Anderson, Andy *Anna Marie Harmon Snodgrass, Tom and Kathy Ardoin, Rich and Shelby Harris, Chuck Strickland, James Bailey, James and guest Heard, Wyatt and Annell Tanner, Ray Susan Morgan *Hedrick, Richard and Debbie Tawes, John and Fran Baker, Jay and Diane Helterbran, Glenn and June Taylor, Curry Beck, Frank and Maggie Hensch, Bill and Shari and guests Terrell, Otto and Wanda Behr, Yogi and Judy Larry and Judy Frick Thurstenson, Dave Besley, Dick and Linda Hines, Joe and Mary Anne *Tidmore, Bill and Carol Bowen, Brian Holman, Paul and Pamela *Toon, David and Dianne Bowers, Bob and Evelyn and guest Hopkins, Robert and Eula Mae Wayland, Roger and Tara *Bernie Bowers Jackson, Donald and Susan Wever, Gary and Restie Boyd, Lloyd and Yolanda Kelley, Steve Witthoeft, Paul and guest Brethouwer, Rich and Marilyn Kimseau, Kenneth Mary Buenrostro Brooks, Pat and Lesley *Kottak, Joe and Nita Woznicki, Franklin *Brown, Lawrence and Karilyn Kowalski, Dave and Christine Yamashiro, Rich and Vicki Brunz, Wayne and Joyce Korose, Bob Zahradka, Joe Buesking, Bill and Mae *Lehman, Eugene and guest Campbell, Larry and guest Jim Hafley Ramona Flowers * indicates first time attendee Cathell, Allen Lipscomb, Robert and Dodie *Christen, John and Kathy Madigan, Ed Collins, Tom and Chantell Manire, Bill and B.J. Combest, Bill Mannion, Patrick Comer, Dennis and Diana Martwig, Larry and Marva Rolling A Caribou Crafton, Stuart and Cathy Mascaro, Ken by Manny Kimball [536, 68] Craig, John and Nadine and guests McCorkle, Ronald Two weeks before my rotation back Ron and Theresa Kelly Messner, Mike to the world, I was on a maintenance Craig, William Miller, Gary FCF due to a couple of engine changes. Cunliffe, Al and Shirley Moore, George and LuAnn We did our shutdowns and restarts at DeLawter, Wayne and Patty Mosiman, Tom eight thousand feet as prescribed, af- *Delmonte, Denis and Pamela Murphy, Mike and guest ter which the pilot said “let’s roll this *Dick, Ed and Carole Suzy Schoonmaker b****.” Drury, Jon and Beverly Neumayer, Bob and Iola and guests He did, and we bottomed out at about Dugan, Bob and Pat, and guests Jack and Jane Thompson three thousand feet. The Bou stayed in Bob and Wynell Slade Nevins, Chris and Eileen one piece, but that’s not the end of it. Duvall, Bill and Edeltraud Owens, Stan and Carolyn Six months after my rotation back to Erchinger, Ralph and Ellie Pacholka, Ken my new assignment, I ran into a crew Faubus, Stoney and Melva and Passero, Frank and Susan chief and we shot the bull about Vung guest Gary Faubus, Jr. *Patrick, George and Suzanne Tau, and the 536th in particular. Fillmore, Kenneth and Sandy Patterson, Byrd (“Pat”) The conversation turned to a par- Finck, George and Jan Phillips, Patrick and Barbara ticular tail number that would never Foster, Don and Muriel Piercy, Jeff and guests fly straight, stay trimmed up, and flew Fox, Gary and Sharon Ann Lisa Percy and Jeanne Perez “cockeyed.” It was the same tail num- Garrison, Larry and Tricia Reynolds, Earl and Pam ber I was on during the “roll.” We must Golart, Milt and Marjorie and guest Rice, Al and guests Dian Durham, have bent the wing box structure. Carole Golart Esther Minner and Dan Headlee Stupid things you do when your Graetch, Joe Riedner, Steve and Mary Beth young and bored. November 2009 C-7A Caribou Association Page 

Harley-Bou Emergency Resupply Vietnam Veterans by Wayne Tuck [537, 70] by Gary Seymour [536, 70] • 9,087,000 military personnel served After 15 years participating in “Roll- In the spring of ‘71, the sharply honed on active duty during the Vietnam Era ing Thunder,” it was time to create a combat pilots of the 536th “Cobra” (Aug 5, 1964-May 7, 1975). moving tribute to the Caribou with a squadron began 3-day TDYs to Can • 8,744,000 GIs were on active duty custom airbrush paint job on my 2002 Tho. We would land at Binh Thuy and during the war (Aug 5, 1964-March Harley Davidson Road King Classic. were driven to Remain Over Night 28, 1973). The national media gives little cov- (RON) in Can Tho, right across the • 2,709,918 Americans served in erage to the annual Memorial Day street from the most well stocked bar I Vietnam, this number represents 9.7% weekend “Rolling Thunder” event, but have ever seen, the Air America club. of their generation. it is probably the largest annual protest Having befriended a lot of their pilots, • 3,403,100 (including 514,300 off- demonstration held in our nation’s capi- I was allowed free access to the Chivas shore) personnel served in the broader tol. Motorcyclists from as far away as Regal bottle. Southeast Asia Theater (Vietnam, the west coast leave weeks in advance Taking a page from the Greyhound Laos, Cambodia, flight crews based in to participate. As many as 400,000 bus lines, the Pentagon decided we Thailand, and sailors in adjacent South bikes gather in the Pentagon parking should become Bou bus drivers. One China Sea waters). lot to ride the parade route. Caribou would fly southeast around IV • 2,594,000 personnel served within Most bikes carry the rider and a pas- Corps with about 8 stops and another the borders of South Vietnam (Jan. 1, senger and the parade route is packed Caribou would fly southwest doing 1965-March 28, 1973). Another 50,000 with well wishers cheering the riders the same. men served in Vietnam between 1960 on, waving flags, and holding up signs At the end of the day, we were back at and 1964. – it has a very large following. The Binh Thuy. You could almost tell which • Of the 2.6 million, between 1-1.6 ride ends at the Vietnam war memorial camps were going to get a little action million (40-60%) either fought in com- where guest speakers demand better by the number of ARVNs with families bat, provided close support, or were at treatment for our veterans and more and chickens that got on board. least fairly regularly exposed to enemy efforts be made to account for MIAs. After 3 days in the Bou busses, it was attack. After seeing hundreds of other mo- nice to fly back to Cam Ranh empty • 7,484 women (6,250 or 83.5% were torcycles painted with various themes, and enjoy the trip. Normally, we would nurses) served in Vietnam. I brought up the idea of the Harley-Bou head for Vung Tau and make a left turn • Peak troop strength in Vietnam: to Brian Schofield of “Lines and Let- to proceed “feet wet” to the base by 543,482 (April 30, 1968). ters,” owner of a professional sign shop the bay. DRAFTEES VS VOLUNTEERS located in Bridgewater, NJ. Brian was One time, I was almost to Vung Tau • 25% (648,500) of total forces in excited about the idea and after pour- when we got an “emergency resupply” country were draftees. ing through hundreds of great photos message. We were ordered to fly to • 66% of U.S. armed forces members posted on the C-7A web-site, it was Bien Hoa, pick up the cargo, and fly to were drafted during WWII). decided that renderings of “in flight” Phan Rang. • Draftees accounted for 30.4% scenes would be painted on the tank, At this time Phan Rang was an F- (17,725) of combat deaths in Vietnam saddle bags, side covers, and fenders. 100 base and I couldn’t imagine what • Reservists killed: 5,977 Of course, an orange tail and KN was going on at the base. We were • National Guard: 6,140 served: 101 designation is standard as well as POW/ pretty tired and wondering if we could died. MIA insignia, American flag, 537th make Cam Ranh Bay by dark. An • Total draftees (1965 - 73): patch, and Caribou Association logo. “emergency resupply” is top priority 1,728,344. In order to get started, Wayne ac- and very special so we turned toward • Actually served in Vietnam : 38% quired a full spare set of sheet metal Bien Hoa. • Marine Corps Draft: 42,633. using “smokey gold metallic” as a base Upon landing there and taxing to the • Last man drafted: June 30, 1973. color. The project is complete. If you cargo ramp, what do we behold? Two WINNING and LOSING are ever in the Washington D.C. area pallets of Betty Crocker cake mix to • 82% of veterans who saw heavy on the Sunday before Memorial Day, be delivered to Phan Rang, because the combat strongly believe the war was the parade starts at noon and be sure to wing commander was DEROSing the lost because of lack of political will look for the Harley-Bou. next day. Would you believe? • Nearly 75% of the public agrees I hope to make it to the 2010 reunion it was a failure of political will, not with the Harley-Bou. of arms. Page  C-7A Caribou Association November 2009

I may hold a unique distinction, I Mail Call believe I made the last “unofficial” by Dave Hutchens [459, 69] landing of the last American Caribou Dave, I did some more research on C-7A and C-7B aircraft. I think this letter in Vietnam. The “official” last landing from Brett Stolle, Manuscript Curator at Wright Patterson AFB, sums it up and was at Tan Son Nhut and flown by the ends my research into the matter unless someone can come up with more Info. squadron commander in the morning. We know that there is such an Aircraft as a C-7B. But no one seems to be able to I landed late in the afternoon to tattered supply the who, what, why, when, or where that we need to flush out the answers. celebration decorations, all sweaty and So, that’s it in a nutshell. no beer! Dave Kowalski, [908, 75] Everybody else had gone home. The ------remaining Caribous were to go to the Dear Mr. Kowalski, Vietnamese – last seen in footage of Thank you for contacting the National Museum of the United States Air Force. the North Vietnamese overrunning the Our exhibit aircraft DeHavilland C-7A “Caribou” S/N 62-4193 carries the follow- base. I will have to dig around in my ing nomenclature on its data-plate: records a little. Cheers! Type DHC4, Model No CV-2B, Ser No 138, Date Aug 63 Tom Smith [458, 71]

There is apparently some confusion within the aviation community as to the des- I only had one flight aboard a C-7A, I ignation of C-7A and C-7B airframes. The best publicized production breakdown is was surfing tonight and found your site. cited in John M. Andrade’s book “U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials, After Tet, DaNang needed additional 1909-1979.” This production breakdown is repeated in other secondary sources. Public Affairs people and I was sent CV-2A-DH (ex AC-1-DH): 56 built, became C-7A in 1968 for an 89 day TDY to the Gunfighters --s/n 60-3762/3768; 60-5430/5444; 61-2384/2407; 61-2591/2600, Information Office. The flight I made was on the Cam Ranh Bay Caribou that CV-2B-DH (ex AC-1A-DH): 103 built, became C-7B in 1968 went into Hue carrying refugee supplies --s/n 62-4144/4196; 62-12583/12584; 63-9718/9765 that had been gathered up by the VNAF. It was an interesting experience. Official US Air Force records on hand contradict this source, identifying CV-2B Rick Fulton, Pittsburg, Kansas aircraft as C-7A rather than C-7B airframes. These official sources include: (former SSgt, 7AF DXI-C, 67-69) (1) C-7A Standard Aircraft Characteristics Sheet (AFG 2, Vol-2, Addn 49), March 1971. Several weeks ago in Wrangell, (2) TO 1C-7A-4-1 (TM55-1510-206-20P), Illustrated Parts Breakdown Army AK, the priest mentioned “We need CV-2B, USAF Series C-7A Aircraft. to welcome back our soldiers unlike our Vietnam experience.” After Mass, All available official records pertaining to our exhibit airframe identify our I thanked him for the comments about aircraft as a C-7A. This is reflected in all original maintenance records and in the our soldiers which led to his Vietnam official deployment history for the airframe. Despite these facts, our aircraft S/N experience. I told him I was a C-7A 62-4193 remains listed within the production series of C-7B aircraft as noted in pilot and he recalled a flight where the “U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials, 1909-1979,” though our exhibit main wheel was shot off (his words) aircraft was never tracked by the US Air Force as a C-7B. which resulted in a crash landing. At this point, it is not clear under what circumstances the US Air Force adopted I replied that I was the pilot and he the nomenclature C-7B [if it ever did] for some improved C-7A Caribou aircraft. was the Army Captain who helped It is clear that the Andrade’s production breakdown for C-7A/B aircraft does not prepare for the pending crash. Earlier correspond with information obtained via available USAF records. in the day, we landed on a strip next to If you have any questions or comments please contact me at (937) 255-5145. the Cambodia border and spent several I look forward to your comments. Good luck with your continued research and hours on the ground. During takeoff, have a great day! we were “stitched” with ground fire. Brett Stolle A round split the olio strut so the gear Manuscript Curator NMUSAF/MUA would not come down. We crash landed Research Division at Bien Hoa. We shared lots of stories Editor’s note: Hopefully, this puts to rest confusion about a C-7B. Official USAF about that day. Meeting this priest re- records do not refer to a C-7B. Only manufacturer records and unofficial sources minds us of our small world. refer to a CV-2B, not a C-7B. John Seines [536, 68] November 2009 C-7A Caribou Association Page 

