May 2013 C-7A Caribou Association Page 1 C-7AC-7A Caribou Association Volume 24, Issue 1

Memorial Bench for Enlisted Heritage Hall

The current plan is to dedicate our Force Enlisted Heritage Hall (AFEHH), be published on our web site, http:// memorial bench at the Gunter Annex honoring USAF enlisted personnel. The www.c-7acaribou.com/ as soon as they of Maxwell AFB, AL on 21 June 2013. bench is unique because its design has are finalized. The date was selected to This bench is very special because it the names of our enlisted personnel provide maximum coverage on the base is located at the premier site, the Air who lost their lives in Vietnam on one (site of the Senior NCO Academy) and, panel and the names of the officers who hopefully,for great press coverage by In This Issue lost their lives on the opposite panel. both the Air Force News Service and President’s Corner...... Page 2 This design allows visitors to the Air the public media. Caribou Artist...... Page 2 Force Enlisted Heritage Hall to focus If you live in an adjoining state or Tet at Kne Sanh ...... Page 3 immediately on the enlisted names as can include the dedication in your early NewMemorabilia...... Page 3 they walk up the walk, between the summer vacation plans, please come to Reunion Activities...... Page 4 memorials to enlisted recipients of the Gunter and make this an occasion to Reno or Bust...... Page 5 Air Force Cross, while still showing remember for years to come. The Price of Freedom...... Page 5 the names of all of our fallen brothers. Presentation of the bench will rec- Phan Thiet Med-Evac...... Page 6 Anyone visiting the AFEHH will ognize our 39 fallen brothers, but will Weather at An Khe ...... Page 6 gaze upon our bench and be reminded also honor all C-7A enlisted person- Engine Backfire...... Page 7 of the sacrifice of these outstanding nel who made possible the numerous Supporting Khe Sanh ...... Page 7 members of the Caribou family. performance records set by the USAF Airdrops at Hoi An ...... Page 7 Specific details of the dedication will Caribous in Vietnam. Air America in SEA ...... Page 8 Six to Nine ...... Page 9 Unwanted ...... Page 10 58 and Still Flying...... Page 11 Dragon’s Fire (Part 1)...... Page 12 My Tour in 1967...... Page 16 CSAF Reading List...... Page 17 USAF X-37B...... Page 17 Colonel Maggie...... Page 18 In the Boonies...... Page 19 Fini Flight to Remember...... Page 20 First Waivered A/C’s...... Page 21 Delbert Lockwood...... Page 21 Tech Rep...... Page 22 Last Day ...... Page 22 Reunion 2014 ...... Page 22 Life After the Bou ...... Page 23 Above and Beyond ...... Page 23 Weather Briefings...... Page 24 Two Trash Haulers ...... Page 26 Time Passes ...... Page 27 Caribou Airlines ...... Page 27 Page 2 C-7A Caribou Association May 2013

The C-7A Caribou Association Newsletter is the official publication of the President’s Corner C-7A Caribou Association. At this year’s Sun ’n Fun Fly-in and Elected Officers and Board Members... Expo, Pat Phillips was honored by the Federal Aviation Administration with Chairman of Board/Vice President - Peter Bird [535, 71] the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award President/Board Member - Pat Hanavan [535, 68] which recognizes pilots who have demon- Treasurer/Board Member - Mike Murphy [537, 68] Secretary/Board Member - Al Cunliffe [458, 68] strated professionalism, skill, and aviation Board Member at Large - Bob Neumayer [459, 69] expertise by maintaining safe operations Board Member at Large - Doug Boston [458, 68] for 50 or more years. We owe a great Board Member at Large - Jim Meyer [483, 71] deal to Pat for his service on the Board of Directors. He vacated his position on the Board a few weeks ago Appointed Positions to be eligible to serve on the Nominating Committee to select a slate Bereavement Chairman - Jay Baker [535, 66] of candidates for our next election. Congratulations and thanks, Pat. Chaplains - Sonny Spurger [537, 68], Jon Drury [537, 68] On 13 February, SecDef Leon Panneta announced the creation of the Historians - Pat Hanavan [535, 68] Distinguished Warrior Medal (to rank ABOVE the Bronze Star) for Robert Blaylock [457,70] remotely piloted vehicle operators and cyber warriors. Considerable Newsletter Editor - Pat Hanavan [535, 68] opposition resulted from veterans all over the country. When Chuck Newsletter Editor Emeritus - Dave Hutchens [459, 69] Hagel was sworn in as SecDef, one of his first acts was to direct a Reunion 2012 Planners - Pat Ford [535, 68] Joe Kurtyka [459, 66] review of this new medal by the Service Chiefs. On 9 April, based Bill Shaw [535, 67] on the recommendation of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Service Webmaster - Peter Bird [535, 71] Secretaries, Secretary Hagel superseded the 13 February memo and President Emeritus - Nick Evanish [457, 66] directed that a distinguishing device be designed to be affixed to ex- Chaplain Emeritus - Bob Davis [457, 69] isting medals rather than awarding the DWM. Hooray for sanity!!! Squadron Representatives... Caribou 457th Royal Moulton [457, 66], phone 540-720-7092 457th Mike Thibodo [457, 70], phone 651-483-9799 Artist 458th Lee Corfield [458, 69], phone 724-775-3027 Tom Dawes [537, 70] th 458 Al Cunliffe [458, 68], phone 334-285-7706 recently purchased sev- 459th Bob Cummings [459, 66], phone 865-859-0888 eral note cards and a larger 535th Cliff Smith [535, 69], phone 804-453-3188 535th Mike Messner [535, 70], phone 321-453-0816 framed print of the Caribou. 536th Dana Kelly [536, 70], phone 407-656-4536 The drawings were done by 536th Chuck Harris [536, 68], phone 325-465-8096 one of our members, Jack 537th George Harmon [537, 69], phone 951-695-0630 Froelich [457, 68], and are 483rd Gary Miller [483, 68], phone 262-634-4117 sold through Redbubble. 4449th Bill Buesking [535, 70], phone 210-403-2635 He was very happy with 18th AP Bill Buesking [535, 70], phone 210-403-2635 them – good quality paper Aviation Hall of Fame and excellent mounting Ron Alexander [459, 66] Members are encouraged to communicate with the and framing. On 27 April, Ron Alexander was Editor of the Newsletter. Send change of address, phone number, or e-mail address to: Editor’s note: Jack is inducted into the Georgia Aviation Pat Hanavan interested in doing other Hall of Fame. Ron is Director of the 12402 Winding Branch pictures of the Caribou, Vintage Aircraft Association and a for- San Antonio, TX 78230-2770 operations, and locations we mer USAF and Delta pilot. He founded [email protected] supported. You can contact the Alexander Aeroplane Company in 210-479-0226 (home), 210-861-9353 (cell) him at jack_froelich@mac. 1979 in Griffin, GA and developed a $10.00 dues are payable each January. Write com. You can see his work hands-on builder education business your check to C-7A Caribou Association (not at http://www.redbubble. that became SportAir Workshops. Ron Mike Murphy) and send it to: com/explore/froelich had his first airplane ride at age 14 and Mike Murphy earned his private pilot certificate at 555 Couch Ave, Apt 432 age 17. He owns and flies a J-3 Cub, a Kirkwood, MO 63122-5564 DC-3, a Waco YMF-5, and a Stearman [email protected] Cloudboy 6L. May 2013 C-7A Caribou Association Page 3

7th AF DFC Citation duck hunting since I got back. I know license. During her college years at S.O. G-2801, 11 Sep 1968 how they feel! Vasser, she earned extra money by tak- We would always land east and ing students for airplane rides. She mar- First Lieutenant Louie Lacy dis- takeoff west out of Khe Sanh because ried Robert Love, an Air Corps Reserve tinguished himself by extraordinary the A Shau Valley was just to the east major. Early in 1942, when he was achievement while participating in with some big guns on a steep bluff that called to active duty in the Munitions aerial flight as a C-7A pilot in Southeast the aircraft had a hard time knocking Building in Washington as the deputy Asia on 26 January 1968. On that date, out. Another memory a DUMB C130 chief of staff of the Ferrying Command, Lieutenant Lacy flew three sorties into driver called Khe Sanh approach and Nancy piloted her own plane for her Khe Sanh Air Base, which had been requested a GCA and everyone on the daily commute to the Operations Office surrounded by hostile forces for sev- freq couldn’t believe it. Approach said of the Second Ferrying Group, Domes- eral weeks and was under continuous are you aware of our situation and his tic Division, near Baltimore. attack. His aircraft received intense reply was be advised I am unfamiliar The Domestic Division was com- hostile fire from automatic weapons with your field and request a GCA manded by Col. William H. Tunner, on each of his three approaches and lucky he didn’t get everyone on board and Nancy Love convinced him of departures. The complete disregard killed. the idea of using experienced women for his own personal safety enabled Some other memories – we were pilots to supplement the existing pilot Lieutenant Lacy to aid in the orderly moved from our beautiful French hotel force. Although Col. Tunner’s proposal resupply of Khe Sanh. The professional in downtown Danang back to the base. to the Army Air Corps was denied, he competence, aerial skill, and devotion The hotel had one good feature. From appointed her to his staff as Executive to duty displayed by Lieutenant Lacy the top floor, with binoculars, you could of Women Pilots in 1942. Within a few reflect great credit upon himself and the see the nurses on the German hospital months she had recruited 29 experi- United States Air Force. ship Helgoland across the street. The enced female pilots to join the newly bad thing was a Nuc Maum factory created Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Tet at Khe Sanh across the street! Squadron (WAFS). by Lou Lacy [459, 67] That same year, Jacqueline Cochran I arrived in Vietnam in late November was appointed Director of Woman’s 1967, the 28th I think. I was assigned to Two Women Flying Training Detachment (WFTD). the 459th TAS at Phu Cat. One of the Two women, from completely op- The WFTD and WAFS were merged first missions I flew was transporting posite economic, social, and cultural on August 5, 1943 to create the para- bodies from Dak To to Pleiku. It was backgrounds, earned common ground military WASP organization at 120 quite a change from the land of the big during the early days of World War II air bases across America. The female BX to this situation. to set a path for women in aviation that pilots of the WASP ended up number- I flew 75.2 hours in December and would steam roll into women’s roles ing 1,074, each freeing a male pilot for even got Christmas off to see Bob Hope today that are without boundaries. combat service and duties. They flew at Phu Cat. I went TDY to Da Nang Jacqueline Cochran was born in over 60 million miles in every type of on 6 Jan1968 because we got an extra 1906 in a cotton-fields-and-sawmill military aircraft. The WASP was grant- $20 per month TDY. I flew 6.0 hours small town in western Florida. It is said ed veteran status in 1977 and given the on 26 Jan 68 doing a shuttle from Da that she grew up in such poverty that Congressional Gold Medal in 2009. “I Nang to Khe Sanh (with Bob Bess and she never owned a pair of shoes until might have been born in a hovel, but I Loren Schnoonover). We were carrying she was nine. As she grew, she loved am determined to travel with the wind supplies into Khe Sanh and sometimes the sight of an airplane and she firmly and the stars,” said Cochran. bringing lucky people out. The proce- believed that one day she would fly. In dure was to never stop on the ramp, 1932, she earned her pilot’s license, keep taxing slowly, shoving cargo off, and she not only flew, she soared. At New Memorabilia then troops would run out and jump on the time of her death in 1980, she held Two new memorabilia items are the tail gate. more international speed, distance and available – a Caribou refrigerator mag- I remember being stacked over Khe altitude records than any other pilot, net and a C-7A ID plate. Examples of Sanh up to about 6000 or 7000 feet male or female. both were sold at the Dover reunion. and the mortars would start hitting the Nancy Harkness Love was born in The magnet is now customized for our airport when the aircraft landed. It felt 1914, the daughter of a wealthy physi- Association. Examples were printed in a little like shooting fish in a barrel, but cian, in Houghton, Michigan. By the the last newsletter. See page 28 or the we were the fish! I have never gone time she was 16, she earned her pilot’s web site for the final versions. Page 4 C-7A Caribou Association May 2013

Reunion Hotel Boeing – Everett Register Now!!! The Seattle hotel for our reunion (9-13 October) is the DoubleTree Suites, Southcenter. Reservations are open now for our group rate. Call 206- 777-3393. Group code is “C7A.” Rate is $99 plus 12.4% tax ($111.28 total). Rate is good from 7-15 October. All rooms are suites. CALL TODAY AND MAKE YOUR ROOM RESERVATION!!!

