Train at Hanoi

Pictured are a few passenger type railroad cars next to the taxiway at Gia Lam Airport in Hanoi, North Vietnam- 1973 post ceasefire. There were a string of about 6 identical coaches that appeared windowless and featured fresh, somewhat amateurish camouflage paint jobs. Did not seem like there were any seats in the cars either. No locomotive or any other train depot structures were to be seen in the area. Given the strategic position of the train next to runway, I wonder if this may have been staged for our benefit to project an impression of a healthy infrastructure … maybe not ... BTW we were one of the first US aircraft to land in North

Vietnam (post Linebacker II over Christmas) as part of peace negotiations and POW exchanges.

Invert Control at NKP

INVERT was a highly decorated unit operated as one of a small constellation of Tactical Air Control radar units, and contributed to an overlapping radar  control network for Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and  Vietnam. Invert monitored a 500 nautical mile-diameter hemisphere of airspace. They watched everyone who ever took off, flew and landed. Pictured is barracks area for Invert Controllers at Nakom Phnom (NKP) Airbase in Thailand, right on the border with Laos. Typical wooden, tin roofed buildings supported by concrete blocks … even had raised concrete walkways to keep the feet dry. Looks like this was laundry day for some of the troops. Also notice a few nylon mesh hammocks that were commonly strung up in the barracks areas, and doubled as clothes lines.

C-130 Cargo Bay Silhouettes

Yet another photo looking out rear end of the "Herky" ... nickname for the Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport. From a photography viewpoint I like the backlit silhouette of the crew members and ground personnel waiting on a load of cargo ... our loadmaster Jim is prominent on the right in his "hurry up and wait" stance. Originally taken in color, I thought the photo had more impact when rendered in black and white. Somewhere in Vietnam - 1972.

Phu Cat Caribou

Row of nine South Vietnamese C-7 twin engine, prop-driven Caribou transports sitting in revetments at Phu Cat Airbase – 1972. Phu Cat was on the central coast of Vietnam between Nha Trang and Da Nang. Phu Cat was constructed to support the war effort in 1966; many of the USAF flying squadrons stationed at Phu Cat had been deactivated by 1972 as a transition to more South Vietnamese responsibility was in full swing. A guard tower and fuel tanks (probably aviation fuel) adorn the hill in the background. Looks like the ramp may be made of some sort of metal matting … certainly not the interlocking PSP (pieced steel planking also know as Marston) surfaces often seen at temporary airstrips elsewhere … can’t remember one way or the other.