had thousands on the Ho Chi Minh lower wing, and 20 250mm mortar Biplanes in SEA trail in eastern Laos. This particular rounds with aerial bomb fuses set in by Lawrence E. Pence site was called Lima (L for Laos) Site vertical tubes set into the floor of the Col., USAF, Ret. 85. The fighter-bomber crews called it aircraft cargo bay. These were dropped In mid-1967, as a junior Air Force Channel 97 (the radar frequency), and through holes cut in the cargo bay floor. Captain, I was detailed to 7th AF Hq in all aircrews called it North Station, Simple hinged bomb-bay doors closed Saigon as an Air Technical Intelligence since it was the farthest north facility in these holes in flight. Liaison Officer, short name: ATLO “friendly” territory. Anywhere north of The pilot could salvo his bomb load (the “I” gets left out, as people look North Station was bad guy land. by opening these doors. This was a strangely at anyone who calls himself The Channel 97 radar system was an pretty good munitions load to take out an ATILO, thinking he is somehow old SAC precision bomb scoring radar a soft, undefended target like a radar related to Atilla the Hun). My job was which could locate an aircraft to within site. The mission was well planned and to provide 7thAF and the air war the a few meters at a hundred miles. The equipped and should have been suc- best technical intelligence support that strike force would fly out from Lima cessful, but Murphy’s Law prevailed. the Foreign Technology Division of Site 85 a given distance on a given A three plane strike force was mount- AF Systems Command (my parent or- radial, and the site operators would tell ed, with two attack aircraft and one ganization) could provide, in whatever the strike leader precisely when to re- standing off as command and radio area or discipline needed. Also, I was lease his bomb load. It was surprisingly relay. They knew the radar site was to collect such technical intelligence accurate, and allowed the strikes to be on the mountaintop, but they did not as became available. This was a tall run at night or in bad weather. have good intelligence as to its precise order for a young Captain, and this as- This capability was badly hurting location, It was well camouflaged, and signment provided much excitement, the North Vietnamese war effort, so could not be seen readily from the air. including the Tet Offensive. they decided to take out Lima Site 85. They also did not realize that we had At that time, Operation Rolling Because of the difficulty of mounting “anti-aircraft artillery” and “air defense Thunder was underway, the bombing a ground assault on Lima Site 85, and interceptor” forces at the site. Neither of military targets in North Vietnam. its remote location, an air strike was did we realize this. The weather in NVN was often lousy, planned. Believe it or not, the NVNAF The AN-2 strike force rolled in on making it difficult to find and accurately chose biplanes as their “strike bomb- the target, mistook the Air America ops strike the assigned targets, so a radar ers!” shack for the radar site, and proceeded control system was set up to direct the This has to be the only combat use of to ventilate it. The aforementioned strike force to their targets. biplanes since the 1930’s. The aircraft “anti-aircraft artillery” force – one little This system was installed in a remote, used were Antonov designed AN-2 Thai mercenary about five feet tall and sheer-sided karst mountain just inside general purpose “workhorse” biplanes all guts – heard the commotion, ran Laos on the northern Laos-NVN border. with a single 1000hp radial engine and out on the helicopter pad, stood in the The site could be accessed only by heli- about one ton payload. Actually, once path of the attacking aircraft spraying copter or a tortuous trail winding up the you get past the obvious “Snoopy and rockets and bombs everywhere, and near-vertical mountainside, so it was the Red Baron” image, the AN-2 was emptied a 27-round clip from his AK- judged to be easily defensible. not a bad choice for this mission. Its 47 into the AN-2, which then crashed The mountaintop was relatively flat biggest disadvantage is that, like all and burned. and about 30 acres in size. On it was biplanes, it is slow. The Russians use At this juncture, the second attack a tiny Hmong village called Phu Pha the An-2 for a multitude of things, such aircraft broke off and turned north Ti, a small garrison of Thai and Meo as medevac, parachute training, flying towards home. mercenaries for defense, a helicopter school bus, crop dusting, and so on. An The “air defense interceptor” force pad and ops shack for the CIA-owned AN-2 recently flew over the North Pole. was an unarmed Air America Huey Air America Airline, and the radar site, In fact, if you measure success of an helicopter which was by happenstance which was manned by “sheep-dipped” aircraft design by the criteria of number on the pad at the time, the pilot and US Air Force enlisted men in civilian produced and length of time in series flight mechanic having a Coke in the clothes. Both the US and NVN paid lip production, you could say that the AN-2 ops shack. When holes started appear- service to the fiction that Laos was a is the most successful aircraft design in ing in the roof, they ran to their Huey neutral country, and no foreign military the history of aviation! and got airborne, not quite believing were stationed there, when in reality The NVNAF fitted out their AN-2 the sight of two biplanes fleeing north. we had a couple of hundred people “attack bombers” with a 12 shot 57mm Continued on Page 10 spread over several sites, and NVN folding fin aerial rocket pod under each Page 10 C-7A Caribou Association November 2009

Biplanes (from Page 9) not recovered. The next night three suc- Vietnam Air Losses cessful drops were made by Caribous Then the Huey pilot, no slouch in the by Chris Hobson in conjunction with an AC-119 gunship guts department either, realized that his Midland Publishing, 2000 that provided spotlight illumination Huey was faster than the biplanes! So Two Caribous arrived overhead at during the final moments of the run in. he did the only thing a real pilot could Dak Seang in the early morning of the This technique was used successfully do – attack! 2nd to drop ammunition to the besieged for 68 drops over the next five nights, The Huey overtook the AN-2’s a few defenders of the camp. The aircraft which enabled the defenders to hold on miles inside North Vietnam, unknown approached the camp from the east until the situation improved enough for to the AN-2’s as their rearward vis- under the guidance of a FAC who was daylight drops and then landings to be ibility is nil. The Huey flew over the also directing strikes by fighter aircraft made at the camp. rearmost AN-2 and the helicopter’s on enemy positions. The first aircraft down-wash stalled out the upper wing dropped successfully, but reported of the AN-2. ground fire as it made a steep right hand Suddenly, the hapless AN-2 pilot turn after delivering its load. Personal Account found himself sinking like a stone! The second aircraft, flown by 1/Lt by Bill McLeod [458, 69] So he pulled the yoke back in his lap Train, made a left-hand turn to try to and further reduced his forward speed. avoid the ground fire, but was hit by We lost several Caribous in that oper- Meanwhile, the Huey flight mechanic, automatic weapons fire at an altitude ation, one of those lost was on my wing not to be outdone in the macho contest, of 400 feet. The Caribou flew off to the at the time. We made successful drops crawled out on the Huey’s skid and, south, possibly trying to make for Dak into Dak Seang and reformed South of one-handed, emptied his AK-47 into To, but it burst into flames and crashed there for our flight back to base. Each the cockpit area of the AN-2, killing or about five miles from Dak Seang, kill- of us had taken several hits, but did not wounding the pilot and copilot. At this ing the crew. think any of them were serious, mostly point, the AN-2 went into a flat spin After the Caribou was shot down at in the fuselage. and crashed into a mountainside, but Dak Seang on the 2nd the airlift was Unknown to us at the time, one air- did not burn. briefly suspended by the Air Force, but craft had some hits in the wing outboard It should come as no surprise that the was resumed at the insistence of MACV of the starboard engine and a trickle of Air America pilot and flight mechanic and a fleet of 18 C-7’s was assembled at fuel followed, an aerodynamic wind found themselves in a heap of trouble Pleiku. Eleven more drops were made path led into the engine cowling and with the State Department “weenies” in later in the day on the 2nd and although evidently lit off, causing catastrophic Vientiane. In spite of the striped-pants, three aircraft were hit, none were lost. damage to the right wing and they spi- cookie pusher’s discomfort at (horrors!) A total of 31 more sorties were made raled in .... to this day I sometimes hear an international incident (or perhaps, on the 3rd and the 4th but another aircraft the copilot on that plane ... partly because of it) these guys were was lost and 13 others damaged. Well, that is a story to be told over at heroes to everybody, USAF and CIA, A five-aircraft drop was being made least a 6-pack. in the theatre. They accomplished a in the afternoon when the fourth air- couple of firsts: (1) The first and only craft in the formation was hit by heavy combat shoot down of a biplane by a ground fire shortly after releasing its helicopter, and (2) The first known CIA load. The aircraft crashed two miles License Plates air-to-air victory. from the camp killing the crew. by Pat Hanavan [535, 68] Editor’s note: The NVA built a road The resupply of Dak Seang continued from NVN into Laos, aimed directly on the 5th when seven Caribous success- Some states, e.g., Texas, Georgia, at Lima Site 85. Permision to destroy fully made airdrops, although very few Washington, offer special license the enemy force was denied by the of the loads could be recovered. On the plates for veterans who have received ambassador. The resulting attack killed 6th the last of three Caribous to be lost certain awards and decorations, e.g., 12 USAF and CIA personnel. Only 7 during the siege of Dak Seang was shot Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple survived. A good friend of mine, Maj. down by ground fire as it was pulling Heart, Prisoners of War. In some cases, Donald E. Westbrook, was shot down up from its dropping run. The aircraft the veteran is exempt from the state’s and presumed dead in his A-1 while burst into flames and crashed close to annual renewal fee. searching for survivors after the site the camp killing the crew. Check with your state’s appropriate was overrun by the North Vietnamese Six Caribou sorties were flown on the vehicle registration office to see what on 11 March 1968. 6th but, again, most of the loads could the rules are and how to apply. November 2009 C-7A Caribou Association Page 11

tail of a Bou. Never up, never in, as they The First Team A Quick Trip to SEA say in golf, so I figured I’d ask one of by Billy Tidmore [483, 66] by Dan Clancey [535, 69] the Aussies if they might possibly be I was assigned to the 134th Aviation As 1968 rolled to a close, I checked headed to Vung Tau. “Hop in mate” Company in December 1966 when the out a brand new set of orders that sug- and off we went. I arrived at the aerial Army still had control of the C-7A. We gested that the Air Force would be port in Vung Tau, picked up a phone were about 50-50 Army/Air Force at especially happy if I wouldn’t mind and called the 535th looking for a ride that time and were supposed to transi- leaving for Southeast Asia on Decem- across the field. If I thought this little tion the aircraft to Air Force control on ber 31st, New Year’s Eve. Well, at least action was akin to “Run For Your Life,” 1 Jan 1967. I did maintenance on Army I managed to spend Christmas at home a very popular TV show at the time, Aerospace Ground Equipment (AGE), and was very grateful for that. imagine my surprise when the Lieuten- which eventually was sent on to Cam Travis AFB was the departure point ant Colonel squadron commander to Rahn Bay, painted olive drab instead and arriving there on the 31st was an whom I reported for duty was Richard of highway yellow. I did all the Army eye opener to say the least. People and Kimball. He said: “You’re not supposed things, like standing guard duty on top duffle bags everywhere and I forgot my to be here” and I replied, “Sir, you know of the hotel in downtown Can Tho, as teddy bear. But, I did manage to run into that and I know that, but I’m here and well as the perimeter of the base. Be- an old Alabama boy, Bob Dunbar, so it I would really like to fly for you.” It ing an Army brat, it wasn’t that big a seemed that there was an up side. Bob worked. Thanks, Billy Don. deal for me, but some of my Air Force and I decided to hoist a few in the holi- buddies thought they had been drafted day spirit and somehow, we managed into the wrong branch of service. Most to miss our flight. This did not count as of us had no idea what was going on a tour. The folks at Travis had two first with the politics and logistics of the C- class seats reserved for us on the next Pirate Bous 7 issue, we just went where they told one out and it was bye bye USA. by Manny Ramos us and did what we were told. We did On the way to “Snake School” at figure it out in a week or two, after we Clark, I reviewed a letter that I had When Caribous were handed down arrived at CRB. received earlier from W.D. Smith to Army aviation, which then sent them On 1 Jan 1967, I was assigned as a – Billy Don to most of us. He was to the Army Guard units, I was in one guard on the “deuce and a half” used already checked out and flying for the of those, the Puerto Rico Air National to transport wall lockers and other 535th TAS at Vung Tau. He told me that Guard Aviation Section at Isla Grande, equipment to a Navy LST (Landing Vung Tau was a great place to be based, Puerto Rico. We were activated during Ship Tank) docked on the river. We enclosed his APO number, and hoped I the Contra years and sent to central finished the job late in the day and would end up there. Unfortunately for America to operate under the U.S. Air boarded the last Caribou out of Can me, his APO number and the one on Force. We flew many combat missions Tho. We touched down at Cam Ranh my orders didn’t match up. More on and non- combat too. Bay a couple of hours later, the longest that later. He also mentioned that the We were ghosts operating side by and softest landing I have ever experi- Aussies had a Caribou unit in Vung side with the DC-3 operated by “The enced. I was at Cam Rahn until July of Tau. Good information. Company,” which flew at night while 1968, 18 months total, having extended Clark was kind of a hoot. You couldn’t we flew day missions. We flew so many for 6 months because I was having so play in a pot limit poker game 24 hours missions that we borrowed aircraft much fun. I was in the AGE shop the a day so, once in a while, as we were from other units throughout the U.S. entire time. waiting for survival school to start, like the Fresno Army Guard unit and One thing I remember, which others we’d venture off base. I’ll leave it at from Gulfport, Mississippi. We were may also, is that the original Squad- that. never recognized for serving in combat. ron sign in front of the orderly room All good things must come to an They called it training when we were said 6483rd CAMS for the first week end, so it was off to Vietnam. My plane taking the Contras in and out and the or two, when it was changed to 483rd landed in Saigon and taxied to the gate, Army pathfinders and Marines to Isla CAMS. I always wondered what that something I would do many times later. Pirañas, El Salvador, Guatemala, and was about. We grabbed our gear and headed for the Panama. We did all major maintenance Editor’s Note: 7th AF SO G-988, 11 terminal to pick up flights to various at Howard Air Base in the Canal Zone Nov 66 attached the 6252nd Ops Sq to locations in country. On the way to the from 1982-1985. Great Memories! I the 483rd Troop Carrier Wing for opera- terminal I saw, what had to be a sign was the only non-Vietnam veteran in tional and administrative control. from God – a kangaroo painted on the the outfit at the time. Page 12 C-7A Caribou Association November 2009