Museum of Flight On Thursday, 10 October, we will go by chartered bus to the Museum of Flight for a private docent tour. Boeing Plant Tour City Tour for Ladies This museum is one of the best in the On Friday, 11 October, we will go A city tour is being planned for the country. It holds one of the largest and by chartered bus to tour the Boeing ladies while the men are visiting the most comprehensive air and space col- factory in Mukilteo, WA, 25 miles Boeing plant. Details are still being lections in the United States, contain- north of Seattle. The facility is home to arranged, but the following paragraph ing millions of rare photographs and the 747, 767, 777 and 787 Dreamliner gives an idea of what is being planned. negatives, a world-class library, tens production lines. A highly recommended city tour of thousands of artifacts, and over 150 During the tour of the world’s larg- guide will accompany the ladies for a rare aircraft and space vehicles. est building by volume (472,000,000 most interesting tour of the city high- Aircraft holdings include: Boeing cubic feet or 13,385,378 cubic meters), lights. Starting with the perimeter of 80A, B-17F, B-29, B-52G, VC-137B, visitors see airplanes being built for Seattle, you will see the floating homes WB-47E, Canadair CL-13B Sabre, Boeing’s worldwide base of airline on Lake Union and the Ship Canal. Concorde, P-40N, D.H. 106 Comet customers. Two neighborhoods are most interest- 4C, A-4F, DC-2, DC-3, Fiat G-91, The tour lasts 90 minutes. No still ing: Fremont with entertaining outdoor V-1, Fokker D.VII and D.VIII repro- photos or video cameras are allowed on art and the neighborhood of Magnolia ductions, Super Corsair, A-6E, F-14A, the tour. We will view the aircraft being featuring award winning landscaping. F-9F8, Lear Fan 2100, Learjet 23, assembled from tour balconies above The group will travel along the Super Constellation, D-21B drone, F- the production line floor. The 787 line waterfront to Pioneer Square to visit 104C, RQ-3A Dark Star, AV-8C, F-4C, is fascinating – the aircraft being as- the Klondike Gold Rush Museum, the BF-109E, Mig 15, Mig 17, Mig 19, sembled travel along the assembly line galleries, and the glass blowers at the Mig 21, Nieuport 28, P-51D, YF-5A, just like an automobile production line. Glass House Studio. H-21B, P-47D, Rutan Voyager, HH-53, We hope to have time to visit the Paul Traveling through downtown Seattle Sopwith Camel reproduction, Spad Allen museum (the Flying Heritage the flagship store of Starbucks, Nike XIII reproduction, PT-13A, Spitfire Collection) near the Boeing plant in and Nordstrom’s. At the Seattle Center, Mk.IX, Taylor Aerocar III, XF-8U-1, conjunction with the Boeing tour. you visit the Chihuly Glass Museum and Yak 9U. and Gardens. This stop includes ad- Apollo Command Module 007A, ditional time to see Paul Allen’s music various Apollo engineering mockups, Reunion Speakers museum, an architectural wonder International Space Station Laboratory Several speakers are being lined up shaped like smashed guitars, and time mock-up, and Soyuz descent module. for our reunion. Topics include the on your own to visit the observation Artifacts include military and air- Women’s Air Service Pilots (WASPs) deck of the Needle. line uniforms, insignia, and a cutaway of WW II, test flying the Boeing 787, Lunch at the Pike Place Market which model of the Boeing SST. and reflections on the Vietnam War by is the most visited site in Seattle. Lunch will be on-your-own at the a Marine veteran and CIA pilot of the A visit to a private, historic home is Wings Cafe in the museum. conflict. also being considered. May 2013 C-7A Caribou Association Page 5

completed an airdrop of vitally needed th 7 AF DFC Citation water, medical supplies and ammuni- S.O. G-0386, 3 Feb 1971 tion. Sergeant Nickerson’s entire load landed within the small perimeter of the Staff Sergeant Gilbert Nickerson besieged camp and was recovered by distinguished himself by extraordinary friendly forces. The professional skill achievement while participating in aer- and airmanship displayed by Sergeant ial flight as a C-7A Flight Engineer at Nickerson reflect great credit upon Tien Phuoc, Republic of Vietnam on 26 himself and the United States Air Force. December 1969. On that date, Sergeant We’re pretty sure you have the wrong Nickerson completed three sorties into The Price of Freedom house, but hey; come on in and we’ll Tien Phuoc in adverse weather carrying by Rusty Bradley [USA SF] talk about it. vitally needed ammunition. The base from Lions of Kandahar was under intense hostile fire, but off Editor’s Reading List loading was accomplished in minimum If in fact it is your time to be called Lions of Kandahar by Rusty time due to the precise performance of before God, you typically won’t know Bradley and Kevin Maurer. Sergeant Nickerson. The professional it. Sometimes you will, and these are ISBN 9780553807578 competence, aerial skill, and devotion the hardest of times ─ when the blood Politically Incorrect Guide to the to duty displayed by Sergeant Nicker- pours from your nose and down your Vietnam War by Phillip Jennings. son reflect great credit upon himself and throat, clogging it, causing you to ISBN 9781596985674 the United States Air Force. spit and gag. You heave for breath in Thunder Below by Rear Adm. Eugene the smoke and dust. Your equipment B. Fluckey. ISBN 978-0252066702 seems to suffocate you. You wipe the salty sweat and grime from your eyes, Reno Or Bust only to realize it is blood, either yours by Jerry York [537, 67] or that of the enemy. You would stand The slogan of C-7A Caribou pilots but you can’t move your legs. You grasp and crew members of the 537th Tactical the open, gaping wounds in your body, Airlift Squadron at Phu Cat Air Base trying not to pass out from the pain. could well have been “Reno or Bust.” You feel the anger thinking of the loved To get there, we would have traveled ones you will never see again, and los- a distance of 9,480 miles. The distance ing your life infuriates your soul. You was verified on an oil painting received rage to get to your feet and grab for a by the squadron for the crew lounge. weapon, any weapon. Regardless of The four-by-eight-foot mural was your race, culture, or religion, you want sent by Harold’s Club of Reno, in to die standing, fighting like a warrior, response to my request. The flight an American, so others won’t have to. mechanics got together one evening Gilbert Nickerson [459, 70] For those looking for a definition: in the lounge and decided we needed This is the price of freedom. something to adorn the wall. 7th AF Air Medal Citation I suggested a painting and was sub- S.O. G-0319, 29 Jan 1971 Historical Quotes sequently elected by the others to write the letter to Harold’s. Sending several Staff Sergeant Gilbert Nickerson Intuition is often crucial in combat, pictures of the Caribou, I asked if it distinguished himself by heroism while and survivors learn not to ignore it. – would be possible to get a painting of participating in aerial flight as a C-7A Col. F. F. Parry, USMC (Ret.) a cowboy astride a Caribou, since we Flight Engineer at Dak Seang Special Wars may be fought with weapons, called ourselves the “Caribou Cow- Forces Camp, Republic of Vietnam on but they are won by men. – Gen. George boys.” 12 April 1970. At that time, the camp S. Patton, Jr. We were all astounded when we had been under siege for several days, Regard your soldiers as your chil- received the huge oil painting. It was supplies were critical, with no other dren, and they will follow you into the almost unbelievable. The picture was means of resupply. Sergeant Nickerson, deepest valleys. Look on them as your exactly what we had requested and working skillfully in complete darkness own beloved sons, and they will stand much more than we had ever hoped for. of a blacked out aircraft, successfully by you even unto death! – Sun Tzu Page 6 C-7A Caribou Association May 2013

7th AF DFC Citation By the time we got to Phan Thiet, “procuring” food from supply missions S.O. G-1470, 17 May 1968 it was dark. We flew over where we and the medical assistance our flight Lieutenant Colonel Guy D. Perham assumed the field was – it was totally surgeon volunteered to the orphans distinguished himself by extraordinary blacked out – and I thought I saw what and the residents of an old folks’ home. achievement while participating in looked like the end of the runway. I After all the blood was shed, accord- aerial flight as a C-7A Aircraft Com- initiated a timed 90-2700 turn that I ing to General Abrams in The Abrams mander near Phan Thiet, Republic thought would somewhat line me up Tapes, 1968-1972 (worth reading), we of Vietnam on 24 February 1968. for a landing. Still unable to see squat, won the war and then our Congress On that date, Colonel Perham was an Army Huey pilot on the ground told gave it all away by refusing funds to diverted on an emergency medical me that he would orbit at the end of the support South Vietnam. evacuation to Phan Thiet where 15 runway and when I thought I was lined Vietnamese civilians were seriously up on final he would turn on his landing Weather At An Khe burned. Through Colonel Perham’s light for a reference. Wish I knew who by Jerry Smith [537, 67] leadership and outstanding ability, he he was, because he saved the mission It was monsoon season and I was landed at Phan Thiet where no runway and possibly our sorry little rear ends. returning to Phu Cat after a trip up into lighting was available, a low overcast We got on the ground, taxied to where I Corps. I should have refueled along obscured any available moonlight and three ambulances awaited us, and up- the way, but knew I could make it to high gusty crosswinds prevailed, an act loaded 18 civilians, mostly all burned Phu Cat. Got there, but they had a major which undoubtedly saved the lives of in some degree. The first two were monsoon storm roll in and they were some of the patients. The professional little boys on a litter. I’ll never forget below minimums. I circled a bit, but competence, aerial skill, and devotion that. The rest were walk-on patients. they repeatedly said “No dice” and “Go to duty displayed by Colonel Perham Our med-evac team went to work on to the alternate.” I started out VFR, but reflect great credit upon himself and them while we taxied down the runway now I was in the soup toward An Khe. the United States Air Force. with no lights and fearing the sound of Approach Control was off the air, mortars that we were sure would be in- so I flew needle to the ADF and set up Phan Thiet Med-Evac coming as soon as Charlie zeroed in on a holding pattern – no other nav aids by Guy Perham [535, 67] us. Back at Vung Tau, we off-loaded, were working. The tower said they had Our missions in 1968 were 12 hours shut down, and went to the bar. just gone below minimums! I held for long. Mission time started at takeoff Later that month, my copilot had to a while, but the fuel gages told me I and ended when you landed at the end have knee surgery. While he was in a was running out of time. It was late in of the day. It made for long days. One wheelchair at the hospital, the two little my tour and I knew the area very well. of our missions racked up a record of boys recognized him as one of the crew Suddenly, a sucker hole opened up just 22 sorties, 22 loadings, 22 takeoffs, 22 that evacuated them from Phan Thiet. enough to let me see a small stretch landings on mostly improvised strips, From that time on, they would push him of road to Pleiku that I recognized. I 22 exposures to the enemy, and 22 in his wheelchair wherever he needed to spiraled, followed the road to An Khe, off-loads. During the Tet Offensive of go. A great reward for what he did for and called the tower for a Special VFR 1968, my crew was on the tail end of them and the other 16 victims. approach. They said “No way.” They a mission supporting Special Forces Later, I flew in to Phan Thiet during were below minimums. I declared an camps in III Corps when we got a call daylight. The infield was packed with emergency and said I was coming in. from the ALCC asking if we would choppers and other Army aircraft. In the There were enough breaks in the volunteer to fly a med-evac mission out midst of all this was a 150 ft. antenna. clouds to let me slip onto the runway. of Phan Thiet. We agreed and diverted Had we had to make a go-around from The tower was used to crazy Huey to our “home plate” in Vung Tau to pick a missed approach, we would have stunts, so I wasn’t written up or re- up a med-evac team. Since none of us been toast. ported. We taxied in, parked, and the had been to Phan Thiet, I wanted to That’s a story I am very proud of. #1 engine sputtered and died. It would get there while there was still daylight. I thought of that night many times not do to spread this story about a Flight We landed at Vung Tau, reconfigured after I returned home, commanding a Examiner with over 1100 hours in- for the new mission, and took on the tanker squadron and having to tell my country, so I swore the copilot and flight med-evac team of three. Unfortunately, squadron members not to wear their engineer to secrecy. Shortly, I left Viet- the team forgot the keys to the medical uniforms off base lest they be spit on nam in one piece. Lot of mistakes and equipment boxes, so we were further by a completely uninformed public. I lessons learned. I was overwhelmed by delayed until our flight mechanic thought of all the real good we did in God’s answering my prayers and giving solved the problem with the crash ax. Vietnam - the orphanage we fed by me that sucker hole!! May 2013 C-7A Caribou Association Page 7

the receptacle located on the bulkhead went back to Danang to refuel and get Engine Backfire behind the pilot’s seat. In flight, the another load of badly needed supplies. by Bill Duvall [536, 66] maintenance man could watch all the On the second run, we flew down the I read with interest the article, Sierra cylinders firing. river just above the water then came up Hotel, by Dick Besley in the Nov 2008 Hopefully, when the R-2000 back- enough to clear the treetops and landed. issue about the R-2000 engines. From fired its one time, the mechanic could After off-loading, we departed rapidly, mid Dec 1966 to Dec 1967, I was the see it on the analyzer. After the plane usually before the enemy knew we were assistant 535th Field Maintenance en- landed, we would change the correct there. On the next trip, we spiraled gine shop chief at Vung Tau. Our shop cylinder, saving an engine change and down for our landing, We were very was responsible for the 60 engines in the Air Force a pretty penny. I don’t lucky that no one was hit. The Marines both the 535th and 536th squadrons. know if this practice continued after held the air strip and surrounding area Moving into the Army engine shop, I left, but during my tour it worked for more than 45 days against all that we discovered pieces of 3 Bendix porta- numerous times. the NVA could throw at them. ble ignition analyzers. We were able to get enough parts from the three to make 7th AF DFC Citation one good one. This came in very handy S.O. G-2555, 19 Aug 1968 in trouble-shooting the engine ignition Technical Sergeant Lewis E. Fry system. The R-2000 had a problem with is awarded the Distinguished Flying lead buildup on the spark plugs, fouling Cross for extraordinary achievement them out. We implemented a procedure while participating in aerial flight as a of taking the analyzer with us to the C-7A Fight Engineer in Southeast Asia launch area every morning and standing on 28 January 1968. On that date, Ser- by as the crew did their run ups. This geant Fry participated in three flights Airdrops at Hoi An Caribou Courier, February 1968 way, we were able to fix any problem into the Khe Sanh Air Base, which had and send the aircraft on its way. After been surrounded by hostile forces for Under a low cloud deck, a flight of the Australians found out we had the several weeks. Sergeant Fry’s aircraft three C-7A’s of the 459th TAS, escorted analyzer, they would ask us to run it on received intense automatic weapons by helicopter gunships, airdropped am- their planes when they had problems. fire on all three sides during approaches munition to Regional Forces and Popu- A big problem was that the engines and departures that day. Once on the lar Forces under heavy attack south of tended to backfire one time during ground, Sergeant Fry worked with great the Hoi An River on 4 Feb 1968. flight. A red X would be out on the en- speed and efficiency in off-loading the “It was a successful and satisfying gine write up when the plane returned. supplies which he had carried in and mission,” Lt Col James K. Secrest, We would do everything we could to then secured the aircraft for takeoff. leader of the flight, remarked, “All fix the problem, but to no avail. We The complete disregard for his own crew members performed well under would have to sign it off as “unable to personal safety enabled Sergeant Fry to the adverse conditions and delivered duplicate.” As everybody knows, flight aid in keeping an orderly flow of sup- the cargo with pinpoint accuracy.” crews hate to see that. plies into Khe Sanh. The professional Minor battle damage was inflicted If the problem continued, we had no competence, aerial skill, and devotion upon the third Caribou of the flight choice but to change the engine. We to duty displayed by Sergeant Fry re- flown by Capt Harry C. Pund and 1/Lt pretty much knew what was causing flect great credit upon himself and the Michael D. Smith. the problem, but could not isolate it. United States Air Force. “We had just started our run when Dallas Airmotive was the overhaul fa- we took four rounds from an automatic cility for the R-2000. In the process of Supporting Khe Sanh weapon. Most of the hits were in the by Lew Fry [459, 70] overhauling the engine, they sometimes right wing and we started streaming set the valve guides too tight, causing When I was assigned to fly missions fuel. We completed the drop and then a valve to stick occasionally. A simple into the Khe Sanh area, I had flown headed for home.” cylinder change would fix this problem there before and it wasn’t too bad. We Note: Lt Col Secrest; Capt Robert D. if we could figure out which cylinder. would fly over the base and spiral down Drake, Jr; Capt Harry C. Pund; 1/Lt Mi- We decided that the only way to find within the base perimeter to reduce the chael D. Smith; SSgt James M. Allen; the problem cylinder was to send an chance of getting hit by ground fire. and Sgt Tommie L. Williams received engine specialist along with the plane Today was different; the base was under the Distinguished Flying Cross for on its next mission. We would plug heavy attack by everything you could these missions to Tra Kieu (15 miles the Cannon plug of the analyzer into think of. We made our first landing and southwest of Hoi An). Page 8 C-7A Caribou Association May 2013

