C-130 takeoff Danang Vietnam

C-130 takeoff from Danang 1972. Dozens of arched revetments can be seen lining the far side of the runway. The revetments provided some measure of protection for aircraft including possible rocket attacks where chain reaction explosions had potential to do extensive damage.

C-130 turboprop maintenance

Ground crew doing maintenance on one of C-130’s four turboprop engines … basically jet engine driven propellers. The prop assemblies are very complex with variable pitch blades. These jet engines always run at a constant RPM (around %100 in cockpit gauge). Throttle increase at constant RPM would produce greater torque which was transferred to the prop where the blades would move in synch to take bigger bite of air allowing acceleration and/or climb. Nha Trang, Vietnam 1972.

Phu Cat C-130 loading

C-130 baking in midday sun at Phu Cat Airbase 1971 located along the South China Sea in Central Vietnam. Coastal hills and blossoming thunderstorms in the background. You can see a crewmember seated on the ground in the shade of the wing … while parked on the ramp the inside of the aircraft was like an oven with temps well over 100 degrees. Same heat was true during taxi and takeoff as the air conditioning was ineffective until after liftoff when engines really got going to provide the AC energy. To the rear of the plane a tractor fork lift is moving a large pallet of cargo into position for loading.

105 Howitzers at Nha Trang

Ten 105 howitzers lining the ramp at what I think is Nha Trang Airbase in Vietnam 1972. Barrels and breaches of guns sealed to keep out contaminates. Photo taken from runway side of ramp looking Southwest toward coastal hills. Nha Trang is on the South Chine Sea of South Central Vietnam with beautiful beaches … I believe it is a highly commercialized resort today.

C-119 Flying Boxcar

Open back end of camouflaged C-119 “Flying Boxcar” cargo plane with familiar dual tail and squared fuselage … most likely at Tan Son Nhut in Saigon 1971. There also were two variations of AC-119’s developed as gunships that were heavily armed (and feared) … they used the call signs Shadow and Stinger. Ever present afternoon clouds are building as precursors to frequent thunderstorms over Vietnam. There also appears to be partial view of a Vietnamese twin engine C-123 on right side of photo behind the standing man

C-130 cargo offload

Loadmasters and crew supervising fork lift unloading of cargo pallet from rear of C-130. You can see rollers on floor of cargo area on which the pallets could be easily moved and locked in place. Occasionally when landing at “hot” airfields the rear cargo doors would be opened and pallets unlocked … the aircraft would then accelerate while taxiing allowing the pallets to slide out back of plane onto the taxiway. This could be down very quickly allowing for a moving, engines-running offload followed by immediate takeoff … depriving nearby enemy of an easy target on the ground. Vietnam 1972.

Search and rescue from NKP

Icons for Jolly Green Giant and Pedro search and rescue helicopter squadrons located at Nakhon Phanom (NKP) airbase in far Northeast Thailand known for "the secret war" air operations. NKP was on the Mekong River next to Laos and only about 80 miles from North Vietnam ... about 250 from Hanoi. Because of this proximity the helicopters were on alert and could be quickly scrambled to rescue downed airmen and others in immediate need in unfriendly territory.

Operation Homecoming

Special mobile communications equipment flown into Danang in '73. This was in support of "Operation Homecoming" where Air Force C-141's flew to Hanoi to bring home our freed POWs after the "so called" end of US involvement in the war.

Mig-17 in Indonesia

Indonesian Mig-17 in hanger at Iswahjudi airbase on island of Java east of Jakarta ('72). 100 Mig-17s purchased from Soviets around 1960 ... planes went into disrepair by late 60s as relations with Soviets cooled.

Short final at Vung Tau

C-130 short final approach into runway 36 (due north) Vung Tau Vietnam ... one of many abandoned airbases as war wound down in 70's ... notice typical steep glide-path into runway as flying low and slow final approaches in C-130 could be unhealthy WRT unpredictable small arms fire and hand held missiles. Vung Tau city was resort on South China Sea (80 miles SE of Saigon) for the wealthy and also served as R&R base for GI's although I did not see the attraction.