a large screened in hooch. in my Air Force career, a job which in- Maintaining the Bou The next few days were spent in-pro- volved responsibility of managing and by Jay Baker [535, 66] cessing and waiting. Warrant Officer leading approximately 85 dedicated It all started in April 1966 when my Jefferson, the unit admin officer, an- NCOs and Airmen in maintaining a wife received a call from CMS Skip nounced that 36 maintenance officers fleet of 16 aircraft. What a great ride Horan, Line Chief of the 1612th Orga- were not needed to man the six Caribou and one I shall never forget. By the way, nizational Maintenance Squadron, Mc- units. The number was reduced to 24. two months into my tour the number Guire AFB, NJ. I was a 25 year old 1st Luckily, I made the cut and our unit of maintenance officers was trimmed Lieutenant aircraft maintenance officer assignments were soon announced. down to 18 (so much for planning). at the time. Chief Horan asked my wife I would be attached to the 57th Avia- Once again, I made the cut and was if he could speak to me. “He’s not at tion Company at Vung Tau. I had no thankful I did. home” my wife said, while holding our idea where Vung Tau was, but I soon 10 month old daughter in her arms and received a hint of its desirability when You Might Be An keeping a watchful eye on our 2 year one of the other maintenance officers, Aircraft Maintainer, old son. “Can I take a message, Sgt. who apparently had done his home- Horan?” “No ma’am, I need to talk to work, offered me a fairly large sum of If ... him. Have him give me a call when he money if I would switch assignments. You ever wished the pilot would just gets in. If he can’t reach me, have him I may not be smart, but I’m not a fool. say, “Great aircraft!” call Personnel.” My wife instinctively After seeking out Mr. Jefferson and You take it as a badge of honor to be knew that this was the dreaded Vietnam asking him a few pertinent questions, just called “a Det Hound.” call. When I returned home she met me I respectfully declined the offer. The You can’t comprehend why everyone at the front door with “THAT look” on next day it was on to Vung Tau on my doesn’t want to be a Maintainer. her face. first Caribou ride. I remember the short You think everyone who isn’t a Main- I called CMS Horan immediately and takeoff with a couple of Army Warrant tainer is a wimp. he confirmed my wife’s fears. The next Officer pilots, ferrying us the 50 or so You wondered where they keep day, I went to Personnel and they gave miles to Vung Tau. The cargo door was finding the idiots that keep making up me the news. I was selected as part of a wide open (by the way, they had a habit stupid rules. 36 man maintenance officer contingent of falling off on landing and I eventu- You consider “Moly-B” fingerprints to report to Ft. Benning in August 1966 ally found out why when one of my on food an “acquired taste.” for training on the Army CV 2 Caribou, sharp eyed senior maintenance NCOs You’ve ever been told to “go get us which was officially being transferred put two and two together) and I got my some prop wash, a yard of flight line, to the Air Force on 1 January 1967. first look at the beauty of the Vietnam or the keys to the jet.” In July 1966, our family moved from country side from about 2,000 ft. You have ever jumped inside an in- McGuire AFB to Springfield, IL (where Soon after landing, I met my new take to get out of the rain. my wife was raised) and I drove to Ft. commander, Lt. Col. Leo Ehmann, and You consider TDY a paid vacation. Benning where we trained on the Cari- his Army counterpart, Major Maynard The phrase “Oh, by the way...” makes bou systems with a DeHavilland tech Austin. I believe I was the sixth Air your eye twitch. rep. I returned home and a few days Force officer to arrive and be assigned Little yellow ear plugs are all over later left from Chicago for a one night to the 57th Aviation Company. Sev- your house. stay in San Francisco where I connected eral more would follow and I formed You have ever preflighted in really with a few of the guys I had met at Ft. several friendships with the young bad weather only to learn that the flight Benning. We prowled a few of the bars pilots, including my roommate, Dave was canceled hours ago. that night and even watched Carol Doda Lithgow, who arrived after me. Per- Your spouse refuses to watch any (now there’s a trivia question for you) haps some of those friendships were aviation shows or attend air shows descend from the Whiskey-A-Go-Go because, as the Maintenance Officer, I with you! ceiling on a Grand piano. It wasn’t was the only junior officer with a jeep The refrigerator in your barracks worth the $3 per person cover charge. and many times it was used as a shuttle room is stocked only with beer! The next day, we departed Travis on to the beautiful Vung Tau beach or as You have ever looked for pictures a “Flying Tiger” cattle car and transited the French called this resort town, Cape of “your” jet in aviation books and Alaska and Yokota on our way to Viet- St. Jacques. magazines. nam. Arriving at Tan Son Nhut at 0630, My experience with the 57th Aviation You know that you are the best main- we were provided the standard in-coun- Company and eventually the 535th was tainer in the military and your plane is try briefing prior to being dispatched to very positive. I had, for the first time the best in the fleet! November 2009 C-7A Caribou Association Page 13

flight. C-5M Sets 41 The C-5M crew also set a new record Bou Drops Cargo World Records for the greatest mass carried to 2,000 2 Miles From DMZ meters, set by a C-17A Globemaster III Caribou Courier 9/14/2009 - Dover AFB aircrew fly- in 1993. The crew also broke six other 483rd Troop Carrier Wing ing a C-5M Super Galaxy, named The records previously held by the C-17. June 1967 Spirit of Normandy, unofficially set 41 A C-5M, which was used for the Con Thien Special Forces Camp is lo- world records in a single flight, taking record-breaking flight, is a C-5 Galaxy cated only two miles from the DMZ. If off from the base before dawn Sept. that has received a modernized glass you happen to land there you can expect 13, 2009. cockpit and avionics upgrade as part small arms and automatic weapons fire The results are pending certification of the Avionics Modernization Program on any approach. After landing you can by the National Aeronautic Associa- and new engines through the Reli- expect a few rounds of 81mm mortar tion and should be finalized in about a ability Enhancement and Re-engining or a couple of 105mm howitzer rounds month, said Kristan Maynard, the NAA Program. – anyway, it’s somewhat “hot.” official observer who documented the The C-5 Galaxy, one of the world’s On 12 May 1967, Maj Charles Beard- world record attempt. The NAA is the largest aircraft, has been the backbone sley, 1st Lt Raymond Valentine and record-keeper for U.S. aviation. of America’s strategic airlift fleet since SSgt Lewis Shedd, 459th TCS, departed The crew, composed of eight 512th the late 1960s. However, years of wear Danang AB loaded with ammo for Con Airlift Wing reservists and four 436th and tear impacted the reliability rates Thien. They were to air drop the load. AW active-duty members, was led by of the C-5. Yet testing revealed the C- They arrived at Con Thien and estab- Maj. Cory Bulris, the aircraft com- 5 fleet had 80 percent of its structural lished drop configuration and altitude. mander and 436th Operations Group service life remaining. Rather than do- Now flying a drop pattern at 500 feet Program Integration Office chief for ing away with the aircraft, Lockheed sometimes invites problems. It did. the C-5M. Martin officials proposed a plan in Sep- On the first pass, two .50 calibre With a payload of about 178,000 tember 1998 to update the C-5 Galaxy rounds with explosive heads hit the rear pounds, the C-5M climbed to 12,000 fleet with new avionics and engines. section of the aircraft – one round tear- meters in less than 28 minutes, setting These improvements are predicted to ing a hole approximately eight inches the altitude, payload, and time-to-climb raise the aircraft’s reliability levels. wide on top of the fuselage. The other records during the one-and-a-half-hour “This aircraft is capable of signifi- round creased the exterior skin of the flight. Because they were successful, cantly shorter take-offs than the previ- tail section. Sgt Shedd said, “I moved the records “trickled down” to the ous (C-5) aircraft,” said Lt. Col. Mike closer to the front of the aircraft.” In lighter payloads and lower altitudes. Semo, 709th Airlift Squadron pilot and additon, the load hung up so another “We are very proud of this ac- C-5M Program Office chief. “We are pass was required. complishment, and it displayed the able to take more cargo farther dis- On pass two, “Charlie” improved. capability of the C-5M, the Air Mobil- tances with greater reliability. They’ve One round came in behind the cockpit, ity Command’s newest airlifter,” said also vastly improved to a glass cockpit, one round blasted another hole on top Major Bulris, who added that planning which results in greater situational of the fuselage cutting both mixture for this mission began almost two awareness for the pilots. There are up- cables and missing the control cables months ago. grades to navigation, safety equipment, by inches. To prepare for the record-breaking communications, and a new autopilot The drop was successful and the run, NAA officials weighed the aircraft, system. This really is a modern aircraft crew turned their ventilated “Bou” its fuel and cargo on Sept. 11. for a modern Air Force.” toward home. Because of required Mr. Maynard said he was impressed Current Air Force plans call for maintenance, [the] Bou was returned to with the aircraft’s record-breaking Lockheed Martin to deliver 52 C-5Ms Phu Cat. The crew jumped out, looked capability. by 2016. Dover currently has three casually at an occasional hole here and “This doesn’t happen very often ... C-5Ms. there, pre-flighted another aircraft and not in one flight,” he said. While it is The Spirit of Normandy departed for Danang. “Another day, One of the records broken during the that is set to go down in the record another 118 piasters” called one of the flight was previously held by the Rus- books, future C-5Ms are sure to make crew. sians who set it in 1989 with a Tupolev a name for themselves as they continue Note: Kenneth Karnes was also on Tu-160 aircraft, said Mr. Maynard. It’s to carry supplies and combat-ready this crew. All crew members were one of the more significant records bro- military units around the globe at any awarded the Silver Star for this action, ken: the altitude attained in horizontal time. see 7th AF SO-1984, 13 Nov 1967. Page 14 C-7A Caribou Association November 2009