U.S. military personnel flying all over with no explanation and no idea of Air America in SEA Laos in violation of the 1962 Geneva the fate of their fathers and husbands. by Gene Rossel Accords. C-123’s and C-130’s, oper- There were several indications that the Air Commando Association ated by Air America pilots, picked up crew had been captured and were be- America sincerely wanted to honor ammunition from Udorn at a site called ing held prisoner and all this added to her commitments and while America Pepper Grinder and flew into Laos to the family’s anxiety. Eventually, it was did not sign the 1954 U.N. convention, the various sites manned by Raven determined that all had perished, but it they did sign the 1962 Geneva Accords. personnel. In fact, Air Force pilots took several years. All American military personnel left would fly their C-130’s to Udorn and There were two other C-123’s shot Laos. They really didn’t leave com- hang around the Air America restaurant down with no explanation as well. Ev- pletely. They established a military and pool while Air America crews flew ery one of these people were veterans presence in Thailand. The North Viet- them into Laos. that deserved their country’s honor. namese did not leave Laos and every In December 1971, George Ritter, They were killed in action, but have president from Eisenhower to Nixon Roy Townley, Edward Weiseenback received very little respect. In all, 146 considered Laos to be the lynch pin and Khamphanh Saysongkham loaded Air America flight crews were killed preventing communist encroachment up at Pepper Grinder in a C-123. This in action and 35% of them were from throughout the Pacific Rim. was an Air Force aircraft and not FAA 1969 to 1973. There was a dilemma and the solu- certified and did not have an N number. It was in this period that Nixon decid- tion was Air America. Kennedy ordered The last three numbers of the aircraft ed on a course of action to end the war. H-34 helicopters, DHC-4 Caribous, serial number were 293. Their destina- He escalated the war in Laos, drawing and C-123 providers transferred to Air tion was LS69A located on the west the North Vietnamese out of Vietnam America. All military inscriptions were side of Northern Laos and they were to protect the Ho Chi Minh road, mak- removed. Initially, this was mostly for loaded with white phosphorus rounds ing it look like the South Vietnamese SAR and the Secretary of State, Dean used by the Raven FACs to spot enemy could handle their defense without U.S. Rusk, ordered Air America to be the positions for incoming armed Air Force assistance. U.S. troops were pulled out primary SAR for Northern Laos. The aircraft. The wind was stronger from and the war in Vietnam actually ended U.S. military handled the South with the South that day and there was a low in 1972. Many Air Force crews were Air America acting as secondary. layer of clouds obscuring the ground. shot down over the road, but Nixon At first, spotters for artillery and The normal route is North and then could not afford an obvious military armed aircraft bombing operations, West staying south of the Mekong river. presence in Laos. called Butterflies, flew in Air America The Chinese were in the process of Air America was thrust into a com- aircraft. Certain Air America pilots building a road from China through Pak bat role more so than ever and several were designated as T-28 pilots and Beng and had heavy artillery guarding C-123’s, DHC-4 Caribous, and other they provided close air support for it. No one really has explained why it aircraft were shot down and the crew military operations in Laos, as well needed guarding. Apparently, 293 flew killed during this period. One of the as SAR close air support. This was too far North and was shot down by the more famous rescues involved a C-130 ordered by Johnson and had nothing Chinese. Jim Ryan, chief pilot of fixed gun ship with a call sign of Spectre 22. whatsoever to do with the CIA. The wing operations in Laos, flew inside a They were shot down over the road east CIA was primarily involved with the Volbar Turbo Beech in the area drop- of Pakse. All 15 were rescued. Two Hmong in northern Laos. Air America ping leaflets asking for any information of those rescued were picked up right was also designated as joint SAR for about the crew, who had simply disap- on the road by Air America. I was the Site 85 and it was Air America who peared. They were hit and Jim was pilot on H-45, an H-34 helicopter, that rescued the survivors after they were badly wounded causing him to lose the picked up the copilot. The other crew over-run in 1968. lower portion of one leg. He recovered member was picked up by my wing- Later in the 60’s the Ravens took and went back to flying with a artificial man, Bruce Jachens. The C-130 crew over the T-28 operations for a couple limb. Years later, it was reported there received all kinds of medals, including of reasons. They wanted the job, and was a site near Pak Beng where vegeta- the Air Force Cross. The SAR was “so called civilians” operating mili- tion would never grow and an obvious written up by Stars and Stripes, but tary aircraft in combat was difficult fire. It was confirmed this was the crash Air America was redacted. Bruce and to explain to inquiring congressional site, but with the White Phosphorous I never received anything. We didn’t members and journalists. Still, the load the crew probably evaporated really ask for anything, but a pat on the Ravens needed to be supplied and the before they hit the ground. U.S. Government did not want to have The families were quickly sent home Continued on Page 9 May 2013 C-7A Caribou Association Page 9

97 tankers at Hunter AFB, Savannah, of Luzon Island, so continued use of Air America (from Page 8) GA. We would periodically deploy to the gyro heading would take us to one back would have been nice. Saying we the Azores, to refuel B-47 bombers of the Chinas. I quickly turned to the did it just because we happened to be deploying to North African bases. The B-16 heading and started inbound to in the area and were ambulance chasers trip was 12 hours- 4 hours to Kindley the TACAN. is not what I call nice. The Air Force AB in Bermuda, 4 hours to Ocean Sta- To say the least, I was relieved. We requested our assistance. Once at night tion Echo – not a good alternate- and touched down in Manila International and the next day. King 27 was in con- 4 hours to Lajes Field in the Azores. Airport nine hours after takeoff. With a trol and we were under his control. He The KC-97 used the N-1 compass little bit of experience and lot of luck, wrote the story and did say Air America system. The KC-97 also had a live we saved three crew members and a was involved, which I appreciate. navigator with dangerous telescopic C-7A. Thank goodness for bladders. Ironically, you can’t write the true equipment, and VOR, DME, and history of the war in Laos, or even Viet- TACAN. The story goes (usually told at nam without mentioning Air America. pre-deployment missions briefings) that B-17 Navigator’s Log The picture you sent of Saigon clearly one unnamed crew wound up heading shows the Air America ramp. I was due north at Ocean Station Echo. The flying Porters there in ‘67, ‘68 and fate of the crew and aircraft was never half of ‘69 before going to Laos and, revealed, but the cause of the problem knowing the Porter, it is easy to spot in was real. Compass system gyros would the picture along with the C-46 aircraft. periodically precess. Therefore, it was 10-4-43 Mission #3. Hanau, Ger- a good idea to periodically check your many. Frankfurt rubber works. Biggest heading with the B-16 magnetic com- rubber plant in Germany. 100 miles Six Into Nine pass heading. Even though this was the inland. We were in the lead group. 2½ by Dick Kent [536, 67] era of SAC checklists, we did not seem hours over Germany and France. The Sometime during the summer of to have one for the “hours and hours lead navigator got lost and bombed St. 1968, I was selected to ferry a C-7A of boredom followed by moments of Dizier, France. Looked just like Hanau, from Vung Tau to Manila, Philippines. stark terror.” Germany. Fighters (ME 109’s) attacked I recall that Philippine Airlines (PAL) Our Vung Tau departure was normal us at the target. Nine 109’s attacked us had the IRAN contract for the Boo. I and on time. Some time after takeoff, I head-on 30 min. later. We hit a cloud was to drop off one and pick up another attempted to contact our control center of flak at the same time. We were hit for ferry back to Vung Tau. on UHF. That radio was dead. I tried by flak in the wing – a nice hole. The The trip was planned for six hours VHF. No contact. About 2 ½ hours into 109’s peeled off one by one and came and two 250 gallon fuel bladders were the mission, I noticed our heading had in head-on. I got some good bursts in installed. The weather was good and moved about 5 degrees right. I figured at 10:00. One 17 feathered a couple of the direction was generally due east. it was poor piloting and corrected back props and dropped down. The 109’s The departure time was noon, so we to the left. In another 30 minutes, the lined up and took turns on him. They would get there before dark. heading had again moved to the right. probably got him. 20 min. later we We had our normal complement of At this time, I recalled the KC-97 ran into more flak. Nine more 109’s radio and navigation gear. I arrived in story, and started checking the gyro attacked from head-on. Think we got Vietnam not long after one of our 155 heading with the B-16. The precession, a couple of them this time. We then mm howitzers had shot the tail off of a which occurs very slowly, continued. hit the Dutch coast and across. One C-7A, with catastrophic results. Soon For whatever reason, I would split the 17 crashed in England. Shot up too thereafter, FM radios were installed so B-16 and gyro headings and correct bad. All of the crew bailed out. When we could talk with the local artillery. back to the right. I turned on everything we landed, we found four holes in our These were short-range radios, so of we had working, including the TACAN. plane – one of which was beside me little use for this ferry trip. Navigation About 5 ½ hours airborne, the under the copilot’s seat. We’ll have to gear included the J-2 gyro compass TACAN locked onto Laoag TACAN go back there again. system, a B-16 magnetic compass, and with a DME of 125 miles. I recalled that an ADF. We had no VOR, but TACAN the TACAN direction card would rotate had been recently installed. Other radio with the gyro compass, but the needle gear included VHF, UHF and HF, and indication was true. We were 125 miles we had our weather radar. northwest of Laoag, heading northwest. Earlier in my career, I had flown KC- Laoag is located at the northwest tip Page 10 C-7A Caribou Association May 2013

JUST A COMMON SOLDIER by A. Lawrence Vaincourt He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast, And he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past. Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done, In his exploits with his buddies; they were heroes, every one. And tho’ sometimes, to his neighbors, his tales became a joke, All his Legion buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke. But we’ll hear his tales no longer for old Bill has passed away, And the world’s a little poorer, for a soldier died today. He will not be mourned by many, just his children and his wife, For he lived an ordinary and quite un- eventful life. Held a job and raised a family, quietly Unwanted going his own way, to battle, but we know by John Lloyd [535, 68] And the world won’t note his passing, It was not the politicians, with their I arrived at Vung Tau in early October though a soldier died today. compromise and ploys, from 8th Aerial Port Squadron (APS) When politicians leave this earth, Who won for us the freedom that our in Saigon, where I started my tour on their bodies lie in state, Country now enjoys. 29 June. I came from Norton AFB, CA While thousands note their passing and Should you find yourself in danger, where I was a C-141 loadmaster. proclaim that they were great. with your enemies at hand, I was assigned to the 8th APS as a Papers tell their whole life stories, from Would you want a politician with his C-130 Loadmaster. However, no one the time that they were young, ever-shifting stand? at MPC had bothered sending me to But the passing of a soldier goes un- Or would you prefer a soldier, who has C-130 Loadmaster school at Little noticed and unsung. sworn to defend Rock AFB. When I tried to sign in at the Is the greatest contribution to the His home, his kin and Country and Aerial Port, they just scoffed! A C-141 welfare of our land would fight until the end? Loadmaster is of very little use on grass A guy who breaks his promises and He was just a common soldier and and dirt landing zones! cons his fellow man? his ranks are growing thin, It took 93 days, going to the CBPO Or the ordinary fellow who, in times of But his presence should remind us we every day, to get an assignment from war and strife, may need his like again. there. Finally, I got an assignment to the Goes off to serve his Country and offers For when countries are in conflict, then 483rd Tactical Airlift Wing at Cam Ranh up his life? we find the soldier’s part Bay. Three or four days later, I was sent A politician’s stipend and the style in Is to clean up all the troubles that the to Vung Tau AAF. (535th TAS). Here we which he lives politicians start. go again! No one there much wanted a Are sometimes disproportionate to the If we cannot do him honor while he’s C-141 Loadmaster either! service that he gives. here to hear the praise, I talked them into letting me “fly While the ordinary soldier, who offered Then at least let’s give him homage at along.” I read and reread the -1 about up his all, the ending of his days. five times. Then, I browbeat the senior Is paid off with a medal and perhaps, a Perhaps just a simple headline in a NCOs into giving me a check ride and pension small. paper that would say, taking my case to the Commander, Lt It’s so easy to forget them for it was Our Country is in mourning, for a sol- Col Harry Hunter. Finally, a waiver was so long ago, dier died today. granted allowing me to fly as a qualified That the old Bills of our Country went Caribou FE/FM. A home at last! May 2013 C-7A Caribou Association Page 11

