Personal photos/text taken in/out of Vietnam combat zone from perspective of copilot on USAF C-130 345th Tactical Airlift Crew. Not just about the war, but also about the people/places of the region during 1972. This is where I got my first Nikon film SLR which turned into lifelong passion albeit now Canon digital SLR. The photos are recent digital scans from old 35mm slides wasting away in hot/cold attic for 40 years. Extensive Photoshop editing has been used to make them somewhat presentable.
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Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Flight Suit 1972 Saigon
My flight suit hanging on metal locker in BOQ in Saigon. Usually carried at least two or three suits as it was imperative they be washed every day if at all possible after being soaked with sweat during a day of flying. Cockpits were like ovens without AC when parked on red hot tarmacs of Southeast Asia. Flight suits were made of the flame retardant material Nomex … very unpleasant and itchy especially in the heat ... they tended to get more comfortable after a zillion washings when they lost half their bulk and became softer. Some pilots preferred older gray cotton flight suits if they could be had. In any case all the zippered pockets, flaps and Velcro were great. Muted war-zone patches and insignia on suit include my 1st Lieutenant bars, 345th TAS (Tactical Airlift Squadron ) patch, and name tag with pilot's wings. Little plastic container on leg held hard rubber ear plugs which were not very effective around the jet engines … what was that you said? White plastic spoon in arm pocket was for my Maypo.
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