Serendipitous Company, the one the TV series focused you know how critical French people on. This one is named Echo Company, can be. Even if some of them are a bit Altruism and it is the support company. on the heavy side, all of them provide by Jean-Marc Liotier They have a terribly strong American us everyday with lessons in infantry The US often hears echoes of world- accent – from our point of view the lan- know-how. Beyond the wearing of a wide hostility against the application guage they speak is not even English. combat kit that never seem to discom- of its foreign policy, but seldom are How many times did I have to write fort them (helmet strap, helmet, combat they reached by the voices of those down what I wanted to say rather than goggles, rifles, etc.) the long hours of who experience first hand how close waste precious minutes trying various watch at the outpost never seem to an- we [French] are to the USA. In spite pronunciations of a seemingly common noy them in the slightest. of contextual political differences and word? Whatever state they are from, On the one square meter wooden conflicting interests that generate fric- no two accents are alike and they even tower above the perimeter wall they tion, we do share the same fundamental admit that in some crisis situations stand the five consecutive hours in full values – and when push comes to shove they have difficulties understanding battle gear and night vision goggles, that is what really counts. Through the each other. their sight unmoving in the directions eyes of a French OMLT (Operational Heavily built, fed at the earliest age of likely danger. No distractions, no Mentoring Liaison Teams) infantry- with Gatorade, proteins and creatine pauses, they are like statues, night man you can see how strong the bond – they are all head and shoulders taller and day. At night, all movements are is on the ground. In contrast with the than us and their muscles remind us performed in the dark – only a hand- Americans, the French soldiers don’t of Rambo. Our frames are amusingly ful of subdued red lights indicate the seem to write much online – or maybe skinny to them – we are wimps, even occasional presence of a soldier on the the proportion is the same, but we just the strongest of us – and because of that move. Same with the vehicles whose have less people deployed. Whatever they often mistake us for Afghans. lights are covered – everything hap- the reason, this is a rare and moving Here we discover America as it is pens in pitch dark even filling the fuel testimony which is why I decided to often depicted: their values are taken tanks. translate it into English, so that Ameri- to their paroxysm, often amplified by And combat? If you have seen can people can catch a glimpse of the promiscuity and the loneliness of this Rambo, you have seen it all – always way European soldiers see them. Not outpost in the middle of that Afghan coming to the rescue when one of our much high philosophy here, just the valley. Honor, motherland – everything teams gets in trouble, and always in first hand impressions of a soldier in here reminds of that: the American flag the shortest delay. That is one of their contact – but that only makes it more floating in the wind above the outpost, tricks: they switch from t-shirt and san- authentic. just like the one on the post parcels. dals to combat ready in three minutes. American troops in Afghanistan Even if recruits often originate from Arriving in contact with the enemy, the through the eyes of a French OMLT the heart of American cities and gang way they fight is simple and disconcert- infantryman territory, no one here has any goal other ing: they just charge! They disembark “We have shared our daily life with than to hold high and proud the star and assault in stride; they bomb first two US units for quite a while – they spangled banner. Each man knows he and ask questions later – which cuts are the first and fourth companies of can count on the support of a whole any pussyfooting short. a prestigious infantry battalion whose people who provides them through the We seldom hear any harsh word, and name I will withhold for the sake of mail all that an American could miss from 5 AM onwards the camp chores military secrecy. To the common man in such a remote front-line location: are performed in beautiful order and it is a unit just like any other. But we books, chewing gums, razorblades, Ga- always with excellent spirit. A pass- live with them and got to know them, torade, toothpaste, etc. in such way that ing American helicopter stops near a and we henceforth know that we have every man is aware of how much the stranded vehicle just to check that ev- the honor to live with one of the most American people backs him in his dif- erything is alright; an American combat renowned units of the US Army – one ficult mission. And that is a first shock team will rush to support ours before that the movies brought to the public to our preconceptions: the American even knowing how dangerous the mis- as a series showing “ordinary soldiers soldier is no individualist. The team, the sion is – from what we have been given thrust into extraordinary events.” Who group, the combat team are the focus of to witness, the American soldier is a are they, those soldiers from abroad, all his attention. beautiful and worthy heir to those who how is their daily life, and what support And they are impressive warriors! liberated France and Europe. do they bring to the men of our OMLT We have not come across bad ones, every day? Few of them belong to Easy as strange at it may seem to you when Continued on Page 15 November 2009 C-7A Caribou Association Page 15

the floor with 5,000 tiedown straps. drum. It has a screw-in plug which Altruism (from Page 14) Then the rollers had to be secured to is removed so the roller can be filled To those who bestow us with the the floor using roller clamps, and the with a huge amount of water to make honor of sharing their combat outposts short rollers had to be secured to the it weigh more. and who everyday give proof of their ramp door. I asked the Army troops how much military excellence, to those who pay The roller assemblies were comprised that large roller weighed. “Fifteen hun- the daily tribute of America’s army’s of two sets of parallel aluminum rails dred pounds,” was the totally predict- deployment on Afghan soil, to those between which ball bearing mounted able answer. “Well,” I said, “put it down we owed this article, ourselves hoping roller wheels (about 2 inches in di- and let’s see if we can lift one end.” that we will always remain worthy of ameter) were suspended on bars that Needless to say, both of us couldn’t them and to always continue hearing acted as axles between the aluminum budge one end of the thing. Then, I them say that we are all the same band rails. The main floor roller assemblies asked four soldiers who were standing of brothers.” were about 9 feet long and there were around to see if we could lift one end four sets of them. The cargo door roller with them helping. Nothing. That great Loading Cargo assemblies were about 3 feet long and roller just laid there on the ramp and by Edward Breslin [537, 67] there were 2 sets of these. One person defied us to move it. could easily lift any of these pieces. So, I asked to have the plug removed. It had been a normally trying day, After the rollers were secured to the From somewhere, the forklift driver with operations that sent our little floor, the tail stand was put in place. The produced a Ford wrench and took out transport aircraft on a variety of differ- tail stand was a pipe-like device with the plug. A great stream of water issued ent types of sorties. We had started out a swivel plate attached to the bottom forth from said roller. The thing was the morning with a quick flight to An end. The stand was suspended under still full! It probably weighed 6,000 Khe. From there, the Army sent us to the tail of the aircraft by a steel pin pounds, at least! Load rejected!!! LZ English to pick up a load of cargo. inserted through spring fittings in the After touchdown at English, which stand and through a fitting attached to had a 3,000 foot dirt and oil runway, the bottom of the aircraft. If the pin was Wisdom of 60 or so feet wide with two 6 foot high lost, which it usually was, a number 2 Thomas Jefferson embankments running most of the pencil was often substituted to hold the length of the runway, we taxied into stand in place. This substitution worked “I believe that banking institutions the parking area. The young sergeant remarkably well, since the pin was not are more dangerous to our liberties who was the Army rep came running designed to be weight bearing, but than standing armies. If the Ameri- up to the ramp. simply to position the stand. can people ever allow private banks “Guess what just landed here?” he The stand was used anytime the to control the issue of their currency, asked. “A C-130!” load was cargo and the engines were first by inflation, then by deflation, the “No way,” I replied. shutdown. It was also used whenever banks and corporations that will grow “No s*&t!” the boy said. “They just the load on the ramp was to be 1500 up around the banks will deprive the took off again when they found out they pounds or more, whether or not the people of all property until their chil- landed at the wrong airfield!” engines were left running. The purpose dren wake-up homeless on the continent Years later, in a conversation with of the stand is to prevent the aircraft their fathers conquered.” [1802] one of my neighbors, this story was from sitting down on its tail when a “The strongest reason for the people confirmed by an Air Force FAC pilot very heavy load is placed on the ramp. to retain the right to keep and bear arms who had been working out of English This day, the stand went in because we is, as a last resort, to protect themselves when this happened. were shut down. against tyranny in government.” As soon as we heard we had cargo, Just as we got ready to accept cargo, “All, too, will bear in mind this sa- the pilots shut down the engines and the Army guys brought out the biggest cred principle, that though the will of we set to work with all three of us hus- forklift I had ever seen. Suspended the majority is in all cases to prevail, tling to reconfigure the aircraft to haul from the forks by chains was a sheep’s that will to be rightful must be reason- cargo, instead of the passenger con- foot roller. This is a piece of road con- able; that the minority possess their figuration we were in. This procedure struction equipment used to pack down equal rights, which equal law must entailed folding up all the troop seats, loose dirt. It is a cylinder about 5 feet protect, and to violate would be op- and removing the tiedowns from roller in diameter and about 10 feet long. It pression.” conveyors, which were normally stored has small cylindrical tubes, or sheep’s “An enemy generally says and be- under the troop seats and strapped to feet, welded onto the surface of the lieves what he wishes.” Page 16 C-7A Caribou Association November 2009

with my maker on a day when my crew Willard was 20. At 32, the engineer. Katum got one of those “Bien Hoa – Katum Basillisco, was the oldest man on the by Sam McGowan Shuttle X” frags! crew. The crew survived because of the If there was a name that struck fear Sometime in 1968, a C-130E crew emphasis upon crew coordination that in the heart of airlifters in Vietnam, it from the 314th wing was on approach was a part of Tactical Air Command C- would have to be Katum. Even though to Katum when they suddenly started 130 training. Contrary to popular belief Khe Sanh, A Luoi, Kham Duc, and An taking hits after taking off. Lt. Fletcher among ill-informed civilians, the Air Loc were the scene of major events Hatch and his crew went into Katum to Force was stressing crew coordination where C-130 and C-123 crews were take in a tire for another C-130 that suf- decades before the aviation training forced to call on resources deep inside fered a flat. As they were climbing out, industry coined the phrase “Cockpit themselves, Katum was one of those a burst of .50-caliber fire ripped into Resource Management.” places that was there all the time. It was the left wing of their airplane and set Another crew was involved in a simi- a place whose name on a mission frag it on fire. Number one engine erupted lar ordeal over Katum later that year. order instantly put an airlift crew into in flames. The crew shut down the The aircraft commander, Major Curtis a sober and somber mood, especially engine and fired the bottle, but the fire Messex, wrote about the story in an if the order read “Bien Hoa – Katum, still burned. Hatch turned the airplane article that was published in Air Force Shuttle X” which meant “Shuttle as toward Tay Ninh City, which featured Magazine and reprinted in a special required” between the two bases. a longer runway and was not far away. book they put out called Valor. The airfield at Katum was constructed The fire, as it nearly always does on Messex and his 21st TAS crew from during Operation Junction City in the C-130s, burned up the hydraulic fluid Naha, Okinawa were on an airdrop late winter of early 1967. The site was and rendered the hydraulic systems mission to Katum on August 26, 1968. the drop zone for the paratroopers of useless. The flight mechanic, SSgt Joe The camp was cut off and an emergency the 173rd Airborne Infantry who jumped Basillisco, went in back to help the airdrop had been requested. They were over it in the only major American air- loadmaster, A1C Jerry Willard, crank dropping under a 1,200 foot ceiling. borne operation of the war. Airborne down the gear. They were only able On their first pass, the crew missed the engineers constructed two airfields to get the left main gear “down and airfield due to the low clouds and vis- in the same general region of their locked” before the airplane reached Tay ibility after a vector from Paris, a GCI objective area. Tonle Cham, the other Ninh. Hatch called the crew up front to site controlling the area. Messex and his airfield, along with Katum was one of strap in for landing. navigator decided to make the second the two most dreaded forward airfields The fire in the left wing was spread- attempt on their own. They went back in South Vietnam. In short (and they ing and the wing itself was beginning out and established their position with a were!) they were the kind of airfields to bend. The aileron had been shot way radar fix from Black Virgin Mountain, a that combat airlift is all about. They are while the elevators were useless due prominent landmark near Song Be, up- the kind of place where airlift is crucial, to lack of hydraulics. The young pilot dated their doppler. (Yes, Virginia, there and where it is doubtful a commander – Hatch was only 24 – fought to keep are ways of finding drop zones without in his right mind would ever send an the plane as close to level as possible a combat control team, ground radar, airplane as expensive as the C-17. The as they approached the runway. The GPS, INS, or AWADS). They planned problem at Katum was that it lay very left gear hit, and then the right side their descent to break out of the clouds close to the Cambodian border, so close and nose. The wreckage slid off and sooner, now that they knew the bases in fact that North Vietnamese artillery alongside the runway for 3,000 feet were lower than reported. across the border in South Vietnam’s before it came to a halt and exploded, As the C-130A was a minute out, they “neutral” neighbor could shell the air- so much for the theory that jet fuel will started taking hits. Hydraulic fluid shot field at will. It was also close enough not explode! Miraculously, the flames out of one of the cargo compartment that the Communists could transport receded as the crew escaped from the lines and instantly ignited, becoming a crew-served weapons across the river cockpit escape hatch and ran away. blow torch which set the load on fire. and position them off the approach end They not only lived through a disaster, They started losing hydraulic boost. of the runway and shoot up landing buteveryone on the crew escaped with Messex told the flight mechanic to aircraft whenever their little hearts de- only minor injuries. The incident is shut if off. The load was on fire, as sired. It was because of this that Katum very impressive because of the age and the wooden boxes containing artillery was a name that caused men who were experience of the crew. Hatch was 24, fuzes began to burn. They were only scheduled to go into there to search the copilot, Lt. Lee Blaser was 25, the five seconds from the drop zone so their hearts and souls. I very vividly navigator, Lt Jon Alexander was 23 – it remember a spiritual conversation I had was an all-lieutenant crew. Loadmaster Continued on Page 17 November 2009 C-7A Caribou Association Page 17