58 And Still Flying Dragon Lady Recruiting The U-2 provides high-altitude, all- weather surveillance and reconnais- sance, day or night, in direct support of U.S. and allied forces. It delivers critical imagery and signals intelligence to decision makers throughout all phases of conflict, including peacetime indications and warnings, low-intensity conflict, and large-scale hostilities. The U-2 is powered by a lightweight , fuel efficient General Electric F118-101 The Air Force is searching for of- ment letter, and a statement of intent. engine, which negates the need for air ficers to pilot the U-2 “Dragon Lady,” “Once the pilot submits the paper refueling on long duration missions. a reconnaissance aircraft that provides package, we look at it,” the commander The U-2S Block 10 electrical system critical high-altitude intelligence, sur- stated. “We’ll call him/her if we feel upgrade replaced legacy wiring with veillance, and reconnaissance to the the pilot would make a good candidate, advanced fiber-optic technology and nation’s decision makers. and then the person goes through a two- lowered the overall electronic noise Lt. Col. Stephen Rodriguez, 1st Re- week interview process.” signature to provide a quieter platform connaissance Squadron commander at “We are looking for mature, experi- for the newest generation of sensors. Beale Air Force Base, and Maj. “Eric” enced pilots who show a good degree The aircraft has the following sen- a pilot with the 1st RS, gave a recruiting of airmanship and who are also good sor packages: electro-optical infrared presentation at the Scott AFB theater on officers,” said Rodriguez, who has 19 camera, optical bar camera, advanced Dec. 5, 2012 to inform interested pilots years of flying experience. Rodriguez synthetic aperture radar, signals intel- on how the U-2 program works, and added that the wing has a limited num- ligence, and network-centric commu- how to apply for the position. ber of U-2 pilot openings. nication. During the presentation, Rodriguez “We will produce up to 24 pilots a A U-2 Reliability and Maintainability and Eric talked about the history of the year. Typically we look for captains (RAM) program provided a complete U-2, the expansion of the program to all the way up to young lieutenant redesign of the cockpit with digital the year 2025, training requirements, colonels. Some first lieutenants actu- color multifunction displays and up- and why the U-2 program would be ally qualify.” front avionics controls to replace the something to pursue. The presentation provided useful 1960’s vintage round dial gauges which “The U-2 is unique – it’s a single- information to the pilots who attended. were no longer supportable. pilot mission,” Rodriguez said. “It’s “I thought the presentation was The U-2R, first flown in 1967, was 40 very challenging for an aviator. The outstanding,” 1st Lt. Aleksey Tyabus, percent larger and more capable than mission is never routine.” Pilots in- a C-21 pilot at Scott, stated. “They an- the original aircraft. A tactical recon- terested in flying the U-2 should start swered a ton of questions for everyone naissance version, the TR-1A, first flew the application a year before they are there. They were clear about the U-2’s in August 1981 and was structurally going to PCS. mission and how important the U-2 is identical to the U-2R. “We’ll interview the pilot at six in the fight. Their presentation gave The last U-2 and TR-1 aircraft were months out, and we would bring him/ all the information needed to make an delivered in October 1989. In 1992, her out during their PCS time,” Rodri- informed decision on choosing whether all TR-1’s and U-2’s were designated guez said. or not this is the aircraft and lifestyle as U-2Rs. Since 1994, $1.7 billion has Pilots, who meet the requirements, for me. This was a big motivational been invested to modernize the U-2 should put together a package, which boost, and I guarantee that my applica- airframe and sensors. These upgrades includes all their officer performance tion will be going to the U-2 program also included the transition to the GE reports, a wing commander endorse- very soon.” F118-101 engine which resulted in the re-designation of all Air Force U-2 throughout the program’s history. On from Beale Air Force Base, CA, to the aircraft to the U-2S. Feb. 10, Maj. Mark made it 30 pilots. 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance On Feb. 9, 2012, there were only The major, whose last name was with- Squadron. 29 pilots in the world who had ever held for operational security reasons, During U-2 test flights in 1956-1958, reached 2,000 hours flying the U-2 achieved the milestone while deployed ten pilots lost their lives in accidents. Page 12 C-7A Caribou Association May 2013

Dragon’s Fire (Part 1) by Col. Ron Terry, USAF (Ret.) In 1926, 1st Lt Fred Nelson was a flight instructor at Brooks Field, San Antonio. He had been teaching pilots to attack targets “the way it’s always been done” – straight-in strafing passes with guns blazing forward. He knew there had to be a better way. When attacking a target in a conventional way, the pilot had to fly away from the target after each pass and then had to reacquire the target before the next pass. Nelson had an idea. One morning, he drove around the gunnery range marking ground targets with bags of lime. He then went back to the airfield, took a .30 cal machine gun and mounted it so it was pointing out the left side of his De Havilland DH-4 biplane. Nelson rigged a gunsight on the wing strut, got in, and took off. His fellow pilots, who started. Can you imagine the difference the target, but must then turn and come watched his shenanigans, thought he a fleet of gunships could have made back before being permitted another was off his rocker. Nelson flew around to the outcome of the many battles burst of fire …” the ground targets and, with pinpoint in Europe and throughout the Pacific MacDonald received no response – accuracy, hit each one. Islands? Thousands of American and someone didn’t think his idea worthy His concept was proven effective. He Allied lives might have been saved. of one. In 1945, MacDonald recom- had found a better way – flying in a py- Another young officer, Gilmour mended a transverse firing super lon turn meant he never lost sight of the Craig MacDonald also challenged the bazooka, plus rockets, be installed in target area and therefore had complete status quo. MacDonald was a “blow aircraft to pin down troops in foxholes control. When he landed, Nelson im- up the chemistry lab boy,” a teen and – again, as it flew a pylon turn. And mediately and excitedly told his com- adult inventor, and all-round risk taker. once again, no response. This hand- mander of his idea and the results. He He was assigned to a coastal battery in some Army flier, auto-racer, and glider was devastated when his commander Oahu during WW II. He had already pilot was persistent and when, in 1961, told him to stop flying around in circles invented a gunsight for antiaircraft President Kennedy called for methods and “do it by the book.” guns when he proposed a side-firing of dealing with counterinsurgency The stories of Nelson’s side-firing aircraft – a gunship. He knew of Nel- operations in Vietnam, MacDonald gunship spread, but not until 1939 son and Crane and went at the problem once more submitted his side-firing did another imaginative pilot try to do from a different angle. In a letter to his gunship proposal. At last he received something about it. Capt. Carl Crane’s headquarters in 1942 he wrote: a response! From Gen. Disosway, the thesis at the Air Corps Tactical School “Dear Sirs: With a view to providing Commander of Tactical Air Command, was for the adoption of a side-firing means for continuous fire upon sub- came the words, “The silliest idea I’ve airplane. Crane knew about Nelson’s marines forced to the surface (German ever heard.” Perhaps the general saw exploits and expounded on them by rec- subs were blowing up a lot of ships the idea of a gunship as a threat to his ommending a two-man airplane with as along the East coast), it is proposed fighter-bombers and thus a threat to many as 12 machine guns sticking out that a fixed machine gun be mounted future funding, mission assignments, the side. His vision saw the gunship transversely in the aircraft so that by etc? MacDonald called the response attacking mass flights of bombers, as flying a continually banked circle, the “parochial stupidity and unwillingness well as “antiaircraft machine guns and pilot may keep the undersea-craft under to even try an unconventional weapon.” gun emplacements, small sea craft, and continuous fire if necessary. It will be Undaunted, MacDonald got an AF troop concentrations.” What foresight! realized that aircraft with normal types Reserve buddy of his, Ralph Flexman, Especially in 1939, with WW II already of gun mounting may make one pass at Continued on Page 13 May 2013 C-7A Caribou Association Page 13

was convinced live tests would prove Terry’s vision was for the gunship to Dragon’s Fire (from Page 12 the effectiveness of the gunship, but be like a police patrol car – ready to go to come to the Targets Lab at Eglin the word was “dabbling in weapons anywhere, anytime, on short notice and AFB for his annual two-week active trajectories was stretching a research with enough firepower and loiter time duty tour. Flexman was Assistant Chief psychologist’s duties a bit too far.” to inflict severe damage to the enemy Engineer at Bell Aerosystems and was This battering would have stopped and stop attacks before the enemy himself an inventor. They brainstormed most men dead in their tracks. Not Si- escaped. Furthermore, firing from a together and Flexman was told of the mons ... he persisted. One of his bosses left pylon turn gave the pilot complete side-firing gunship and the dismal gave him “under the table” approval control over the target area, unlike responses. for a few test flights – without arma- conventional fighters that required a Flexman became a proponent of the ment. Day and night, Simons and other forward air controller in order to make gunship idea. He briefed his bosses at buddy pilots flew around Ohio selecting a strike. Ron Terry was hooked. Thirty- Bell and wrote a letter to his Air Force targets as they banked the C-131 and eight years after Fred Nelson’s flight in counterpart about the advantages of T-28 aircraft into left turn circles. They 1926, Terry restored momentum to the the side-firing gunship in a limited war marveled at the simplicity and the ease gunship idea! He received permission situation – such as Vietnam. He also with which a target could be acquired to work the project and he and John sent a copy of that letter to his friend and held in the sight. Along the high- Simons flew several flights with gun Capt. John C. Simons, along with ways of Ohio, trucks and cars would camera simulators. the suggestion that a test program be stop and passengers would get out and Simons reiterated that a live test was initiated to prove the gunship theory. look at the crazy airplane pilot who was needed to show the skeptics. Terry John Simons was a psychologist who, flying around in circles. With cameras submitted a scenario to the Limited like Flexman, was working on the simulating guns, Simons presented the War Office, which showed a tactical human aspects of flight. He worked proof to an Aeronautical Systems Divi- operation employing a gunship, mainly at the Aerospace Medical Research sion panel, which gave the project “zero in defense of villages and forts. They Laboratory at Wright-Patterson AFB, priority.” Simons appropriately named liked it ... but not enough to fund an OH – the hub of aeronautical research the effort “Project Tailchaser.” The official test. Terry borrowed an airplane and development. To say that Simons low priority slowed testing to a crawl and a crew and flew to the test range got excited about the idea of gunships and eventually Simons was assigned at Eglin AFB, FL. Because the trip would be an understatement. He liked to other duties, but passed his gunship was unofficial, Terry had to pay crew Flexman’s proposal to test the gunship project along to others until it was lying expenses with his personal credit card. idea and also saw the possibility that the dormant in a file cabinet. At Eglin, he borrowed a GE 7.62 mm concept would become more than a fire Capt Ron Terry was a former fighter electric Gatling gun (the mini-gun) and, support platform. Simons thought that a pilot brimming with self-confidence, together with his team, mounted the laser could be used to designate targets and according to those who knew gun on a pallet which was then fixed or side-looking infrared equipment to him, was a born leader with uncanny to the floor of the aircraft with the gun acquire targets at night. He was right; common sense and was also a super sticking out the left side door of the fighters sometimes now use the pylon salesman. That such a man should pull C-131. A triggering device was hooked turn technique to mark targets with their the “Project Tailchaser” file out of the to the gun, which extended all the way lasers for laser-guided bombs. In April cabinet was pure fate. The gods must to Terry’s position. A camera reflex 1963, John Simons set about proving have really been grinning. Ron had viewfinder was installed as a gunsight the validity of the gunship idea. Simons spent time in Vietnam on a fact-finding inside the pilot’s left side window. On submitted the idea to various Limited team and came across some real prob- the first test flight, after initial firings War panels at the Pentagon and to the lems. One in particular, the Viet Cong for alignment, Terry’s shooting was so weapons and ballistic experts of the were rampaging through villages and accurate that he wrote his initial “T’ Aeronautical Systems Division (ASD). forts almost unimpeded. The Viet Cong on the target with this 6,000 round per Why they came back with negative knew that normal response times for minute weapon. responses is incredible, but they did, fire support requests were measured A curious passenger on the aircraft with a final retort that the idea was in hours before fast movers arrived on was Lt. Col. Phil O’Dwyer, who was “technically unsound.” Simons tried station. This allowed the Viet Cong to the Director of Requirements for the sidestepping, going around, and go- break contact before the fire support 1st Combat Applications Group of the ing through, but decision-makers told arrived. And more often than not, the Special Air Warfare Center at Eglin him that he “should not get involved Vietnamese had set up a “flak trap” to AFB. He had never seen anything like with the weapons aspect!” Simons ambush the friendly fighters. Continued on Page 14 Page 14 C-7A Caribou Association May 2013

