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.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Short final to Hanoi
Our C-130 on short final approach to Gia Lam Airfield, Hanoi, North Vietnam – 1973. Among first of a few USAF aircraft to land here following ceasefire, and not long after Christmas Linebacker II bombing offensive. Mission involved transport of North Vietnamese peace delegations back from Saigon. Although there are signs of filled bomb craters around the runway, the landing surface was pretty good at this no-frills airport. A second C-130 that landed just before us can be seen in upper left of photo on parallel taxiway. Looking closely, truck, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic can be seen on road crossing approach to runway. Visibility not great with what appears to be a lot of air pollution.
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