off in hopes it would stay there. They of bombing the crew was put on the Katum (from Page 16) tried it and it worked. By this time, the airlift schedule. Originally, I was going Messex elected to drop on target in crew had put in all of the airplane’s to go with them, but I had my guitar hopes that troops on the ground would supply of extra hydraulic fluid along with me and the night before the mis- be able to salvage most of the ammuni- with most of the engine oil and a case sion somebody kept buying me drinks tion. The nose of the airplane pitched and a half of propeller oil. in the all-ranks club on Herky Hill. I up to allow the bundles to roll out, but The weather at Bien Hoa was mar- decided to pass on flying the next day as Messex tried to lower it again after ginal VFR, with a 1,000 foot ceiling since I had no need for another cargo the drop, it would not go! The flight and 7 miles visibility. Bien Hoa GCA flight. Mac said it was okay with him, controls were locked! The hydraulic would bring them in. To compound so I slept late and went to the beach. I system was starting to fail. With the their problems, one of the main gear waited around the barracks at about the nose raised to a high attitude, one of the tires appeared to be flat. Without the time he and the engineer should have bundles caught at the rear of the cargo hydraulics to boost the control, the pi- been back, but they were late. Finally, compartment and broke open, scatter- lots had to use trim and brute strength I saw them get out of the shuttle bus by ing 2,000 pounds of artillery shells in to keep the airplane pointed in the the barracks. I thought to myself, “My, the cargo compartment. right direction. As they came over the Mac looks white as a sheet!” They told The flight engineer went back to help approach lights, Messex ordered the me what had happened – they were the loadmasters pour hydraulic fluid hydraulic system turned on. It was just on approach to Katum when the gun into the reservoir. The system would enough to allow him to position the opened on them. The airplane took 12 surge and die, then surge and die again airplane for a landing before the system hits. Fortunately, no one was hurt and as the cans momentarily filled it, only to shut down. They landed safely. Messex they made it to Tan Son Nhut. be pumped overboard from a damaged and his crew loadmaster, SSgt Bernie My day of reckoning with Katum system. The pressure surges did allow Brown, each received the Silver Star came later. We flew in and out of Ka- the pilots to get the nose back down for the mission. The rest of the crew, tum all day without incident, though to avoid a stall. Messex wrestled the including a Stan/Eval navigator and I certainly did a lot of soul-searching airplane onto a heading for Bien Hoa, loadmaster who were assigned for the before the first flight! Eventually the mainly by allowing a low wing to turn drop, were awarded the DFC. Army was able to locate the quad-fifty it then using physical strength to hold Katum continued to be a dreaded and a pair of helicopter gunships took the heading. The pilots used the electric word through 1969 and into 1970. it out. Just because the gun was gone trim to level the airplane, but without On June 23, 1969 a C-130B from the did not mean that Katum was any pic- feedback it was a hit and miss function. 772nd TAS at Clark was shot down nic – they didn’t call C-130s “mortar Fortunately, the fire was all in the load while landing there. By this time the magnets” for nothing! and while the airplane was filled with terror of Katum was caused by a truck- It was largely because of Katum and smoke, they were at least free of that mounted quad-fifty antiaircraft gun that a few other airfields in that vicinity danger. They still had the one pallet on the NVA moved around in the vicinity that President Nixon authorized the board, but at least it was not on fire. of the airfield. Just before the loss of “invasion” of Cambodia in the spring of Eventually, the crew got the airplane the 772nd airplane and crew, I went 1970. Though the Cambodian incursion under control. As the supply of hydrau- in-country with was shot-up over Ka- brought rioting in the US, including the lic fluid began to dwindle, Messex told tum, though I was not with them at the Kent State episode, our ill-informed the crew to slow down the rate at which time. I had been selected to checkout peers in the United States were out-of- they were pouring it into the system. in the Commando Vault C-130 bomb- touch with what was really going on in They decided to lower the gear while ing mission which was just beginning. Vietnam. After more than three years of they still had fluid. The gear started Although I was in the 29th TAS, I was enduring artillery and antiaircraft from down and eventually extended as the sent in-country for a checkout with a NVA units in Cambodia, airlifters in loadmasters and engineer added more 774th TAS crew whose loadmaster was Vietnam praised the move and were not fluid. The crew began considering op- already qualified. MacArthur Ruther- in the least in sympathy with the protes- tions when they ran out of hydraulic ford and I had known each other since tors. I landed at Katum a few days after fluid. They had drinking water – and basic, and had cross-trained together the Americans and South Vietnamese the contents of their bladder! Messex at Pope. We had gone separate ways, went into Cambodia and we actually thought about the problem and decided but ended up in the same wing again shut down our engines and got out of that the fluid was being pumped out at Clark. I was only with the crew to the airplane and walked around! through the return line. He hit on the have my lesson plans signed off to Note: Caribou crews also faced the idea of pouring fluid in with the system drop the big bombs. After two days dreaded flights into Katum. Page 18 C-7A Caribou Association November 2009

“I was assigned to a unit in Missis- career in which the door was typically WASPs Loved To Fly sippi,” she said. “Right from the start, slammed shut on women, a crack had by SSgt Matthew Bates the boys there made it pretty clear we suddenly appeared. The WASP pro- Defense Media Activity weren’t wanted.” gram had opened the eyes and hearts of San Antonio, TX This didn’t bother Ms. Reed too people across the country, and women When Betty Jo Reed was introduced much, though. As far as she was everywhere began idolizing WASP pi- to flying, it was love at first sight. concerned, every day she was able to lots and looking to them as heroes. She was 6 years old and her father climb into the cockpit and take off was Ms. Reed doesn’t see it that way, paid $1 for her to take a ride in a Ford a good one. though. tri-motor airplane at a local fair in 1929. “Flying was freedom and I loved “Oh, they call us pioneers and heroes, Once airborne, Ms. Reed was hooked. flying,” she said. “I loved my job and but I don’t feel like either,” she said. “I remember feeling free and happy, I wouldn’t have wanted to do anything “We were just doing what we loved to and loving the whole experience,” she else.” do and jumped at the opportunity to do said. “From that point on, I knew that She spent her time in Mississippi per- it. We weren’t thinking how we would I wanted to fly.” forming maintenance flights. Once an impact the world, just that we’d be It was a good time to be infatuated airplane was repaired, she would take flying some real fun aircraft. We didn’t with flying. Flight was still new and it up and make sure the plane worked feel like heroes at all.” romantic. Airplanes were starting to roll the way it should. History disagrees with her though. off production floors at a steady rate and It was a great time and she was History books tell the tale of Ms. Reed pilots were stretching the limits of flight happy. and her WASP sisters, painting them and teasing the imaginations of children Then, just as fast as the program was as pioneers, even legends. Air Force and adults on a regular basis. started, the program was deactivated officials, too, recognize their contribu- Some of these pilots even made an and the WASPs were told to go home tions to the service and even include a impression on a young Betty Jo. in December 1944. section about them in the Professional “Charles Lindbergh was trying to “That was so disappointing,” Ms. Development Guide, a book used by make the first trans-Atlantic flight, and Reed said. “Some of the men were enlisted Airmen to prepare them for every time I heard an airplane flying returning from the war and the Army promotion. over our house I would run outside, decided it didn’t need us anymore.” But, aside from a few words scattered waving and yelling, ‘Hi Lindbergh,” But the service couldn’t deny the across the pages of history books and Ms. Reed said. fact that these women had performed the personal accounts of these women, She doesn’t do much running these tremendously. During the war, WASP there was little recognition. No shrine to days. At 85, her flying days are also pilots flew more than 60 million miles honor them, no place where the WASP behind her. But, while time may have of operational flights from aircraft pilots were immortalized, no building taken her ability to move fast or sit in factories to ports of embarkation and that housed their memory so reverently the cockpit, one thing it left untouched military bases, towing targets for live sought to keep their legacy alive. is her love affair with flight – a love af- anti-aircraft artillery practice, simulat- Then, in 2005, that all changed. fair that drove her to become one of the ing strafing missions and transporting Nancy Parrish, daughter of WASP first women to fly a military aircraft. cargo. Deanie Parrish, set out to create a Betty Jo, whose last name then was Between September 1942 and De- museum dedicated to her mother and Streff, was a member of the Women cember 1944, more than 50 percent all the other WASPs. With the help of Airforce Service Pilots, a unique corps of the ferrying of high-speed pursuit local residents and city government of- of women pilots who were trained by aircraft in the continental United States ficials, the National WASP World War the Army Air Forces to fly military was carried out by WASP pilots. The II Museum was officially opened in aircraft during World War II. The train- women also flew all 77 aircraft in the May 2005. Fittingly, the museum was ing took place at a small airfield called Army Air Force arsenal, either in train- housed where it all began – at Avenger Avenger Field in Sweetwater, TX. ing or while in service. Field. “I was part of the seventh class of Few people know these statistics; Located in a 1929-style hangar, the 1944,” Ms. Reed said. “We were a fewer still realize how important the museum is full of WASP memorabilia. tight-knit group of girls, too.” WASPs were to the military at that Old uniforms, model aircraft, a recre- In all 1,074 women graduated from time. Still, the WASP program showed ation of the women’s living quarters this training and earned the WASP title the world that women could sit in the and training equipment used by the – a title that carried considerably less cockpit and fly just as well as their male Continued on Page 19 weight in those days than it does now. counterparts – war or no war. And in a November 2009 C-7A Caribou Association Page 19

WASPs (from Page 18) To Be Six Again Tet Offensive ‘68 women are all on display, surrounded A man was sitting on the edge of by Jerry Smith [537, 67] by hundreds of photos and memories so the bed, observing his wife, looking at real they almost seem to come alive. herself in the mirror. Since her birthday During the Tet offensive of 1968, we This is fine, though. Keeping memo- was not far off he asked what she’d like were on alert for about 10 days and flew ries alive is the main reason the mu- to have for her Birthday. a lot of TacEs, (Tactical Emergencies). seum exists. ‘I’d like to be six again’, she replied, I was flying the C-7A, a two engine, “The museum seeks to educate and still looking in the mirror. high tail STOL (Short field Take Off inspire every generation with the his- On the morning of her Birthday, he and Landing), that could carry 30 tory of the WASP, the first women in arose early, made her a nice big bowl battle dressed GIs and, with practice, I history to fly American’s military air- of Lucky Charms, and then took her to could land and stop in about 350 feet. craft, and who forever changed the role Six Flags theme park. What a day! Needed about 1000 feet of gravel or of women in aviation,” said Marianne He put her on every ride in the park; PSP (Pierced Steel Planking) runway Wood, the museum’s director. the Death Slide, the Wall of Fear, the to take off, because the Caribou R-2000 So now Ms. Reed and her fellow Screaming Monster Roller Coaster, engines were grossly under powered. WASPs have a shrine, a place to honor everything there was. We flew many support missions into them and to keep their spirit, their Five hours later they staggered out of Army outposts that got ammo, food, dedication and their accomplishments the theme park. Her head was reeling and supplies only from our aircraft. alive forever. and her stomach felt upside down. Most were “Hot,” meaning you had to Ms. Reed can’t run these days, but He then took her to a McDonald’s get through the Army outgoing howit- if she could, she would run through where he ordered her a Happy Meal zer fire and a lot of VC ground fire. the museum, from photo to photo, and with extra fries and a chocolate shake. Back to Tet, I had a TacE to Ban Me reminisce about “the good ol’ days.” Then it was off to a movie, popcorn, Thout one day. We tried to land at Ban Time may have taken her legs, but a soda pop, and her favorite candy, Me Thout East, the new runway outside it has not touched her heart – and her M&Ms. What a fabulous adventure! the village, but, at the last minute, we heart belongs to flight. (Courtesy of Air Finally she wobbled home with got a call that they were already over- Force News Service) her husband and collapsed into bed, run by the VC and our “survivors” were exhausted. at the downtown airstrip. On short final He leaned over his wife with a big approach to the runway, I saw many Exercise for People smile and lovingly asked, “Well, Dear, black pajamas (VC) coming through what was it like being six again??” the periphery fence. Over 50 Her eyes slowly opened and her ex- I called the Terminal frequency and pression suddenly changed. “I meant told them I would taxi in (high speed), 1. Begin by standing on a comfort- my dress size, you dumbo!” open the cargo door and ramp on the able surface, where you have plenty of The moral of the story: Even when back of the airplane, but I would not room at each side. a man is listening, he’s gonna get it be stopping – the 15 souls would have 2. With a 5-lb potato bag in each wrong. to run like Hell to climb in as I taxied hand, extend your arms straight out back to the runway. I did, they did, and from your sides and hold them there 2009 Reunion although I couldn’t use all of the run- as long as you can. Try to reach a full Atendance by State way without a lot of ground fire, I was minute, and then relax. AL - 8 MD – 1 OH – 7 able to drag it off the runway before I 3. Each day you’ll find that you can AZ - 3 ME – 1 OK – 12 got to the rice paddies. Just another day hold this position for just a bit longer. CA – 9 MI – 6 OR – 5 at the office. 4. After a couple of weeks, move up CO – 4 MN – 1 PA – 3 to 10-lb potato bags. CT – 4 MO – 14 SD – 1 5. Then try 50-lb potato bags and then DE – 4 ND – 1 TN – 6 Enlisted Milestones eventually try to get to where you can FL – 15 NE – 6 TX – 28 in USAF History lift a 100-lb potato bag in each hand and GA – 10 NH – 2 VA – 3 hold your arms straight for more than a IL – 9 NJ – 2 WA – 4 MSgt Wayne Fisk is the first AF full minute. (I’m at this level.) KS – 5 NM – 4 WI – 7 enlisted selected as one of the US Jay- 6. After you feel confident at that KY – 6 NV – 4 WV – 2 cees Ten Outstanding Young Men of level, put a potato in each bag. LA – 8 NY – 4 England - 1 America. (Sept 1982) Page 20 C-7A Caribou Association November 2009