he could fire one gun, two guns, or all nothing. So, he checked with Gen. Le- Dragon’s Fire (from Page 13 three at the same time. Over the next May’s executive officer. There was no this before. He was jumping up and two weeks, the Air Commandos con- appointment logged on Gen. LeMay’s down shouting, “Damn unbelievable! cocted various target scenarios, which calendar either, but both officers were Son-of-a-gun, do it again! Let me see required very precise shooting – with acutely aware that he often scheduled you do that again!” Terry did. When immense firepower. From “killing” one appointments without informing either they got back on the ground, O’Dwyer or two “guerrillas” with short, accurate of them. They assumed this to be the asked Terry if he thought he could shoot bursts from one gun, to “blowing away” case. After all, it was inconceivable that as accurately at night using flares. Terry enemy-filled hootches with all three a mere captain would brazenly show up replied, “Definitely.” So, O’Dwyer mini-guns on “full auto,” the gunship without an appointment! said, “Show me.” never failed. The Air Commandos were Having penned an appointment on Two young airmen volunteered to go ecstatic – this was exactly what was LeMay’s schedule for the following along and throw out flares. That night needed in Vietnam. week, Gen. McConnell’s executive they went out on the over-water test At last, someone was impressed. officer returned to his office and pro- range where Terry’s shooting was as The Special Air Warfare Center sent ceeded to chew Terry out for getting good as it had been earlier. The next a wire to Hq USAF and just about his dates mixed up. Terry apologized day, O’Dwyer arranged for 30 man- everyone else in the world that a “new profusely and pleaded that his boss at nequins to be placed in foxholes and idea” – a new concept had just been Wright Patterson not be informed of behind trees on the tactical range at tested that would be a tremendous as- his error. Terry then promised to return Eglin AFB and told Terry, “Those rep- set to U.S. forces in Vietnam and “we the following week with the briefing resent an enemy squad in the jungles of recommend immediate deployment for in hand. Vietnam – see what you can do.” Terry combat evaluation.” Unfortunately, the The following week, Terry and Ritter hit all of the mannequins. Over the next response from Tactical Air Command, were back to brief the most powerful couple of days, O’Dwyer arranged vari- Pacific Air Forces, and Hq USAF was man in the Air Force about using gun- ous targets and Terry’s gunship hit them a resounding, “No!” Their justification ships to defend villages and forts. While all. O’Dwyer asked Terry if he could was that “this is not the way we deliver waiting his turn, Terry overheard the In- mount the guns on C-47 and C-123 air- ordinance in the Air Force.” telligence Director tell LeMay that Viet craft already being used extensively in Terry kept fighting, in spite of the fact Cong sappers and mortar crews had Southeast Asia (SEA). This was exactly that his bosses warned him it would be destroyed most of our A-1, T-28, and what Terry wanted. He knew he would an impossible task – with resistance some B-57 aircraft the night before at never be authorized to get new aircraft coming from the very top. Col. Cook, Bien Hoa AB. Again, serendipity! Terry introduced to SEA. The C-47 was his Chief of the Limited War Office at marched in and told Gen. LeMay that aircraft of choice because of its loiter Wright Patterson, advised Terry that he was going to brief him on how gun- time, dependability and availability. the only thing that could be done at this ships could defend our bases against Terry returned to Wright-Patterson time was for Terry to go to the Pentagon sappers and mortar crews ... as well as with proof of the gunship’s effective- and see if he could gather support for stopping attacks on villages and forts. ness, as TSgt. Tom Ritter filmed the the program. Terry proceeded to Wash- The entire Air Council was in at- Eglin test missions in their entirety. The ington, where he knocked on many tendance, including Lt. Gen. Ruegg, Limited War Office really got excited doors, showed the Eglin test footage, Terry’s old boss. Ritter showed the film when they saw the film. They reim- and briefed the concepts to many of- where Terry destroyed the Eglin targets bursed Terry for his trip and gave him fices in the Acquisition and Operations and wrote his initial with the mini-gun. orders and funding to return to Eglin to staffs. Although the concept and test In a scene reminiscent of a Roman try his experiment with the C-47. footage impressed nearly everyone, arena, LeMay looked around and asked When Terry and his crew got back he still received no support; too many for a “thumbs-up or thumbs-down.” to Eglin, Phil O’Dwyer was standing senior generals opposed the program. All of the Air Council three-star by with the C-47 and an audience of Not one to give up, Terry casually generals gave thumbs down. That is interested Special Forces (SF) offi- walked into the Vice Chief’s Execu- ... all but one. It was General Ruegg, cials. Terry surprised O’Dwyer when tive Office and announced that he had who spoke up, “General LeMay, this he asked permission to mount three an appointment to brief the Chief of is a new concept and could very well mini-guns on the C-47 instead of one. Staff, Gen. Curtis LeMay, on a new revolutionize air to ground warfare.” O’Dwyer couldn’t believe his ears and important concept for SEA. The General LeMay, looking at Terry, and excitedly said, “Hell yes!” The Vice Chief’s executive officer, a colo- “Son, how many guns do you have?” triggering mechanism was rigged so nel, checked the calendar and found Continued on Page 15 May 2013 C-7A Caribou Association Page 15

sions in Vietnam on a regular basis. known – with incredible speed. Every- Dragon’s Fire (from Page 14 As a direct result of Gen. Sweeney’s one involved in a fire fight was crying Terry, “Twelve, sir, three for each of wire, an armed entourage met Terry out for gunship support. Viet Cong the three C-47’s, and three for spares.” and his team when they arrived in Sai- would break off attacks on villages or General LeMay, “How much funding gon. They told Terry the team would outposts, sometimes after the first fu- do you need? be going back to the U.S. on the next sillade was fired. Spooky proved itself Terry, “None, sir.” passenger flight and their mod kits and versatile by being on airborne alert day General LeMay, “How long will it supplies would be sent later. However, and night. Along with flying close air take you to be ready?” before the next outbound flight was support missions for ground forces and Terry, “A week! I just need a plane to ready, a wire came in from Gen. Mc- escorting friendly convoys, Spooky get me, my crew, and equipment over Connell, which angrily replied to the saved villages, forts, and SF camps. to Vietnam.” TAC Commander, “Be advised that this During a mission flown on February General LeMay looked around his concept has had Air Staff consideration. 8, 1965, an AC-47 stopped a major Viet staff and, with his trademark stogie This has the Chief’s personal okay. It Cong offensive in the Highlands in a stuck in his mouth said, “Send this boy certainly is in the Air Force’s interest to strike that killed over 300 Viet Cong. over there.” try the program rather than to sit on the Before one full month of actual combat Terry and Ritter went back to Wright- sideline commenting ...” The entourage missions had been completed, the AC- Patterson to ready the equipment and returned and escorted Terry to the 7th 47, was credited with having changed manpower. However, the “thumbs Air Force Commander in Saigon, where the order of battle for the Viet Cong in down” staff did not give up easily. Ter- Terry briefed him on the gunship. the Mekong Delta. It is certainly fitting ry’s transport to Vietnam did not ma- With the commander’s blessing, Ter- that the classic John Wayne movie, terialize until a call went through from ry and crew were sent off to Bien Hoa “The Green Berets,” depicted Spooky Terry’s boss to the Vice Chief of Staff, AB where they modified three C-47 saving a remote SF camp from being Gen. McConnell. When Gen. McCon- aircraft with guns and sights, trained overrun. nell told Gen LeMay, he was furious! crews, and got on with fighting the war. Before the combat evaluation was As a result, a C-141 was immediately Each gunship crew consisted of pilot, completed, the AC-47 made its name. re-routed to Wright-Patterson to trans- co-pilot, navigator, two gunners (who Terry couldn’t have been more pleased port Terry and his crew to Vietnam. loaded and repaired the guns – only the when Gen. Moore, 2nd Air Division The team both modified the aircraft pilot fired the guns), a loadmaster who Commander, asked for a full squadron and served as the flight crew for combat dispensed the flares, and a Vietnamese of AC-47’s. Moore was seconded by evaluation and training of the 1st Air liaison officer who coordinated by Gen. Ferguson, Commander of the Air Commando Wing personnel. Team radio with Vietnamese friendly forces. Force Systems Command, who noted members included: 1st Lt Ed Sasaki, 1st Terry’s team arrived on December 2, to Air Force Headquarters, “The reports Lt Ralph Kimberlin, TSgt Tom Ritter, 1964. The first daylight mission was which have been received indicated SSgt Paul Bunch, A1C James Sch- on December 15th, and when the 1st Air spectacular success in killing Viet Cong meiser, and A2C Alan Sims. Also ac- Commando Wing crews were trained in and in stopping attacks, together with companying the team was Tom Morse, gunship tactics, they flew the first night a concurrent psychological factor way a General Electric technical representa- mission on December 23. The aircraft’s out of proportion to the effectiveness tive for the 7.62 mm Gatling guns. designation changed from C-47 to of other air and ground force efforts.” Still, the top brass were not finished. FC-47 (later AC-47 Armed Cargo At- When the squadron of 20 AC-47’s A wire from Gen. Sweeney, Command- tack Aircraft) and the volunteer crews arrived in Vietnam, it was designated er of the Tactical Air Command, was were transformed overnight from “trash the 4th Air Commando Squadron and sent to fighter commanders around the haulers” to combat crew members. was dispersed throughout Vietnam, world. “This concept will place a highly “Spooky” was born. The AC-47 took plus Thailand, from where the crews vulnerable aircraft in a battlefield envi- its name from the night missions it flew flew missions into Laos every night. In ronment in which I believe the results and the particular camouflage paint Laos, the AC-47’s became truck bust- will not compensate for the losses of scheme. The aircraft’s other, unofficial, ers. In 1969, the AC-47’s were handed Air Force personnel and aircraft – we nickname, “Puff the Magic Dragon” over to the Vietnamese Air Force. At should continue to vigorously oppose came from the Vietnamese who, when the time of the turnover, the AC-47 had ... employment of such highly vulner- they saw the “tongues” of fire coming successfully defended more than 4,000 able aircraft.” This belied the fact that from the sky (tracers), called it a drag- forts, hamlets, and enclaves. History C-47’s were already flying both flare on. This was the Year of the Dragon. shows that they never lost a group they and Forward Air Control (FAC) mis- Spooky’s reputation became well were assigned to defend! Page 16 C-7A Caribou Association May 2013

My Tour In 1967 on board. Sadly, the crew never had a had a tail heavy condition to deal with. by Greg Plum [483, 67] chance as they only had seconds to live I asked if he took off that morning with with the aircraft rolling over and going this condition and he said, “No, it was My Vietnam tour started in Novem- straight in. We flew in everyday for only after picking up some cargo on ber 1966. I was assigned to the 20th about 5 days, clearing out the wreckage his way back to base.” Clearly a “no TASS at Da Nang working on O-1E and I thought about that crew every day. brainer,” as I guess he did not under- aircraft. I was only at Da Nang two A couple of weeks later, myself and stand weight and balance. Nothing months, when I was transferred to the another airman were asked to go to an- wrong with the plane, just improper 483rd upon takeover of the C-7A’s from other Army camp to fix a C-7A that had loading. I worked in debriefing all of the Army. We lived in tents. Although blown both left main tires on landing. October then rotated back home. it was not the best housing, it was a On this trip, we had to draw weapons lot better than our combat troops. Our before leaving. I figured this trip would quarters were across the canal from a be more dangerous. After blowing the POW camp. On occasion, the North tires on landing, the pilot had taxied Vietnamese would try to sneak in via the Caribou up to the perimeter fence. God Bless America the canal to try to break them out, thus Talk about your rear end being literally A Real Star a guard station at the canal which we on the line. had to cross to use the latrine and show- After some difficulty, we got the jack Kate Smith was born and grew up in ers when we had water. The rats were under the wing and the plane raised so Columbia, MO. In early 1940, Kate, a the next worst thing. I think they were we could make the repairs. We needed fiercely patriotic American, and the big- NVA as they only came out at night. to be out of this location before night- gest star on radio, was deeply worried Wrapping my bunk with heavy plastic fall. After making the repairs, I went about her country. took care of that problem. into the plane to see what our holdup She asked Irving Berlin if he could In January 1967, I left for Cam Ranh was and found the pilot and the other give her a song that would re-ignite the Bay (CRB), assigned to the 483rd. On airman arguing about signing off the spirit of American patriotism and faith. arrival at CRB we had to build our liv- repairs because the pilot had grounded He said he had a song that he had writ- ing quarters, so we built hootches by the plane with a Red-X .After a short ten in 1917, but never used it. day and worked on aircraft at night. We discussion, I signed off the repairs and He said she could have it. She sat at learned a lot about the C-7A with the the other airman signed off the Red-X . the piano and played it and realized help of the deHavilland rep assigned to Neither of us were 7-levels, but we are how good it was. She called Mr. Berlin help us as we did not have any formal in the middle of a war zone. I thought, and told him that she couldn’t take this training on this aircraft. We had a lot of “Let’s use some common sense here from him for nothing. good people and some of us had worked and get the hell out of Dodge.” So, they agreed that any money that in the same squadrons Stateside. We As we were taking off, I was looking would be made off the song would be fixed and solved a lot of problems and out the tail thru the cargo door we could donated to the Boy Scouts of America. we were used to working together. not close. The base was coming under Thanks to Kate Smith and Irving Ber- In April, I was placed on flying status attack and the Army was firing off lin, the Scouts have received millions as a grade 3 non-crewmember. I would flares. I could see tracer fire and North of dollars in royalties. go to flight operations and ask who Vietnamese running along the fence http://www.youtube.com/ needed some help that day and would near the area we just left. Another 10-15 watch?feature=player_ fly with that crew to get in my flying minutes and we might not have made embedded&v=TnQDW-NMaRs time. Have never figured that one out. it. I returned to CRB later that month. This clip is from the movie “You’re in In July, I was sent to Phu Cat along At CRB, I was pulled off the line and the Army Now”. Near the very end, you with several others to help out with sent to flight crew debriefing to try to will see a familiar face (POTUS 40) in their maintenance. I was told that, due route write-ups to the proper depart- this one that we are all very proud of. to maintenance problems, they were not ments. One evening, a Major came in Frank Sinatra said that when Kate making all their missions. complaining that he did not see why Smith, whom he considered the greatest In August, I and another airman were he had to go thru this debrief as we singer of his age, first sang this song on asked to go to a crash site at a Special basically did not know what we were the radio, a million guys got “dust” in Forces camp near Duc Pho. This turned doing. By luck of the draw, I ended up their eyes and had to wipe the tears the out to be Caribou 62-4161, shot down debriefing him. One of his complaints “dust” caused. If you can watch and by friendly fire coming in for a land- was that the plane flew tail heavy. This listen without “dust” getting in your ing with a full load of ammunition was a new one on me, as we had never eyes, then you have no soul. May 2013 C-7A Caribou Association Page 17

