Sign of the times for C-130 crew members. Pictured are a pair of ubiquitous, small ceramic "Saigon Elephants" which were a popular purchase item at various off-base vendors in Vietnam. We had the luxury of C-130 cargo space to haul sometimes dozens of these back home. Most of these elephants were 4-5 times larger than the ones pictured. Today I still have a few of these large elephants outside in my garden over 50 years after purchase. I must say that the cans of beer were as ubiquitous as these elephants.

 ALCE (AirLift Control Element) headquarters at Tan Son Nhut Airbase in Saigon. This is where we went in the morning to get our C-130 flight itineray for the day. It also included weather briefing and intelligence reports concerning danger areas to avoid during sorties. Call sign for ALCE detachment was "Saigon Tea".

 A group non-military passengers walking across the tarmac in front of a C-123. Nha Trang 1972. One thing stands out to me ... obesity was not an issue with this particular group.

 How many workers does it take to harvest rice. At least nine according to this 1972 Vietnam photo. Often some of the remote airbases we landed at had adjacent farmland right next to runway.

 Loading up what may be some ARVN and civilian refugees at Nha Trang ... can't recall destination. Old smoke belching, oil-leaking C-123 taxiing past. In background may be a commercial DC-6.

 A couple of C-130 crew members enjoying burgers, dogs and beans at an impromptu post flight cookout outside barracks ... I think this may be at NKP Thailand right on the Mekong River across from Laos. Surprised the early 70's clothes don't include tie-dyes. Beer was flowing plentifully.

 1973 photo of Viet Cong and NVA POW's in purple prisoner garb getting out of transport truck and walking to rear cargo loading ramp of our C-130. Purpose was to release prisoners as part of newly signed "peace" treaty. This was at the notorious South Vietnam POW camp at Con Son Island off southern tip of Vietnam. Our destination was a remote dirt airfield near Hue just south of the DMZ. After landing the prisoners were released and quickly disappeared into thick jungle with no fanfare ... that after stripping themselves of the purple POW suits, head wraps and sandals leaving them in a pile on the dirt airstrip.

 Going home 1973. Pictured our some of our C-130 squadron pilots waiting in military air terminal to go back to USA after a year and a half of flying missions in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand. This was the first time since we arrived that we were not dressed in our flight suits. Lots of memories to reflect upon for a lifetime.

 Large array of Piasecki Army CH-21 Shawnee "Flying Bananas" which could carry22 fully outfitted troops. Got this photo from a friend dated around 1963-4 and may be in Nha Trang but unsure. It was powered by one radial engine and had tandem, 3-bladed, counter rotating blades, The upper angle of the fuselage was for increased clearance for the large rear blades. These aircraft were slow and had vulnerable control cables and fuel lines that made them susceptible to ground fire. They were largely replaced by Huey H-1s in 1965 time frame.

  I think this is a Marine Sikorshy UH-34 heavy lift chopper with radial engines ... subsequent heavy lift choppers were turbo-shaft driven. Troop capacity was 16 and it had added forward facing cargo doors in the lower nose section. It's two radial engines were located in the external pods which allowed more cargo space in the fuselage. This aircraft appeared in the early days of USA involvement of Vietnam War (photo perhaps around 1963). Photo gotten from a friend and location may be Nha Trang but I'm not sure.

 Pictured is DeHavilland Army U-6A utility aircraft in the early days of USA involvement of Vietnam War (photo perhaps around 1963). Photo gotten from a friend and location may be Nha Trang but I'm not sure.

OV-10 Bronco FAC

 Flying on high above Vietnam is OC-10 Bronco light attack & forward air controller (FAC) aircraft. It has dual turboprop engines, twin tail with 2-man crew. It often marked enemy positions with smoke to assist fighter and bomber aircraft to take care of business.

Korean - Vietnam War Memorial

 Sitting in dim night light contemplating those lost in Korean and Vietnam conflicts. This monument is in Knight Park, Collingswood, NJ. The seven names of those killed in the Vietnam War were high school classmates of mine who paid ultimate price.

C-130-E In Flight Over Vietnam

 C-130-E cruising in clear skies over Vietnam 1972. Tail info indicated this plane was manufactured in 1963 and originated from airbase in Lakenheath, UK. All the Southeast Asia C-130’s were on “loan” to the theater from home basis throughout the world … mostly USA bases like Dyess (DY), Little Rock (LK), 345th TAS CCK Taiwan (DL), etc.

B-52 at Utapao During 1072 Christmas Bombing Campaign

 Pictured is B-52 at Utapao Royal Thai Airbase during the 1972 Chistmas bombing (aka Linebacker 2) North Vietnam. In the background the tails of several more Buffs can be seen. Moderate security was present as is evident per the razor wire in foreground. Our C-130 crew witnessed subsequent B-52 raids over Hanoi via proximty and radio transmissions that were very harrowing.

Get Me Outta Here!

 Please get me outta here!

C-130 Ground Maintenance

 C-130 ground maintenance ... can't recall airbase but it must have been major location given size of control tower. A Follow Me maintenance vehicle with air/electrical cart in tow providing power to the aircraft while engines are shut down. Appears to be special purpose Military 707 on far side of C-130 (not a KC-135 (707) refueler.

Rocket Damaged Gooney Bird

 Heavily damaged wing and fuselage of C-47 Gooney Bird on ramp at Bien Hoa 1972. Damaged occured from an unexpected  midday rocket attack. We dodged a bullet as you can partially see our C-130 parked on the other side of the C-47.

C-130 Turboprop Egine Machanics

 Literally immersed in their work, two C-130-E engine mechanics working on port side, outboard Allison T56-A-7A turboprop engine on intensely hot ramp at DaNang 1972. Good comparison showing the scale of the complex hybrid systems.

Crew Quarters at Tan Son Nhut Saigon

On base Flight Crew quarters at Tan Son Nhut Saigon. Luxuarious accommodations campared to troops in the field. Despite spending many months there strangely I cannot remember ever eating there - where, when, or what? I do know there was plenty of beer though.