the drawing board. (Though not very the loss of a war. Braestrup portrayed The American Thinker fruitfully – his next scheme was a a press corps living a privileged, near- The Legacy of Tet “mini-Tet” in April, which ended much aristocratic existence in Saigon, feeding by J. R. Dunn the same way.) off of gossip and rumor, cynical about It was with Tet ‘68 that the American But that’s not how the U.S. public the country, the government, and pros- media first knew sin. Anyone seeking saw it. pects for victory. Most were ignorant to understand the character of consis- American readers and viewers were of military affairs. None could speak tently negative media coverage of the presented with a disaster nearly be- Vietnamese or had any deep knowl- Global War on Terror must understand yond comprehension, with U.S. forces edge of the country. When the attack Tet. hanging on by their fingernails, ARVN came, the press corps responded with The Tet offensive of February 1968 is troops tossing guns aside and running shock. The first stories were written in widely regarded as one of the turning for safety, government officials given a state of panic, expressing reporter’s points of the Vietnam War – though over to complete panic, Viet Cong and own confusion rather than anything not for the customary military reasons. PAVN forces running wild with no occurring in the quotidian world. As Tet had its origins in the plans of North losses to speak of, while General Giap, the picture began to coalesce – a pic- Vietnamese commander Vo Nguyen the 20th century Napoleon, nodded in ture that completely contradicted early Giap, a competent general given to approval at seeing his plan unfold. Tet dispatches – most of the journalists, out flights of overconfidence. Giap decided ended up being a major success for of stubbornness, fear of looking foolish, to throw all available assets, both PAVN communist forces after all. It was the any mixture of human frailties, stuck (People’s Army of North Vietnam) and first time in history that the news media with their original reports, aided and Viet Cong, against every major target overturned a victory won by forces on abetted by editors back home who knew across South Vietnam. He anticipated a the ground. a great story when they saw one. massive revolt by the South Vietnamese One observer struck by the dichot- Many of the names involved are populace, who would overthrow the omy between what occurred and how still well-known today. The New York government, set out the welcome mat it was reported was a journalist named Times’ Charles Mohr, once a supporter for their Communist liberators, and Peter Braestrup, chief of the Washing- of the war effort, was among the first to leave U.S. and allied forces sitting high ton Post’s Saigon bureau. Braestrup had cast doubt on claims of Allied success. and dry. The attack was scheduled to also worked for Time Magazine and The Washington Post’s China expert begin on the night of January 30, the The New York Times. In later years he Stanley Karnow wrote a front-page beginning of Tet, the Vietnamese New became a fellow of the Smithsonian’s appreciation of Giap as a “military Year. Tet was normally considered a Woodrow Wilson International Center genius,” followed a few weeks later truce period, when the ARVN (Army and editor of The Wilson Quarterly. with another piece claiming that the of- of the Republic of Vietnam) was at its Not the Cirruculum Vitae of any sort fensive had “scored impressive gains.” lowest level of alertness. of conservative, and in fact Braestrup His Post colleague, Ward Just, played The result of all Giap’s efforts was was an establishment liberal of the type the “unidentified official” angle to draw a total rout. The South Vietnamese, that scarcely exists any longer. But he pessimistic conclusions. Hanson Bald- utterly horrified by the prospect of a was also the kind of reporter who treats win, the Times’ resident military expert, Communist takeover, sat tight while a story as personal property. After ten consistently overrated North Vietnam- U.S. and government troops crushed years work, Braestrup produced his ese capabilities while downgrading al- the attack in a matter of days. The sole book Big Story: How the American lied forces. Even Robert Novak (at that holdout was the old imperial citadel Press and Television Reported and time partnered with Rowland Evans) at Hue, which required three weeks interpreted the Crisis of Tet 1968 in added his bit of alarmism from10,000 to be retaken. The government stood Vietnam and Washington, an analysis miles away. firm, the ARVN, once recovered from of every major news report concern- Braestrup was the first to identify Pe- its initial surprise, did a creditable job. ing the Tet Offensive, along with the ter Arnett as a serial prevaricator. Arnett The Viet Cong, on the other hand, military, political, and social results was the source of the story that became were ruined as a military force, their that ensued. emblematic of the entire offensive: rural infrastructure left in tatters. They Big Story is sui generis, a book as re- that the Viet Cong had shot their way never fully recovered, forcing the markable as the event it describes. The into the U.S. Saigon embassy and held PAVN to take over the bulk of combat book punctured not only the myth of it overnight. In truth, the VC sappers duties. Giap, his reputation saving him Tet, but the myth of the news coverage who penetrated embassy grounds were from the usual fate of failed generals surrounding it, revealing exactly how quickly dispatched before entering any in communist societies, went back to the national media acted as a catalyst for Continued on Page 21 November 2009 C-7A Caribou Association Page 21

ing that they can’t ever be admitted students studying the era are rarely if American Thinker (from Pg. 20) to, and Tet was one of these. No such ever exposed to its contesting of the buildings, a fact that went unmentioned actions were ever taken. Quite the con- conventional wisdom. But it remains by Arnett and many later histories of trary – the type of distortion so evident one of those rare volumes that actually the war. Shortly afterward, Arnett re- during Tet became standard procedure does a service, by identifying a malady, ported a quote from an American major for Vietnam reportage. Within a few giving its origins, and listing its symp- concerning operations in the town of months, the battle of Khe Sanh, a hard- toms. It is a book of value, and will Ben Tre: fought, undeniable U.S. victory which eventually find its place. Not the least “We had to destroy the town in order accounted for something on the order of its virtues is how much light it sheds to save it.” of 40,000 North Vietnamese casualties, on events in Iraq. To read Braestrup is Nobody, not Arnett, not the reporters was reported as a defeat of American to understand fully why current war who accompanied him, not his employ- arms. reportage is so relentlessly downbeat. ers at the AP, were ever able to produce As the years passed, Giap-worship- Why stories in the legacy media are this “major,” which didn’t prevent per Stanley Karnow achieved fame as at such variance with sources such the line from becoming the leading author of the war’s standard history. as war blogs or Iraqi websites. Why catchphrase of the antiwar movement. Ward Just became noted for topical, reporters appear to take on the role of (Braestrup’s research uncovered the well-written, and extraordinarily dull advocate for the enemy. Why Cindy fact that the phrase was already in the political novels. Arnett pursued a long Sheehan and Jimmy Massey – both air – almost identical words were used and varied career until events caught almost pure media constructs – get the by the Times’ James Reston in an edito- up with him in the form of the Tailwind coverage they do. Why bogus issues rial appearing the same day as Arnett’s scandal, appropriately involving lies involving Guantanamo Bay, prisoner report.) Alternately, all reports calling concerning a U.S. operation in Viet- interrogation, and “torture” receive the disaster narrative into question were nam. Braestrup was reluctant to draw such attention. Why Coalition suc- downplayed. A mid-February analysis any conclusion as to reasons behind cesses go virtually unmentioned. Why by counterinsurgency expert Douglas the media distortion. He did not buy the unfolding of a political miracle, an Pike concluding that Communist forces an ideological explanation, and found Arab democracy, has been greeted with had overextended themselves and been claims that media coverage led to allied near-indifference. badly whipped was either ignored or defeat to be “highly speculative.” As is And why the media will never again dumped onto the back pages. true of most historical events, a single play a useful role until the legacy of Tet Media coverage of Tet destroyed explanation is unlikely to be adequate. is eradicated. public confidence in the war effort. A list could start with cynicism, an The antiwar movement, until then embrace of the anti-authoritarian ethos Note: Among many other things, J.R. little more than a freak show, ex- of the period, journalism enduring a Dunn was the editor of the Interna- ploded in size and influence. Various period of decadence as every human tional Military Encyclopedia for twelve rebel Democrats began scheming. The endeavor eventually does), and con- years Johnson administration, already off bal- tinue from there. It scarcely matters at ance, was effectively shattered. Within this point. weeks, Walter Cronkite, speaking ex What does matter is that the Tet style cathedra from his CBS anchor’s chair, became accepted practice. Journalism Bon Mots pronounced judgment on both the war was becoming “professionalized” at The secret of a good sermon is to and the administration, prompting Lyn- the time, with the press thinking itself have a good beginning and a good don Johnson, with the spinelessness of an elite, and the attitudes and proce- ending; and to have the two as close a lifelong bully, to withdraw from the dures surrounding Vietnam reportage together as possible. – George Burns 1968 presidential campaign. were institutionalized. Virtually every Santa Claus has the right idea. Of course, after the offensive was military confrontation since 1968 has Visit people only once a year. – Victor put down and calmer days returned, been covered from the same adversarial Borge the papers and networks examined the stance that marked theTet reports. (And Be careful about reading health reports, uncovered the facts, disciplined not only wars – Katrina coverage was books. You may die of a misprint. those responsible, issued corrections, just as distorted, hysterical, and harm- – Mark Twain and instituted procedures to assure that ful as any recent war reportage.) Big By all means, marry. If you get a good such a situation would never recur. Story is not considered suitable for spouse, you’ll become happy; if you get Actually, no. Vietnam scholarship and is very rarely a bad one, you’ll become a philosopher. There are errors so vastly wide-rang- referenced or even mentioned. College – Socrates Page 22 C-7A Caribou Association November 2009