USAF X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle CSAF Reading List

Hat in the Ring: The Birth of Ameri- can Air Power in the Great War by Bert Frandsen West with the Night by Beryl Markham The Dead Hand: The Untold Story of the Cold War Arms Race and Its Dangerous Legacy by David Hoffman Flying Tigers: Claire Chennault and His American Volunteers, 1941-1942 by Daniel Ford Leading With Honor by Lee Ellis Dressmaker of Khair Khana by Gayle Lemmon The Sovereignty Solution by Anna Simons, Joe McGraw, and Duane Lauchengco I Always Wanted to Fly: America’s Cold War Airmen by Col Wolfgang Samuel Realizing Tomorrow: The Path to In the next installment to improve space capability and further develop an af- Private Spaceflight by Chris Dubbs and fordable, reusable space vehicle, the Air Force conducted its third X-37B Orbital Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom Test Vehicle (OTV) launch here on December 11, 2012. The launch comes on the Counterstrike: The Untold Story of heels of the successful flight of OTV-2, which made an autonomous landing at America’s Secret Campaign Against Vandenberg AFB, CA on June 11 after a record 469 days in space. Al Qaeda by Eric Schmitt and Thom “We couldn’t be more pleased with the strides we’ve made in this program Shanker and the success of the X-37B vehicle on the first two flights,” said Mr. Richard China Airborne by James Fallows McKinney, Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force for Space. “However, it is Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell important to keep in mind that this is an experimental vehicle and a third mission No One’s World: The West, the Rising is still relatively young for a test program. This is the first re-flight of a vehicle Rest, and the Coming Global Turn by so that is certainly a key objective for us. We have only just begun what is a very Charles Kupchan systematic checkout of the system.” Need, Speed, and Greed by Vijay Lt. Col. Tom McIntyre, X-37B program manager for the Air Force Rapid Ca- Vaitheeswaran pabilities Office, explained that the third X-37B flight will not only help the Air Force better evaluate and understand the vehicle’s performance characteristics, but Glad I Grew Up When this first re-flight is an important step in the program. OTV-1 launched in April It took 3 minutes for a TV to warm up. 2010 and spent 224 days in orbit before going through the refurbishment process Nobody owned a purebred dog. prior to being prepped for this mission. A quarter was a decent allowance. The X-37B program is examining the affordability and reusability of space You’d reach into a gutter for a penny. vehicles, so validation through testing is vital to the process. The X-37B OTV Your Mom wore nylons that came in is designed for an on-orbit duration of approximately 9 months. Actual duration two pieces. will depend on the execution of test objectives, on-orbit vehicle performance, and You got your windshield cleaned, oil conditions at the landing site. checked, and gas pumped for free. The program is designed to demonstrate reusable spacecraft technologies for Laundry detergent had free glasses, America’s future in space and operating experiments which can be returned to, and dishes, or towels inside the box. examined, on Earth. Technologies being tested in the program include advanced It was a privilege to be taken out to din- guidance, navigation and control, thermal protection systems, avionics, high ner at a real restaurant by your parents. temperature structures and seals, conformal reusable insulation, lightweight elec- They threatened to keep kids back a tromechanical flight systems, and autonomous orbital flight, reentry and landing. grade if they failed … and they did. Page 18 C-7A Caribou Association May 2013

run out of body bags by noon, so the Big Mouth Comedienne CH-47 Chinook was pretty rough in the aka Colonel Maggie back. All of a sudden, we heard a “take- Entertainer, Actress. Born Margaret charge” woman’s voice in the rear. Yvonne Teresa Reed, Martha Raye There was the singer and actress, joined her parents’ vaudeville act at Martha Raye, with a Special Forces three years old. The singer, dancer, beret and jungle fatigues, with subdued actress, comedienne performed on markings, helping the wounded into the Broadway, in movies and on television. Chinook, and carrying the dead aboard. Beginning in 1942, she entertained “Maggie” had been visiting her Spe- American troops through World War were no replacements, the servicemen cial Forces “heroes” out “West.” We II, Korea and Vietnam, even though could not return to the mission. While took off, short of fuel, and headed to the she had a life long fear of flying. For the servicemen waited, Raye played USAF hospital pad at Pleiku. As we all nine years she made trips to Vietnam, poker with them and helped to keep started unloading our sad passengers, a sometimes staying up to six months everyone’s spirits up. I enjoyed playing “Smart Mouth” Air Force Captain said at a time and often using her training cards with Martha but regretted it some- to Martha, “Ms. Raye, with all these as a nurse to help with the wounded. what. It appears that she had plenty of dead and wounded to process, there She was made an honorary member of practice playing poker with GIs during would not be time for your show!” the Special Forces units that she often her USO service in multiple wars. But To all of our surprise, she pulled on assisted and received her Green Beret I still love her for who she was and her right collar and said, “Captain, see and title of Lieutenant Colonel from what she did. When the mission was this rank insignia? I am a Lt. Col. in President Lyndon Johnson. Nicknamed completed, resulting in the loss of a the U.S. Army Reserve and this is a “Colonel Maggie” by the troops, she helicopter, gunship and a Viking pilot, Caduceus which means I am a Nurse, received the Presidential Medal of the Major in command of the Vikings with a surgical specialty. Now, take me Freedom, the highest commendation had been wounded when the ship went to your wounded!” for civilians, in 1993. In honor of her down. He was flying pilot position, but He said, “Yes ma’am, follow me.” service to the military, special excep- was not in control of the ship when the Several times at the Army Field Hos- tion was made to policy so that she command pilot, a Warrant Officer, was pital in Pleiku, she would “cover” a could be buried in the military cemetery shot. When he and the two remaining surgical shift, giving a nurse a well- at Fort Bragg. crewmen were returned to Soc Trang, deserved break. During that time, a serviceman fly- Raye volunteered to assist the doctor ing a “Huey Slick” helicopter carrying in treating the wounded flyer. When all Hand Salute! troops recalls that his ship received had been completed, Raye waited until combat damage to the extent that he had everybody was available and then put to return to base at Soc Trang: on her show. “I was the pilot of that ‘slick’ which Everyone involved appreciated her as had received major damage to the tail- an outstanding trouper and a caring per- rotor drive shaft from a lucky enemy son. During the Vietnam War, she was rifle shot. The maintenance team at the made an honorary Green Beret because staging area inspected and determined she visited United States Army Special that a one-time flight back to base camp Forces in Vietnam without fanfare, and would be okay but grounded the aircraft she helped out when things got bad in after that. Upon arriving back at Soc Special Forces A-Camps. As a result, Trang, I informed Martha (she came she came to be known affectionately by right up to us and asked how things the Green Berets as “Colonel Maggie.” were going) that we had a gunship down in the combat area and additional A Great Lady efforts were being made to extract the by An Army Aviator crew. I don’t recall if we had received word of the death of the pilot at that It was just before Thanksgiving time. Martha stated that she and her 1967 and we were ferrying dead and Margaret Yvonne Teresa Reed troupe would remain until everyone wounded from a large Graves Regis- Aug. 27, 1916 – Oct. 19, 1994 returned from the mission. As there tration Facility west of Pleiku. We had May 2013 C-7A Caribou Association Page 19

the Special Forces Units out in the wonderful woman warrior. In The Boonies Boondocks. When we would fly into The story relates how Colonel Mag- by Bill McDonald almost any small SF camp, the guys gie, who was a trained RN before going Almost everyone knows about all of would speak most highly of her. She into the entertainment field, went to Bob Hope’s trips to Vietnam. He would was their hero for sure. She had been entertain and visit a very small Special do his annual Christmas shows for traveling to Vietnam (I am told that she Forces camp, maybe near Soc Trang, in TV, which were recorded live at some paid her own way) and spent weeks, early 1967. I was told that she and some of the safest bases in Vietnam, while and sometimes up to six months at a clarinet player, had gone to the camp to surrounded by TV cameras, reporters time in country. She kept this pace up entertain, but while they were there the and lots of tanks and protective armed for over nine years during the Vietnam NVA attacked the camp. Mortar rounds troops. I was at his Christmas Day show War. She was not there just to entertain and small arms fire were incoming. It back in 1966, just north of Saigon. I the troops, but also engaged in nursing appeared that there was a full-scale as- enjoyed it very much. It was one of a work wherever it was needed. She spent sault on the base camp. It was uncertain few good memories that I have of my most of her time out in the field, or in if the camp would be able to hold off the Tour of Duty. But, meeting Martha the hospitals. She went to some of the assault. The camp medic was hit, and Raye – better known to the troops, as most dangerous and remote locations so with her being a nurse, she took over Colonel Maggie – was the highlight in Vietnam. and began to assist with the treatment event of the year for me. She was not looking for any publicity, of the wounded who kept pouring into I met Martha Raye in Phu Loi, South or photo opportunities; she went where the aid station. Vietnam, in the early part of 1967. She she knew the need was the greatest. The camp was in great danger for came to our small air field base camp, She visited base camps that no other several hours of being overrun. The without any fanfare at all. She just entertainers dared to go to. She walked higher-ups in the military were trying arrived and began causally talking to through the mud and rain and took the to dispatch helicopters to the camp, but us guys there. We of course knew of heat and mosquitoes all in stride. No a combination of very bad weather and her from all her old movies. I made one ever remembers her complaining heavy fighting made that task a very mention to her that I wanted a photo about the food, the weather, transporta- dangerous mission for any crews that to show my mother – “who was her tion, or life in general. She spent time would be trying to come in to get the biggest fan” - and she turned that into at places that did not have hot showers, wounded, or to pull her out to a safer a 5 minute comedy routine about how let alone places for women to use a place. All this time, she was subjecting only the real old folks remembered rest room. She had to endure the same herself to the dangers of flying shrapnel her. She teased me about that and then hardships that the GIs did. Her job was and incoming automatic rifle rounds. put her arms around me. She made fun to keep up our spirits and make us feel She tended to the task that she was of everything, including referring to loved and appreciated. She didn’t come trained for – treating the wounded. She herself as The Big Mouth! The guys in to Nam for a visit; she came to work.. was said to have remained calm and my unit, the 128th Assault Helicopter That for her meant sometimes going fully active in doing her work – even Company, were really impressed that back and using her nursing skills and with all the action taking place just out- she had come all the way out to see us. help with patients. side the aid station. She kept focused on We never had any big name entertain- There were many stories going treating the wounded and did not seek ers ever come through our camp; so around about all the battles she had shelter or safety for herself. her visit was something very special been in while in country. She did not She kept refusing any and all rescue to all of us. try to shelter herself from harm’s way, missions. She spent hours putting her Later that day, I got my chance to and she refused over and over again to skills as a nurse to use treating patients get up on stage (the top of a flat bed allow anyone to risk his life to protect, and even assisting with surgery. She truck) with her and get my photo taken or evacuate her to a safer place if she was in the operating room for 13 hours; with her. I found her to be a very real happened to be subjected to any kind she then went through the aid station person, and she gave you the feeling of enemy attack. There is one story talking with the wounded and making that she really cared about you. There that made the rounds with the Special sure that they were okay. It was said that were neither reporters, nor TV cameras Forces units that we ran into, but some- she worked without sleep or rest, until on her visit. She was there because we how never made it into the newspapers, all the wounded were either treated or were there. or on the evening news shows at that evacuated out on a Huey (helicopter). At that time, her reputation was time, that I can recall. I have some of She did not leave that camp until she rapidly growing among veterans. We the facts but not all of them. But this was satisfied that all the wounded were heard many stories about her from story reveals the real character of this taken care of. Page 20 C-7A Caribou Association May 2013

higher-ranking aircraft commanders 7th AF DFC Citation A Fini Flight breached radio silence. At one point, S.O. G-0309, 29 Jan 1971 To Remember I went on over to the FAC frequency, by Cuff Kelso [537, 70] hoping to leave all the interruptions First Lieutenant Robert E. Croach behind. But it was not to be, the others distinguished himself by heroism while April 2, 1970 was supposed to be a had gone over on their own and were participating in aerial fight as an Air- day of celebration for Bob Croach. He garbaging up that frequency as well, craft Commander of a C-7 Aircraft near and I took off from Phu Cat on his last even as the FAC, Elliot 16, was at- the Special Forces Camp at Dak Seang, mission before returning to the USA, tempting to put in an air strike around Republic of Vietnam, on 2 April 1970. and he had quite an array of things he the camp. On that date Lieutenant Croach elected wanted to do on that flight. As we were We finally got briefed by the FAC to fly an emergency resupply mis- wrapping up the last of those adven- and hoped to do better than the second sion in direct support of the besieged tures, a low level foray over the South wave which received erroneous wind camp. With complete disregard for China Sea, we were diverted up from information and failed to get much of his personal safety Lieutenant Croach Nha Trang to Pleiku to help resupply their load into the camp. Several pallets successfully completed the drop while Dak Seang, one of our regular Special were so far outside the camp that they flying through heavy automatic weap- Forces camps which had come under had to be destroyed by friendly fire to ons fire. The outstanding heroism and siege by the NVA the previous day. On keep them from falling into NVA hands. selfless devotion to duty displayed by that day Cuddy 413, piloted by Capt Now it was our turn. Down the chute Lieutenant Croach reflect great credit Dale Grigg, and Cuddy 454, piloted by we went, from East to West. Putting upon himself and the United States Lt Richard Henry, put airdrop loads into along at our usual 120 knots, it was a Air Force. the camp with little enemy ground fire. real helpless feeling until I saw an at- However, day two of the siege tack helicopter blow by us on the left, First Lieutenant James V. Kelso brought about a significant increase in hosing down the enemy with machine distinguished himself by heroism the enemy attack that included heavy gun fire. Still, the tracers were coming while participating in aerial flight as fire directed against the Caribous sent up at us as we approached the camp, but a Co-Pilot of a C-7A Aircraft near the to deliver needed supplies. We landed we were able to get rid of the load. As Special Forces Camp at Dak Seang, at Pleiku just as the second resupply we broke North away from the camp Republic of Vietnam, on 2 April 1970. mission of the day was ready to depart and started to climb out, I saw our load On that date Lieutenant Kelso elected for Dak Seang. We felt the excitement land slightly short of the desired target, to fly an emergency resupply mission of actually being able to do a combat but still very recoverable. I watched the in direct support of the besieged camp. airdrop until we learned that a C-7A second aircraft put its load directly in With complete disregard for his per- manned by two good friends, Lt Steve the camp (he may not have had good sonal safety, Lieutenant Kelso success- “Choo Choo” Train and Lt Chuck Su- radio discipline, but at least he could fully completed the drop while flying prenant, and MSgt Dale Christensen, make a good drop), #3 strung his out- through heavy automatic weapons fire. my favorite engineer and a fine indi- side the perimeter, and #4 put his cargo The outstanding heroism and selfless vidual, had been shot down making on the runway, which was outside the devotion to duty displayed by Lieu- their drop. At that time, they were listed camp’s defenses. tenant Kelso reflect great credit upon as missing, but would eventually be Dusk was setting in as we made our himself and the United States Air Force. confirmed as KIAs. Needless to say, way back to Phu Cat. Clouds and rain we were devastated, but the urgency began to settle in, but we made it. Be- to resupply the camp only increased. cause of the day’s tragedy, everyone Honorary Bob and I were scheduled to lead the forgot that it was Bob’s last flight in- Life Members third drop as soon as more airplanes country and the greeting party that nor- If you know of an active member who arrived at Pleiku. Finally, more Bous mally meets everyone’s fini flight was should be recognized for “outstanding from Cam Ranh Bay landed and we nowhere to be found. After we got back service to the Association,” please briefed the mission. Of the four aircraft to the squadron building, I dumped a submit his name to the Board for their commanders, Bob was the only one beer on Bob’s head and wished him consideration. Include the member’s who had ever flown into Dak Seang. well. We had flown together many accomplishments (over an extended Because two of the Cam Ranh Bay times and I was sorry to see him go, period of time) that you think make him boys outranked Bob, they had a hard yet joyful that he had survived his last worthy of the honor and distinction of time with him as lead. Numerous mission in Vietnam. All I could think being an Honorary Lifetime Member times enroute to the drop, the other two was, “What a fini flight that was!” of the Association. May 2013 C-7A Caribou Association Page 21