Fisk market Saigon

Vendor at morning open air fresh?? fish market ... you never forget the smell ... saigon '72.

Vietnam refugee relocation

View out rear of cargo area of C-130 ... about to load local villagers for relocation. Most had never been near an aircraft before, and had little but the clothes on their backs. Mainly women, children, old men. this was not first class air travel ... the passengers sat on floor of dirty metal cargo pallets. tie-down straps rigged across fuselage a few feet off ground provided something to hold on to. Take offs and landings could be rough on dirt runways. Near Hue, Vietnam I think (near the DMZ) '72 ... although large hangers and choppers in background make me think slide was mislabeled.

Saigon fork lift operator

With most young Vietnamese males consumed by the war, women did many of the ground jobs on airbases. Here a lady fork lift operator unloads cargo aircraft: Bien Hoa (just northeast of Saigon) 1972.

FB-111 air refueling with KC-135

Boom operator’s view out rear of KC-135 (basically a modified Boeing 707) refueling a FB-111. The small wings on the boom allowed the boom operator to “fly” the boom into position via a joy stick. Another control allowed the operator to extend the telescopic boom to engage the receiver aircraft’s refueling receptacle and start offloading fuel. The offloaded fuel was JP4 … same as used by the KC and taken from one of about 10 connected fuel cells on the tanker. Pilot’s job during the refueling was pretty simple … maintain a stable platform generally with autopilot and altitude hold engaged … plus maintaining a constant airspeed consistent with the type of aircraft being refueled. Just about all aircraft types in USAF inventory were air refuelable. I flew KC's for a number of years at Pease AFB in Portsmouth, NH after returning from C-130's in SEA (Southeast Asia).

Hanoi Gia Lam Airport Control Tower

Our C-130 was one of the first to land at Gia Lam Airport in Hanoi following Vietnam ceasefire which occurred in late January of ’73 … mission was connected to preparations for Operation Homecoming which would bring home over 500 US POWs from Hanoi Hilton. Only a month or two before the extremely heavy “Christmas” bombing campaign over North Vietnam known as Linebacker II occurred between Dec 18-29 1972. Amazing this runway at North Vietnam’s main airfield had become operational … here we see the main “control tower” which was little more than a plywood hut, thatch and tin roofs, and a few antennas on bamboo poles. Photo taken out open window of C-130 while taxiing after landing.

Okinawa paratrooper drop zone.

1972 Okinawa – Drop zone ground troops surrounded by local kids. Paratroopers were practicing jumping from C-130 aircraft and landing in drop zone. The kids would run out to help jumpers gather their chutes hoping to get a small reward.

Boat Boy at Pattya Beach, Thailand

One of many young Thai kids that would run colorful rental boats at Pattya Beach. Beautiful clear tropical water was great for snorkeling and fishing although the catch in photo highly marginal.

Peace delegation boarding at Tan Son Nhut

1973 night loading of “peace” delegates in Saigon (Tan Son Nhut) enroute to Hanoi. To left is a North Vietnamese soldier strangely carrying a Scottish Plaid suitcase about to board our C-130. Foreground is ARVN (Army Republic [South] Vietnam) officer along with news photographer. Subsequently flew into heavily bombed Hanoi Gia Lam Airfield to drop off delegates. We were one of the first US aircraft to fly into Hanoi post ceasefire. At the time Hanoi was most heavily defended place in the world WRT anti-aircraft batteries.  Was a bit concerned while approaching Hanoi low and slow that everyone on the ground had gotten the word about the ceasefire :-)

Joe on R+R at Pattya Beach, Thailand

Joe, our trusty navigator from Texas enjoying a tall warm beer on small boat we rented while taking a break from flying. 1972 location at Pattya Beach, Thailand on the Gulf of Thailand (Bay of Bangkok). Pattya was/is a popular resort for Europeans with tiny bathing suits. This brew was guaranteed to produce major headaches. Note trinkets around Joe’s neck … he was a kind-hearted sucker for kids that were constantly trying to sell such things to GIs.