sions and commendation letters from of Air America’s finest and most iconic Air American Ops government officials, said Timothy N. moments was evacuating American and in Southeast Asia Castle, a historian at the CIA’s Center Vietnamese civilians after Saigon fell in Times-Republican (Iowa) for the Study of Intelligence. 1975. A famous photograph shows an by Jeff Carlton, Associated Press Included are accounts of the chaotic Air America helicopter atop an apart- 16 April 2009 evacuation after the fall of Saigon in ment building as a long line of people 1975, the investigation into a mysteri- wait to board it. Former naval aviator, Don Boecker, ous 1964 plane crash apparently caused Brian K. Johnson, a former Air Amer- isn’t too proud to say he was scared by sabotage, and a letter from President ica helicopter pilot and past president out of his wits on that July 1965 day Richard Nixon commending employees of the Air America Association, said in Laos when he dangled by one arm for their bravery in Laos. flight crews would race to be the first from a helicopter while enemy soldiers More documents detail the rescue of to pick up downed military personnel. took aim below. the wounded from a mountainous Air These untold stories of the Vietnam Boecker had spent the longest night Force radar station in Laos known as War, he said, could help change Air of his life in the thick jungle, evading Lima Site 85, where a North Vietnam- America’s image. Johnson laments that capture and certain execution while ese raid in 1968 killed 11 Americans. It the perception of Air America is more awaiting rescue. The Navy aviator had was the largest single loss of Air Force about heroin than heroism, due largely ejected after a bomb he intended to personnel on the ground during the to the 1990 movie “Air America,” star- drop on the Ho Chi Minh trail exploded Vietnam War, Castle said. The survi- ring Mel Gibson and Robert Downey prematurely. vors were rescued by Air America. Jr. The film depicts the company as His rescuers that day, however, Such operations were the norm for corrupt and its pilots as drug runners. It weren’t from the American military, Air America pilots, and the inspiration remains a sensitive topic among former who couldn’t be caught conducting for the title of the symposium: “Air employees. “We have done everything a secret bombing campaign in Laos. America: Upholding the Airmen’s we can to change that perception, and They were civilian employees of Air Bond.” Between 1964-65, Air America I think we are getting there,” Johnson America, an ostensibly private airline personnel rescued 21 downed Ameri- said. The liberal Air America talk radio essentially owned and operated by the can pilots. Detailed records weren’t network brought new confusion, he CIA. kept after that, but “we know there added. UT-Dallas was chosen by the Boecker (USNA class of 1960), now were scores and scores more (rescues) Air America alumni group as the site a 71-year-old retired Rear Admiral, through the years,” Castle said. “That’s of a Vietnam Wall-style plaque listing plans to tell the story at a symposium the airman’s bond. There is another the names of the roughly 240 fallen intended to give a fuller account of an airman who is down. Everything stops employees. “Most people don’t even important outfit that [CIA] alumni say until you try to rescue them, because if know it occurred. It was a secret so- is still misunderstood by the American it were you, you knew they would do it ciety,” said Boecker. “They flew in all public. for you, too.” sorts of danger ... flying every day in The University of Texas at Dallas Air America’s public face was that terrible wartime conditions. They did a event coincides with the CIA’s release of a passenger and cargo airline that beautiful job.” of about 10,000 previously classi- operated in sometimes dangerous fied Air America records, which will places. It formed after World War II become part of the school library’s under the name Civil Air Transport, Laws of the extensive aviation collection. The CIA and did contract work for the Chinese declassified the documents following Nationalists. Control of Air America Natural Universe a Freedom of Information Act request eventually shifted to the CIA, which Law of Coffee: As soon as you sit by UT-Dallas. set up shell companies to disguise its down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss “These Air America documents are true ownership. will ask you to do something, which essential to understanding a large un- Planes kept flying scheduled passen- will last until the coffee is cold. told history of America’s involvement ger flights out of Taiwan, but they also Law of Close Encounters: The prob- in Southeast Asia,” said Paul Oelkrug, began flying covert missions in Laos ability of meeting someone you know a coordinator at UT-Dallas’ special and South Vietnam to supply anti-com- increases when you are with someone collections department. He said they munist forces. Air America also had nu- you don’t want to be seen with. speak to “the covert side of the Cold merous government contracts, and was Law of the Theatre: At any event, the War.” The records consist mainly of involved in humanitarian work though people whose seats are farthest from the firsthand accounts of Air America mis- a deal with the State Department. One aisle arrive last. November 2009 C-7A Caribou Association Page 23

Burma Shave Signs Little Girl Bumper Stickers DON’T STICK YOUR ELBOW Seen on Marine Cars OUT SO FAR A little 10-year-old girl was walk- IT MAY GO HOME ing home, alone, from school one day, • “Marines – Providing Enemies of IN ANOTHER CAR. when a big man on a black motorcycle America an Opportunity To Die For Burma Shave pulls up beside her. their Country Since 1775” After following along for a while, • “Except For Ending Slavery, Fas- DON’T LOSE YOUR HEAD turns to her and asks, “Hey there little cism, Nazism, and Communism, WAR TO GAIN A MINUTE girl, do you want to go for a ride?” has Never Solved Anything.” YOU NEED YOUR HEAD “NO!” says the little girl as she keeps • “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of YOUR BRAINS ARE IN IT on walking. The motorcyclist again Anyone Who Threatens It” Burma Shave pulls up beside her and asks, “Hey little • “U.S. Marines – Certified Counsel- girl, I will give you $10 if you hop on ors to the 72 Virgins Dating Club” DROVE TOO LONG the back.” • “Artillery brings dignity to what DRIVER SNOOZING “NO!” says the little girl as she hur- would otherwise be just a brawl” WHAT HAPPENED NEXT ries down the street. • “A dead enemy is a peaceful enemy IS NOT AMUSING The motorcyclist pulls up beside the – Blessed be the peacemakers.” Burma Shave little girl again and says, “Okay kid, my • “Interrogators can’t water board last offer! I’ll give you 20 Bucks and a dead guys.” BROTHER SPEEDER Big Bag of Candy if you will just hop • U.S. Marines – Travel Agents To LET’S REHEARSE on the back of my bike and we will go Allah” ALL TOGETHER for a ride.” • “Stop Global Whining” GOOD MORNING, NURSE Finally, the little girl stops and turns • “Happiness Is A Belt-Fed Weap- Burma Shave towards him and screams out ... on” “Look Dad, you’re the one who • “My kid fought in Iraq so your kid SPEED WAS HIGH bought the Honda instead of the Har- can party in college.” WEATHER WAS NOT ley!” • “It’s God’s job to forgive Bin Laden TIRES WERE THIN “YOU RIDE IT!” – It’s our job to arrange the meeting.” X MARKS THE SPOT • “Some people spend an entire Burma Shave lifetime wondering if they made a dif- ference in the world. But, the Marines THE MIDNIGHT RIDE don’t have that problem.” – Ronald OF PAUL FOR BEER Reagan LED TO A WARMER • “When the people fear their gov- HEMISPHERE Flying with the Army ernment, there is tyranny; when the Burma Shave by Dick Schimberg [535, 66] government fears the people, there is liberty.” Thomas Jefferson AROUND THE CURVE Two interesting things about flying • “When in doubt, empty the maga- LICKETY-SPLIT with the Army: zine” Naval Corollary; “Dead men BEAUTIFUL CAR They liked to fly low and if they came don’t testify.” WASN’T IT? home with leaves in the undercarriage, • “The Marine Corps – When It Abso- Burma Shave that was really great. lutely, Positively Has To Be Destroyed The other was their lack of supplies, Overnight” NO MATTER THE PRICE especially spark plugs. On my first • “Death smiles at everyone – Ma- NO MATTER HOW NEW flight, the needle almost dropped out rines smile back” THE BEST SAFETY DEVICE of the cockpit when doing the mag • “Marine sniper – You can run, but IN THE CAR IS YOU check. The IP said not to worry for the you’ll just die tired!” Burma Shave fouling would burn out by time we got • “What do I feel when I kill a terror- to Saigon. ist? ... A little recoil” Remember Luscombe? Sure enough it did, but we had back- • “If you can read, thank a teacher. http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages- firing all the way. That problem existed If you can read it in English, thank a air-support/vietnam/luscombe.htm until AF supplies started to arrive. veteran.” Page 24 C-7A Caribou Association November 2009

Nice Formation, Mates!

The End of An Era that is to our maintenance troops. stands a very good chance of success Don Melvin [18Sqn, 70] However, the “icing (or should that – here’s hoping! Group Captain, RAAF, Ret. be frosting) on the cake” was when he The picture above was taken over authorised a last ride in them for those the ocean off Townsville on 11 Nov Over the first weekend in Aug. 2009, who wished – as passengers of course. 09 – doesn’t it look great? The ship a reunion was held at Coffs Harbour, Wives/partners were included and there in the centre bears the tail flash of 35 on the New South Wales north coast, was many an incipient tear in the eye Sqn (an orange stylized wallaby) spe- to celebrate 45 years of operational as we enjoyed our one-hour flights, up cially painted for the occasion. This service of the C-7 with the RAAF. The and down the coast, low level, ramp was adopted after the squadron came aircraft entered service on 8 Aug 64 and open, in absolutely perfect weather. home from Vietnam and kept until the all remaining aircraft will be withdrawn The sound of thousands of rivets rat- squadron was disbanded. from service by late this year. tling in unison was music to our ears. When I was Commanding Officer It was a great occasion with about There was also a “first” for many of us (1974-75), it was superimposed on a 250 attendees, including wives and – one of the aircraft was captained by broad horizontal stripe, but this was partners. It was also attended by our a female Flight Lieutenant! considered too much for the Austra- Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal (Lt The only disappointing note was that lian tropical camo scheme when it was Gen) Mark Binskin and his wife. He au- he could offer little encouragement on adopted in the late ‘70s. The other tail thorised two aircraft to deploy to Coffs the subject of a C-7 replacement. Cur- flashes are 38 Sqn (a blue heraldic crea- Harbour from their base in Townsville, rent policy is that a replacement will ture called an Ensign – body of a lion, over 1000 miles away, for the occasion. be “looked at” in the next two to four talons of an eagle, head of something) It was great to crawl over the beauti- years. The heartening news was that – not real stuff like a wallaby! fully presented old birds and to see one aircraft will be preserved at the We RAAF people do not take inter- how much – and indeed how little – had RAAF Museum at Point Cook, Victo- service rivalry too seriously! Mark changed. When I was flying them, I’d ria, and another at the Australian War Binskin was a pilot with the Royal Aus- have killed for the GPS which is now Memorial in Canberra. A proposal that tralian Navy, an exchange pilot with the installed! It was a sobering moment at least one of the “youngest” birds be RAAF, transferred to the RAAF when when we were informed that at least allocated, together with a host of spares, our Navy eliminated carriers and fixed three aircraft have passed the 20,000 to an Aviation Museum to be kept in wing aviation. He also had a tour with flying hours mark! What a great tribute flying condition is being considered and the USAF, flying F-16s at Luke AFB. November 2009 C-7A Caribou Association Page 25

nior flying positions were all Royal Air as Australian or RAAF. The green uni- A “Different” Force (RAF) officers; most of the senior form included shorts, long grey socks Caribou Tour pilots were Brits as were most of the with blue tabs at the top and of course Don Melvin [18Sqn, 70] maintenance Senior NCOs. A few other a “songkok” (the pillbox-type cap Ma- Group Captain, RAAF, Ret. RAAF pilots had been serving with the lays and Indonesians wear). It was not RMAF for some months before my ar- a pretty sight! Hopefully, someone will recall the rival, but they were all based in Kuala Unlike the RAAF and USAF, the RAAF Squadron Leader who haunted Lumpur and in squadrons commanded RMAF did not wear “wings” on their Dyess in the early ‘70s to grab the odd by RAF officers with quite a few RAF shirts, so I was not able to do even that. C-7 flying hour. During my first and pilots and maintenance troops. My uniforms were made at a “tailor” only visit to 18 TATS in an IG capacity, All the Australians flying in squad- shop in Kuala Lumpur using an allow- I flew with Maj Ralph Fitzgerald. As a rons, including me, were of Flight ance that was inadequate. I had a great consequence, the Wing Commander of Lieutenant (Captain) rank and gener- deal of trouble convincing him that the 516th TAW contacted my boss, Brig ally were older and much more expe- even after 15 years of service, I still Gen Robin Olds, extending an invita- rienced than our RMAF equivalents. I had no medals or ribbons. tion for me to visit and fly on a regular was the only one there in my capacity In the RAAF at that time, even a basis. I know that some I got to know as a QFI (IP). Long Service Medal was not awarded very well indeed are no longer with us In early 1966, Canada was present- until 20 years of service and then only – LTC Monty Montgomery, LTC Ed ing a half-squadron of Caribous to if at least 10 of those years were in en- Gaudin, Maj Dale Erickson, and Capt Malaysia, but would provide only listed ranks. An officer could serve 20 Howie Berube. basic training in Canada. The Aus- years and still not be entitled to wear However, among others, I do have a tralian Government was requested a ribbon. This has been amended to 15 Capt Evanish in my Flying Log Book by Malaysia to second an instructor years of service in any rank. as the AC on a trip from Carswell to to train the squadron. This was still a Although seconded RAAF officers Dyess after a horde of Bous were di- very new ball game for the RAAF and were paid by Australia at our rates of verted there for an RON by what I be- I was soon to become aware of the vast pay (good), at the same time we were lieve is called a “Blue Norther” in Dec difference between “secondment” and required to pay Income Tax to the Ma- 1970. To show how small the world “exchange.” laysian Government (very, very bad). is, Peter Bird has informed me that he My awakening began when I was Because our rate of pay was so much was also involved in that diversion! I sent to RAAF School of Languages higher than their norm, their Taxation would like to say at this juncture that for a “crash” course in Malay – six Department really stuck us. Additional Jacqui and I enjoyed our tour with the weeks, eight hours a day one-on-one allowances to compensate for the high USAF immensely. After 39 years, we with a Malay tutor and then a couple tax rate were also promptly taxed. still remember with great affection the of hours of “homework.” The irony At the same time, the large number warmth with which we were received. was that I found that all the pilots and of RAAF personnel serving in Malaysia You already know I did not serve in most maintenance troops spoke good in our squadrons at RAAF Butterworth Vietnam, although as you have seen it English – the Flight and Tech Manuals (Penang) naturally paid their tax to the was not for the lack of trying. I have were in English! Australian Government and also re- read the articles in the Newsletters The air force logistics and army en- ceived generous tax deductions by vir- with a great deal of interest and admi- listed personnel were a different kettle tue of their being on overseas service, ration and, while I have no interesting of fish and much of the non-technical thus being far better off financially. Vietnam episodes to relate, my time paperwork was printed in Malay, so Three years later, this taxation arrange- with the Royal Malaysian Air Force some knowledge of the language was ment was to be of great significance (RMAF) would be outside the experi- required. A plus was that, initially at specifically to me. ence of most, as it contains some “in- least, I was able to barter in the shops Finally, because Malaysia and Indo- teresting” twists. in their language, albeit that I had to nesia were engaged in armed conflict The British had long experience modify the very correct form I had at the time (“Konfrontasi”), I received seconding people to foreign armed learned to the so-called “bazaar” Malay a special briefing from Air Force Intel- forces, largely as a result of the breakup … the more cynical might suggest that ligence. It was already known that the of the Empire during the last century. what I already spoke was “bizarre” squadron was to be deployed to Borneo So it was with the RMAF at that time Malay! (more correctly Malaysia Timor) as – Chief of the Air Staff (AF Chief of Next, I was required to wear RMAF Staff), squadron commanders, and se- uniform with nothing to identify me Continued on Page 26 Page 26 C-7A Caribou Association November 2009