Delbert Lockwood by Jon Drury [537, 68] One of the finest officers I ever served with was Delbert Lockwood. He was clean cut, professional, personable, and a real gentleman. He came during the second half of my year at Phu Cat (Spring 1969), when we moved into newer, brick barracks. Early, we dis- covered that for both of us faith formed a meaningful ingredient of life. In the evenings we would share our journey of faith, deepen our friendship, and as for all aviators, shared war stories about flying. We were both Aircraft Commanders, so we did not have the opportunity to fly together. He came to keep a broken R-2000 cylinder in his room. On a mission he flew out of An Khe, a cylinder failed completely and the engine steamed Although this isn’t the regular Aircraft Commander, the men in the Special Forces fire out of the top of the engine. Del- camps supplied by the 483rd Tactical Airlift Wing can attest to the fact that Caribou bert feathered the prop and shot the crews are “tigers” when it comes to getting them their supplies. fire bottle to the engine with no effect. TSgt Ralph E. Murrell [458, 68] gives his temporary Aircraft Commander a An engine fire is one of the most criti- helping hand with the checklist before starting engines. cal emergencies an aviator faces. He returned to An Khe, shut down, and First Waivered A/C’s loved to fly and had a lot of private discovered that the failed cylinder had by Charlie Austin [457, 67] flying time, but we were good and the separated from the engine and jammed Check Pilot was impressed. in the cowling. When it was removed, We would fly ever day, anywhere any it became a display in his room. time, maxing out our monthly and quar- Missions into Ben Het in June of terly flight time allotment (120 hours 1969 were seldom routine. Delbert flew a month / 330 a quarter). Sometimes one of the dangerous airdrop missions it all seems like yesterday and yet so and received the Purple Heart for a long ago. wound to his face received when an It was a very solid foundation for a enemy round hit part of the aircraft and very successful and rewarding career. debris sprayed his cheek. Keeping our memories of our “Bou” After I went on to C-118’s at Clark days alive is very much appreciated by Air Base in the Philippines, I saw him Charlie Austin, Ray White, and War- those of us that were there. once at Cam Ranh Bay. After Caribous, ren Pierce (left to right above) were I sometimes forget the good times he went to fly C-130’s out of Taiwan the first three nd2 Lieutenants in our and the bad, but I’ll never forget those and his aircraft was lost on a mission. Squadron to be upgraded to Aircraft in our Squadron ... that lived in our I was sorry to lose this great friend. Commander with the waiver – Pierce Quonset hut ... that never returned. It was a special pleasure to honor and I were the first two and flew our To their memory! Delbert’s memory at the Fall 2011 re- check ride together with Lt Col John union of the C-7A Caribou Association, B. Ducote from Wing Stan/Eval. Crew Chief of 63-9719 in Dallas, TX, and to have his family We had 10 of the best short field ap- If you were the crew chief of 457th present. I often wanted to pass along to proach and landings that you will ever TAS Caribou 63-9719, please contact his family my memories of this great see – Dak Pek, Dak Seang, Mang Buk, [email protected] man. Along with the family I grieve Dak To, etc. We were just kids who or 210-479-0226 his loss. Page 22 C-7A Caribou Association May 2013

Tech Rep Last Day View of A Reporter by Anson Lang [P&W, 68] by Rick Zastrow [535, 68] in Caribou Clarion, Feb 1968 Liquid lock or, as it is sometimes August 31, 1969 was my last day Mist was falling over the fog shroud- called, hydraulic lock, is a condition and night in country. All equipment ed hills of central Vietnam as a C-7A peculiar to reciprocating engines and and weapons were turned in and Fred Caribou of the 483rd TAW droned mo- radial engines in particular. It is caused Bynum and I were ready to go. We notonously onward carrying oil and by oil draining past the piston rings celebrated all day and into the night “beef-on-the-hoof” to a Special Forces into the combustion chambers of the with our envious friends. camp. Suddenly, the pilot slowed cylinders below the horizontal position Around 8 PM, nature called, as she the plane to near stalling speed, then on the engine. It happens mainly in the often does when drinking beer all day, dropped down between the cloud layers very bottom cylinders No. 7, 8, and 9. It so we headed to the nearest latrine. and landed smoothly on a 1,000 foot can be alleviated by proper scavenging While standing doing our business and dirt strip adjacent to the An Lac camp of the engine before shut down. looking thru the screening at the flight (VA2-97). When motoring the engine through, line, we noticed mortar rounds walking A harrowing landing? No. An excit- with the starter, before starting, if the in. I looked at Fred and said, “Why they ing mission? No. It was simply another engine begins to rotate then suddenly got to do this on our last night in town?” routine cargo errand flown by the men stops, do not attempt to motor it further. Outside the latrine was a bunker, but of the 483rd. Yet, to the personnel of Do not attempt to relieve the liquid alas, we had been warned when we first the An Lac Special Forces camp and to lock by rotating the propeller in the got to Vung Tau not to use it – some those stationed at the hundreds of other direction opposite rotation. This will Army guy went in and was bitten by a such camps throughout the Republic suck the oil back into the induction cobra hiding in a corner. So, until that of Vietnam, it was a vitally important system and when the engine is turned day, neither Fred nor I had been in any mission, supplying them with food and with the starter, the oil can be pulled bunker. ammunition – literally providing them into the cylinders and cause the liquid We decided, under the influence of with their life’s blood. lock again. Do not attempt to force the our bravery juice, to risk it anyhow. We Six squadrons of C-7A’s comprise the engine through the lock by hand pulling got down on our hands and knees at the 483rd which is headquartered here (at the propeller. This will cause damage entrance, with Fred in the lead using Cam Ranh Bay). This self supporting to the pistons and will bend the con- his trusty Zippo to light the way. As wing is commanded by Col. William necting rods. we slowly made our way in, watching H. Mason and is responsible for sup- The correct method for clearing liq- carefully for reptiles – what happens porting all operational units throughout uid locks is to remove the front spark but the whole place lights up! South Vietnam. plugs from the lower cylinders and al- I rolled over on my butt looking up to The versatility of the C-7A makes low the oil to drain from them. Install see lights on and Al Teasley, our medic, it an ideal cargo plane for the typical new spark plugs and rotate the engine standing over us. He asked “What are supply missions in Vietnam. Its ca- again with the starter. In rare cases a you idiots doing?” I, with great indigna- pability to be flown, fully loaded, at second liquid lock is experienced. Re- tion stated, “We’re looking for snakes.” extremely slow speeds enables the crew peat the clearing procedure. He just shook his head and said, to make pinpoint air drops or landings “Why didn’t you turn on the lights?” for friendly forces in the jungles and mountains. With highly skilled pilots at the con- 2014 C-7A Reunion trols, an 800 foot dirt strip is all that’s required to make successful takeoffs Based on the straw poll at the re- How To Start A Fight and landings. union, the Board has selected Fort My wife was hinting about what she When the pages of history finally Walton Beach, FL for the 2014 reunion. wanted for our upcoming anniversary. close on this conflict, the record of the Plans are to visit the Naval Aviation She said, “I want something shiny C-7A Caribou, and the men who fly it, Museum in Pensacola and the USAF that goes from 0 to 150 in about 3 will be prominently mentioned. Armament Museum at Hurlburt Field. seconds.” We will be at the Ramada Plaza I bought her a bathroom scale. Beach Resort with beach front, tropical gardens, pools, waterfall, and great rep- And then the fight started ...... ! utation for hosting military reunions. May 2013 C-7A Caribou Association Page 23

Life After The Bou by Pete Rikeman [536, 68] Above and Beyond After I rotated Stateside in March 1969, I realized that there were some things a lot worse than duty in a combat zone – things such as being assigned to SAC. I spent several months hearing spellbinding tales of spending years on alert in exotic locales such as Grand Forks, Minot, and K. I. Sawyer. I began to long for the simple plea- sures of being shot at. After volunteer- ing for every conceivable aircraft flying in SEA, I got orders for helicopter transition. I figured I’d be flying Jolly Greens, but found I was going to be a Huey gunship pilot. The Air Force had one unit, the 20th Special Operations Squadron, the Green Hornets, in Nam. After training at Shepard and Hurl- burt, I was sent to Cam Ranh Bay. Our missions consisted of sitting all day in Green Beret camps waiting for their recon squads to get in trouble across the border in the area of the Ho Chi Minh trail. Our weapons were 14 2.75 inch rockets and two 7.62 mini-guns, When visitors first enter the National Veterans’ Art Museum in Chicago, they which faced out, rather than the Army will hear a sound like wind chimes coming from above them and their attention configuration of mini-guns facing for- will be drawn upward 24 feet to the ceiling of the two-story high atrium. ward, and were fired by gunners rather Dog tags of the more than 58,000 service men and women who died in the Viet- than the pilot. nam War hang from the ceiling. The 10 foot by 40 foot sculpture, entitled Above On 8 September 1971, we were and Beyond, was designed by Ned Broderick and Richard Steinbock. The tens of working north around Da Nang when thousands of metal dog tags are suspended 24 feet in the air, 1 inch apart, from we got a call to cover some troops that fine lines that allow them to move and chime with shifting air currents. Museum were pinned down on the top of a cone- employees using a kiosk and laser pointer help visitors locate the exact dog tag shaped hill. They had been dropped off with the imprinted name of their lost friend or relative. with the intention of descending into the valley. They came under heavy fire, problem, we just turned and circled killing one and wounding one. counterclockwise. The right gun im- You Might Be A We flew to their position as a flight mediately jammed. I told the gunners Maintainer If... of two with two more in reserve and to get whatever weapons they had and I and my flight lead began to circle make as much noise as possible while I You’ve ever made a new pilot buy below the crest of the hill, intending fired our rockets, since I was unwilling you a beer just to put his name on the to allow the “slicks” to come over us to pull off the target while troops were canopy frame. to pick up the patrol. It was then that under fire. Luckily, we took no hits You have ever been tackled, duct we realized that the Army armorers and successfully extracted the patrol taped to a tow bar, covered in PET and supporting us had ignored our request without further casualties. sand, egged, sour-milked, peanut but- to be given only factory fresh, belted After completing my tour, I spent tered and jellied, and slapped under the ammo, rather than belts put together the rest of my time in the Air Force at emergency wash station in 30 degree from small remainders. Hurlburt, and later joined the Colorado weather. As we circled clockwise around the Army National Guard to fly helicopters You’ve ever worked weekend duty on hill, my left mini-gun jammed. No out of Buckley. a jet that isn’t flying on Monday. Page 24 C-7A Caribou Association May 2013

During the Southwest Monsoon, there the typhoons have much more area to Weather Briefings are heavy thunderstorms west of the grow and strengthen and can be more by Joel Rosenbaum [Det 18, 68] Annam mountains away from the coast. destructive than their Atlantic Ocean One of the items I saved from my Most of the time, the Annam Mountains counterparts. one year tour of duty in Vietnam was kept the thunderstorms away from Typhoons were of two concerns to the stationary from the Visiting Officers CRB. You could see them building over the 483rd TAW. The first concern was Quarters(VOQ) at McChord AFB, WA. the mountains to the West. Only a few for any Caribou being ferried from the I stayed there overnight to make the times during the Southwest Monsoon West Coast to Vietnam. The other was morning charter flight from McChord did they slip over the mountains and for possible evacuation of Caribous if to Cam Ranh Bay (CRB). The name of affect air operations at CRB. the track came too close to CRB. This the VOQ, The Monsoon Inn, was both Forecasting the weather in Vietnam occurred with Typhoon Nina which appropriate and ominous. The name is very different from forecasting for came ashore at CRB on November 28, should have been the name of the 483rd stateside bases. I was fortunate to at- 1968. Fortunately, the typhoon came TAW command post. tend a Tropical Forecasting course apart just at it came ashore and I think at Chanute AFB, IL before reporting the maximum wind gust was 45 mph. for Vietnam duty. The usual tools of However, I do recall there was lots of forecasting in the continental U.S., rain. The Caribous at CRB evacuated such as analyzing isobars(lines of in advance of Typhoon Nina. Col. Turk pressure), cold fronts, warm fronts, humorously joked at a later briefing that and occluded fronts, were not useful they went to Bangkok East. To this day, in South Vietnam. Analysis of winds, I’m not sure what he meant and I was called streamline analysis, and detec- too embarrassed to ask. Apparently, it The term monsoon just means “sea- tion of small speed maximums in upper was an inside joke. sonal wind.” Thunderstorms and rain levels were critical in forecasting and I vividly recall an F-4C accident showers in Vietnam during the mon- analyzing the weather in Vietnam. A at CRB that required the Caribous to soons are dependent upon the wind di- thorough knowledge of the climatology follow an unusual takeoff procedure. rection and geography. In Vietnam, the available for the air bases was also very On January 27, 1969, an F-4C from two monsoon seasons are the Northeast useful. Persistence and Climatology the 559th TFS of the 12th TAC Fighter Monsoon and the Southwest Monsoon. were two useful tools in forecasting Wing was scrambled from the alert Unlike fall, winter, spring, and summer, Vietnam weather. pad for a close air support mission just there is no specific date for the start of As chief forecaster for Detachment before sunrise. The F-4C struck the the monsoon season. There is only a 18, 30th Weather Squadron at CRB, runway barrier, veered off the runway, range of about a six week period. Gen- I alternated responsibilities with the and one of its bombs exploded, killing erally, the Southwest Monsoon begins detachment commander for giving the both the pilot and back-seater. There sometime in May and ends in Septem- daily weather briefing to the 483rd TAW were virtually no takeoffs or landings I ber. The Northeast Monsoon begins in command post in the morning and the can remember for some time after that. October and ends in February. There daily weather briefing to the 12th TAC However I do recall Caribous taking off are short transitional periods between Fighter Wing in their auditorium in the in a direction opposite from what they each monsoon. afternoon. usually used at that time of year. In The start of each monsoon season The 483rd TAW staff were easier to January, the prevailing wind direction depends on the movement of the Inter- brief and the setting was much more at CRB was from the North at 11 mph. tropical Convergence zone. This is the comfortable. Overlays were prepared Takeoffs are usually into the wind, but reason why a specific date cannot be in advance for the weather at CRB on that day Caribous were taking off fixed for the monsoon season well in and the outlook for the next few days. in a Southerly direction. I could only advance. Forecasters note the change Forecasts for the regular destinations assume it was to avoid the accident site in wind directions as the Intertropical requested by the 483rd TAW were and their short takeoff requirements Convergence Zone moves toward and presented in overlays. Any developing gave them more flexibility. away from the equator. In Southern typhoons were presented with location Several times during the year, at their Vietnam, the Northeast Monsoon re- and forecast tracks. A typhoon is the request, I gave a lecture on the weather sults in showers and cloudiness along same as a hurricane, but, West of the and climate of Vietnam to the Army 0-1 the coastal region, but it is dry inland. In International Dateline, they are called Bird Dog pilots at the Army Aviation Northern Vietnam, most of the country typhoons. Because the Pacific Ocean is blanketed by rain and low clouds. is so much larger than the Atlantic, Continued on Page 25 May 2013 C-7A Caribou Association Page 25