A Different... (from Page 25) The numerous directives that caused crossed again five years later when the most angst were issued from “on Ralph Fitzgerald and I flew a Caribou soon as possible in support of ground high.” The up-side was that I never ap- to Birmingham, AL for a Flight Manual forces fighting the Indonesians. I was peared on a parade in nearly three years. conference at Hayes International. greeted with the comforting news that, Despite their working week including After about three months of training because I was a serving RAAF officer, Saturday mornings, the personnel eth- and a recce trip to check out the strips but wearing RMAF uniform and flying nic mix of Malay, Chinese, and Indian in Borneo by the CO and myself, the RMAF aircraft, my status was roughly at least provided numbers of religious squadron deployed to Labuan, a small that of “mercenary.” Their advice? Stay holidays. That mix also meant that, in island which, incidentally, was the site away from the Indonesian border and fact, many were trilingual and happily I of a major amphibious landing and combat areas. How the h*#l could I do encountered only the odd case of ethnic significant fighting by Australians in that? I think that Intel weenies must be friction. WWII. On short final to the runway is a the same the world over! Initial training was done at the RMAF sizeable Australian War Cemetery. My On arrival in Malaysia, I received base at the capital, Kuala Lumpur, but standing joke was that if I ever crashed information that the Caribou outfit was I checked in before the aircraft arrived and burned on approach at least I’d be to be the first “all-Malaysian” squadron, from Canada. In my official appoint- among friends! i.e., from CO through to all the enlisted ment as “Pegawai Latehan” (Training The Labuan you will see now on troops, except for little old me that is. Officer), I opted to start preparing a Google Earth bears absolutely no re- However, I was wearing their uniform training programme to be ready for semblance to what was there in 1966. so perhaps nobody would notice. I was their arrival and, assuming that their A smallish village with a couple of left in no doubt that in many respects system would have already stocked indigenous “kampongs” was about it. I was expected to be more-or-less “in- some Flight Manuals, I asked where I Since that time, oil has been discovered visible.” might obtain one. I was duly informed under the surrounding shallow seas and Despite that warning, it was really that I was expected to produce all the “boom time” arrived. difficult not to explode when the Ca- Check Lists, etc.! Not long after becoming operational, nadian High Commissioner held an The RAAF was at that time using the overt conflict with Indonesia ended official reception for the squadron after the US Army -10 Flight Manual for the and hostilities gave way to more of an its arrival in Kuala Lumpur and I was CV-2B, and a wonderfully understand- “uneasy peace.” However, there were directed that under no circumstances ing US Army Colonel at your Embassy still a number of battalions based along was I to attend. After all, it was the first in Kuala Lumpur acquired a number the border and they had to continue to “all-Malaysian” squadron. The same for me. be supported. Air supply was the only instruction was given on the occasion Not nearly enough pilots had flown option. The RAF operated Westland of the Sultan of Selangor holding a the C-7A to any extent in Canada (the Whirlwind helos, Twin Pioneers, and Dining-In Night at the Istana (palace) Canucks ferried them out with RMAF the Blackburn Beverley (only in the before our departure for Borneo. co-pilots), but most had experience fly- air drop role) from our base. They I was the only C-7 pilot authorised ing the Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer just could not believe what the old to fly VVIPs. On one occasion I flew and Single Pioneer. Both were horrible Bou could do in and out of those same the Prime Minister, Tengku Abdul aircraft, check them out, in roles similar strips. Rahman, for a number of days around to those to be performed by the Cari- The RAF elements deployed back Borneo and I was required to be in the bou. Their experience and ability varied to the UK after a few months, leav- cockpit before he arrived and to not widely. Some were very good indeed, ing three RMAF squadrons there with leave it until he was out of sight. On but others required a fair amount of me as the sole Caucasian in the whole no account was I to wear a uniform to work to gain an acceptable level of wing. By this time the Twin Pioneer any reception or to indicate that I was proficiency on the aircraft. and Alouette helo squadrons had also the aircraft captain. Although I was not The “loadmasters” also had to be been “Malaysianised.” I’m most assur- subject to RMAF Military Law, quite trained and the RMAF adopted the edly the wrong guy to start complain- clearly I was duty-bound to uphold quaint RAF designation of Air Quarter- ing to about minority groups! Perhaps military discipline. The ability to smile master (AQM) for them. Maintenance the most immediate effect of the RAF through clenched teeth became an es- troops faced a learning curve just as withdrawal was that the Malaysian sential skill on many occasions! steep and formidable. We certainly had Army took over responsibility for in- That having been said, I hasten to our problems. Fortunately, a DeHavil- flight rations. They quickly had to be add that I was welcomed and treated land of Canada Tech Rep was on hand most warmly by the squadron members. for the first critical months. Our paths Continued on Page 27 November 2009 C-7A Caribou Association Page 27

A Different... (from Page 26) vis-à-vis the types being operated by ing from “stomach bugs.” We were un- the RAF in the tactical transport role. accustomed to such rich fare! It became convinced that cold rice and cold deep- I mentioned that the taxation issue harder for her as the small number of fried fish was not the easiest, nor most became significant later and applied ex-pats holding various positions in the desirable, to consume when airborne. only to me. Soon after our return to community also rapidly dwindled and In-country weather was probably just Australia, I was hit with one final by the time we came home, the total like Vietnam. The north-east monsoon whammy. The income tax arrangement European populace was about six. was followed by the south-west mon- had been renegotiated and tax was no A memorable experience for both of soon with oppressive heat and humid- longer payable to Malaysia. us to say the least. We now often laugh ity, so high density altitudes were the However, the deal was made retro- over various episodes, but it was diffi- operating norm. The strips were short spective and I was the only one who cult to see any humour in the situation with some virtually carved out of the had returned home during that interim at the time. jungle and checking guys into them period. I received a demand from the I believe that it would be safe to say was an adventure – probably also just Australian Taxation Office for 11 that it would be highly unlikely that like Vietnam, but without someone months of back taxes and their response anyone else has flown the C-7A while shooting at you. to my explanation that I had already on active duty with three different Air Probably the biggest difference was paid it to Malaysia was a threat to gar- Forces. that we operated with almost complete nish my salary to recoup the “amount I’ve heard it said that many pilots lack of navigation aids, which is not owing, plus a penalty.” I pointed out learn what pure flying is really about great in monsoonal weather. HF was that I had to obtain clearance from their when converted to Caribous. I couldn’t used often when in-country. There were tax authorities before I was cleared to agree more. In my RAAF career span- no radars or landing aids whatsoever leave the country, but to no avail. ning 35 years, without doubt the major- – even at our base – and no navigation The RAAF, to put it mildly, was less ity of my most memorable experiences aids other than the odd Non-Directional than helpful in trying to obtain redress were within that ten years flying the Beacon scattered along the coast. and in effect “hung me out to dry.” It “Jolly Green Gravel Truck” – the old Fortunately, the RMAF Bous were was not until I submitted in writing that Bou provided me with flying that was equipped with an excellent Collins co- we were left with no option other than challenging, interesting, extremely sat- lour radar, when it was working. It was Jacqui contacting our Member of Par- isfying, and thoroughly enjoyable. I’m used almost as much for navigation as liament that there was a flurry of activ- sure that you all feel the same way. it was for weather, even to the point of ity and the matter resolved. Following using “radar shadows” of high ground our return, seconding of further RAAF on occasion. Circumstances dictated personnel ceased. An RMAF officer mainly VFR flying, of sorts, creeping eventually filled my position. Time Is along the valleys under the cloud and, You probably have noted that I used because of the poor quality of the avail- the words “our return.” Jacqui went Running Out!! able maps, “local knowledge” was a with me to Kuala Lumpur and joined Check the mailing label on this valuable asset which had to be acquired me in Borneo soon after cessation of newsletter. If it does not show “2010” quickly. Demanding and challenging hostilities. That saved my sanity, but it or later, then it is TIME TO PAY your flying, but enjoyable none-the-less. certainly was very taxing for her over Caribou Tax or this will be the last Since I was the sole QFI/ Stan Eval/ that 27 months, especially when I was newsletter you will receive. Instrument Rating Examiner in the away. Even swimming in the sea was If you aren’t up to date, you may squadron, my re-qualification checks prevented by the plethora of sea snakes have: were carried out by RAF Transport and other lethal marine creatures. It 1. changed your address and the last Command Examining Unit, who came certainly was not an “idyllic tropical newsletter went to an old address out from the UK regularly to carry island paradise.” 2. just sent in your check out checks at the RAF bases in Sin- Once the RAF withdrew, life for us 3. forgotten to send your check gapore. was greatly changed, especially in re- DO IT TODAY. The COs of that unit claimed for gard to the variety of available food as Write your $10 check to the C-7A Car- themselves the trips across to Borneo the stocks of frozen meat, etc. held by ibou Association and send it to: on those occasions and both spent a the local providers was exhausted, our Mike Murphy number of hours with me savouring diet changed dramatically. Both times 2036 Trailcrest Ln Apt #2 the delights of the Caribou. They were we managed to have a short break in Kirkwood, MO .63122-2263 mightily impressed by its capabilities Singapore, we found ourselves suffer- Page 28 C-7A Caribou Association November 2009

Non Profit Org. 12402 Winding Branch U.S. Postage Paid Tulsa, OK San Antonio, TX 78230-2770 Permit No. 1957 Address Service Requested

Memorabilia

MEMORABILIA ORDER FORM Contact Jim Meyer at [email protected] to check availability of items. Fill out this form and mail with a check to: C-7A Caribou Association, c/o Jim Meyer, 3019 Oneida, San Antonio, TX 78230. 1. Polo Shirt* Size - Please Mark: M L XL XXL Qty.______@ $18.00 Total:______2. Colored T Shirt Size - Please Mark: M L XL XXL Qty.______@ $15.00 Total:______3. Round Engine T Shirt Size - Please Mark: M L XL XXL Qty.______@ $10.00 Total:______4. Denim Shirt Size - Please Mark: M L XL XXL Qty.______@ $25.00 Total:______5. Denim Hat One size fits all Qty.______@ $13.00 Total:______6. Baseball (white) Hat One size fits all Qty.______@ $13.00 Total:______7. 457th Replica Patch Qty.______@ $3.00 Total:______8. 458th Replica Patch Qty.______@ $3.00 Total:______9. 459th Replica Patch Qty.______@ $3.00 Total:______10. 535th Replica Patch Qty.______@ $3.00 Total:______11. 536th Replica Patch Qty.______@ $3.00 Total:______12. 537th Replica Patch Qty.______@ $3.00 Total:______13. 483rd Replica Patch Qty.______@ $3.00 Total:______14. Caribou Lapel Pin Qty.______@ $3.00 Total:______15. Caribou Poster (12" x 18") Qty.______@ $5.00 Total:______16. Caribou Challenge Coin Qty. _____ @ $8.00 Total: ______17. Caribou DVD – 1:10 long (NEW ITEM) Qty: _____ @ $5.00 Total: ______18. Caribou decal (outside) Qty: _____ @ $3.00 Total: ______*Polo shirt colors: White, Gray, Yellow, Red, and Light Blue (please specify) Total: ����������������� Note: Each amount above includes cost of purchasing item and domestic shipping. Any excess funds are a donation to the Association. Photos of items can be seen on the web site: http://www.c-7acaribou.com/memorabilia/memorabilia.htm