Weather (from Page 24) forecast for the ill-fated Iran hostage one of the F-4C pilots called me aside rescue mission. quietly and told me that the Colonel airfield at Dong Ba Thin, across the I was involved with some unusual op- forgot to turn on his defogger on land- water from CRB. Their attitude about erations at CRB. An Air Force weapons ing and would not admit it, but blamed aircraft damage and accidents in Viet- development team from Kirtland AFB poor weather observations. nam was very different than the 483rd. arrived and requested support. The While I can’t tell you what I had for The Army tried to write off accidents operation was called Commando Vault. breakfast three days ago, my Vietnam as a combat loss (editor: The Air Force It involved dropping a 15,000 pound experiences are as vivid as if they oc- did the same. See Rules of Engagement bomb from the rear of a C-130 with curred yesterday. I can recall the rain in Newsletter 19-1, May 2008). If one a parachute to create a clearing for a beginning to fall shortly after darkness of their aircraft crashed into a mountain helicopter landing pad for two helicop- fell during the Northeast Monsoon, the it was a hostile Vietcong mountain. In ters. The movies they showed us of the first thunderstorm in late April 1969 contrast, at a 483rd briefing an officer training drops were scary. The explo- marking the approach of the Southwest was upset because a Caribou returned sion looked like the mushroom cloud Monsoon, and watching two shows at from a mission with some bullet holes. from an atomic explosion and where once on RMK-BRJ hill, also called The officer demanded details of the there had been trees was a completely Herky Hill for the C-130 transient altitude the Caribou was flying when flat area devoid of all vegetation. crews billeting there. One show was hit and did the crew do everything they I understood that the C-130 would The Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine,” the could to avoid hostile fire. drop its bomb in the morning and then other was a C-47 “Spooky” gunship The difference between the Air Force fly regular transport missions the rest working over Hon Tre Island near Nha and the Army in Vietnam also extended of the day. Today, these bombs are de- Trang. The tracers put on an awesome to the appearance of buildings. The scribed as Daisy Cutters. Initially our light show. Army felt that in a war zone why paint weather detachment provided weather I was also fortunate to have some and spruce up a building when it may support for these operations out of Army 14th Aerial Port Officers living become splinters in a hostile attack. The CRB. I often wondered if the C-7A had in the Quonset hut that was home for USAF had a program, through its civil the ability to carry this type of load. a year. My charter flight returning me engineers, to provide paint and rollers C-7A loads once came up in a dis- to the States after my year tour was to any unit that wanted to beautify its cussion with one of the non-rated staff scheduled on a Seaboard World Airway living quarters. We negotiated with an members as we were preparing our charter. They did not have a very good Army Sergeant at the Dong Ba Thin briefings for the 483rd at the command reputation. They were often late and mess hall who desperately wanted to post. The officer commented about a one of their Vietnam charter flights paint his mess hall, but the Army re- recent mission where he rode along with servicemen aboard strayed over fused supplies. We traded him paint and on a C-7A. He remarked that the sad- the Russian held Sakhalin Island and rollers we got from the Air Force civil dest thing he ever saw was body bags was forced down by Russian fighters. engineering office to improve enlisted being loaded onto the Caribou on his They were held until negotiations freed men’s quarters and traded them to the trip. To this day, that conversation still the plane, crew, and U.S. servicemen. Army Sergeant for steaks, potatoes, and haunts me. This would not be a good way to end a salad for a party for our enlisted men. My experience with the staff at the Vietnam tour and my friends in the 14th As Chief Forecaster, I also had the 483rd at the command post was a very Aerial Port graciously rearranged my responsibility of meeting Weather Of- positive one. For the most part, I can transportation to a more reliable carrier. ficers arriving at CRB from the States say the same for the 12th TFW, except on their way to other bases in Vietnam for one Colonel. He swore that he by Caribou. I would get them fatigues landed in fog that our weather observer Computer Woes and bring them to the Vietnamese tailor failed to report. Having come to CRB My memory really sucks, so I changed shop on the base to have their name tags after serving as a weather officer at Otis my password to “incorrect.” When I log and ranks sewn on. I remember one AFB, MA the fog capital of the U.S., in with the wrong password, I get the officer who noticed, when we picked I am very familiar with fog and there reply, “Your password is incorrect.” up his set from the tailor, that the Viet- was none that day and it was a very rare namese woman sewed his name and occurrence at CRB. As a 1/Lt., I let him Help!!! “United States Air Force” upside down, put on a show at the afternoon 12 TFW Check your email address on our web so we made her redo it. We attended daily briefing by yelling at me that our site, http://www.c-7acaribou.com/. Tropical Forecasting school together weather observers nearly killed him Send any change to: and he was involved later with the by not reporting fog. Three days later, [email protected] Page 26 C-7A Caribou Association May 2013

all-jet student pilot was being assigned Time Passes Two Trash Haulers to an underpowered, prop-driven, At Mach 3+ straight-winged, cambered airfoil … As I’ve aged, I’ve become kinder to by Lee Shelton [459, 67] where I truly learned how to fly. myself, and less critical of myself. I’ve Umpteen years later, I am an instruc- become my own friend. As my September 1967 graduation tor pilot and flight examiner in the I have seen too many dear friends date from Undergraduate Pilot Training SR-71, flying operational sorties in the leave this world, too soon; before they drew closer to the time when we would A-model and instructional missions understood the great freedom that “select” our first operational aircraft, in the B-model. When I joined the 1st comes with aging. based on final class standing. At that Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron Whose business is it, if I choose to time in our history, everyone in every in 1977, my squadron commander read, or play on the computer, until 4 class knew their assignment would take was Pat Bledsoe, who had been a O-1 AM, or sleep until noon? I will dance them to Vietnam; you just weren’t sure “Bird Dog” FAC in Vietnam. He did his with myself to those wonderful tunes what you would be flying when you combat duty at 115 knots. As a result, of the 50, 60 and 70’s, and if I wish to arrived there. Maybe not immediately, Pat clearly held the “record” for the weep over a lost love, I will. but eventually we were all sure to go. man who had flown the slowest and the I will walk the beach, in a swim suit My “first choice” in the block of fastest in his career, but Pat’s O-1 had that is stretched over a bulging body, available aircraft was an F-100 Super a fixed gear. My Caribou credentials and will dive into the waves, with Saber. My second selection, for reasons clearly qualified me for the claim to abandon, despite the pitying glances known only to me and perhaps God, fame as the “slowest to fastest” human from the jet set. They, too, will get old. was the Canadian-built, DeHavilland in manned, air breathing aircraft with I am sometimes forgetful. Some of C-7A Caribou, a piston-powered, retractable gear. life is just as well forgotten. Eventually, STOL (Short Take Off and Landing), In 1981, Major Les Dyer was ac- I will remember the important things. tactical transport aircraft. Perhaps God cepted into our SR-71 squadron and Sure, over the years, my heart has also knew that I would have killed my- began his training as a Blackbird pilot. been broken. How can your heart not self in the F-100, so he and I gratefully Many years earlier, Les had also begun break, when you lose a loved one, or accepted our C-7A assignment. I was to his military flying career as a trash when a child suffers, or even when be a bona fide “trash hauler.” hauler. In 1970, Les was a Caribou pilot somebody’s beloved pet gets hit by a If any aircraft matched its nickname, in Vietnam flying with the 458th TAS. car? But, broken hearts are what give it was the Caribou with its high wing, You can see this coming, right?? us strength, and understanding, and sweeping high tail, exposed butt, pug Significant academic and simulator compassion. A heart never broken, nose, and crane-like main landing gear. requirements were accomplished and is pristine and sterile, and will never The real beauty of all this airborne Les was finally certified to begin the know the joy of being imperfect. ugliness was its unmatched ability to SR-71 flight instruction phase. History I am so blessed to have lived long deliver 5500 pounds of literally any- records that at 1115 Local Time on Fri- enough to have my hair turning gray, thing into abysmal Special Forces day, January 29, 1982, in SR-71B S/N and to have my youthful laughs be airstrips less than 1000 feet in length. 61-7956, Les Dyer, Blackbird student, forever etched into deep grooves on In accomplishing its singular skill, the and Lee Shelton, Blackbird instructor, my face. So many have never laughed, Caribou droned between deliveries at dropped off their assigned KC-135Q and so many have died before their hair an indicated airspeed of 125 knots, tanker with a full, 80,000 pound load could turn silver. making it the slowest retractable gear of JP-7 and began the acceleration to As you get older, it is easier to be aircraft in the entire Vietnam theater of Mach 3+ above 80,000 feet. positive. You care less about what other operation! Proves God was still looking Never before and never since had people think. I don’t question myself out for me, since you could walk away two aviators, previously qualified in the anymore. I’ve even earned the right to from most Caribou crashes. slowest retractable gear aircraft in the be wrong. I absolutely loved my time in the USAF inventory, flown together in the So, to answer your question, I like Caribou. Assigned to the 459th TAS world’s fastest aircraft! We were a rags- being old. It has set me free. I like the at Phu Cat, I spent the majority of my to-riches pair and we joke about our person I have become. I am not going 1967-68 tour flying from our detach- “history-making mission” to this day. to live forever, but while I am still here, ment at Da Nang. As my Air Force I will not waste time lamenting what flying career progressed for the next could have been, or worrying about two-plus decades, I often remarked that what will be. And I shall eat dessert the best thing that ever happened to this every single day (if I feel like it). May 2013 C-7A Caribou Association Page 27

Caribou Airlines is a comprehensive history of USAF C-7A operations in Vietnam. It is about aircrews, crew chiefs, maintenance officers, line chiefs, maintainers, phase inspection personnel, specialty shop personnel, supply personnel, personal equipment specialists, administration and op- erations personnel, commanders, staff personnel, etc. They made it possible to deliver the troops, guns, ammuni- tion, rations, beer, soda, equipment, animals, etc. to hundreds of bases on the battlefields of Vietnam. The 483rd Tactical Airlift Wing and its squadrons were not an airline, per se. They were tasked with supporting Army and Marine units and other cus- tomers with air landed and air dropped supplies using pre-defined, emergency, and opportune sorties to front line loca- tions where the supplies were needed. The history of the Military Advisory Command, Vietnam (MACV); C-7A Caribou Association newsletters; and personal stories of those involved in C-7A operations provide the context for this book. Signed copies of the book can be ordered from the author for $20: Pat Hanavan, 12402 Winding Branch San Antonio, TX 78230-2770 Time Is Running Out!! Check the mailing label on this newsletter. If it does not show “2013” or later, then it is TIME TO PAY your Bou Tax or this will be the last news- Bou Tracks Caribou Airlines, Vol. II letter you will receive. or 1968: Tet Offensive If the year is before 2013, you may Whodunit? have: Rumor has it that what seemed to be Volume II of Caribou Airlines will 1. changed your address and the last the “tracks” of a Caribou on the sandy be published in the early fall and will newsletter went to an old address beach of a small island off the coast of be available on Amazon.com as a print- 2. just sent in your check Vietnam, between Phan Rang and Cam on-demand book or a Kindle book. 3. forgotten to send your check Ranh Bay, were actually made by a Signed copies will be available at the DO IT TODAY. fearless C-7A crew! Seattle reunion or by mail order from Make your $10 check to the C-7A Does anyone have a picture of this the author. Caribou Association and send it to: phenomenon or know how they came The writing of Volume III: 1969 will Mike Murphy to be on the beach? If you do, please start after the reunion with a planned 555 Couch Ave, Apt 432 share the photo or facts with the editor. publication date in 2014. Kirkwood, MO 63122-5564 Page 28 C-7A Caribou Association May 2013

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 (R-2000) T Shirt Size - Please Mark: M L XL XXL Qty.______@ $12.00 Total:______4. Denim Shirt (short sleeve) Size - Please Mark: M L XL XXL Qty.______@ $25.00 Total:______5. Denim Shirt (long sleeve) Size - Please Mark: M L XL XXL Qty.______@ $30.00 Total:______6. Denim Hat One size fits all Qty.______@ $13.00 Total:______7. Baseball (white) Hat One size fits all Qty.______@ $13.00 Total:______8. 457th Replica Patch Qty.______@ $3.00 Total:______9. 458th Replica Patch Qty.______@ $3.00 Total:______10. 459th Replica Patch Qty.______@ $3.00 Total:______11. 535th Replica Patch Qty.______@ $3.00 Total:______12. 536th Replica Patch Qty.______@ $3.00 Total:______13. 537th Replica Patch Qty.______@ $3.00 Total:______14. 483rd Replica Patch Qty.______@ $3.00 Total:______15. Caribou Lapel Pin Qty.______@ $3.00 Total:______16. Caribou Poster (12" x 18") Qty.______@ $5.00 Total:______17. Caribou Challenge Coin Qty. _____ @ $8.00 Total: ______18. Caribou DVD – 1:10 long Qty: _____ @ $5.00 Total: ______19. Caribou decal (outside) Qty: _____ @ $3.00 Total: ______20. Caribou data plate (new) Qty: _____ @ $3.00 Total: ______21. Caribou refrigerator magnet (new) 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