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The Patches that I knew


Mt.crewchief
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  • 1 year later...

This post is in response to the post by Budd Johnson dated Oct 9, 2009.  I was stationed at CCK from Oct '69 thru Oct '70, 6217th Trans, Special Vehicle Mechanic, motor pool.  I replaced the clutch on Big Bertha, and while test driving it I sank big bertha into the motor pool septic tank!  We never knew that concrete slab was covering a septic tank, we used it to jack up MB2 towing tractors, the De-icer, etc., it was the only smooth surface on the lot.  I have more pictures if you are interested.  You can reach me at [email protected]

I also remember a lot of talk about "patches."  I flew from CCK to Tan Son Nhut on a 130 in June of '70.  We had to do a "runway start" because one of the engines wouldn't start (there was no other 130 to give us a buddy or windmill start).  I also flew on a 130 to Ping Tung Taiwan to fix a 25K cargo loader at PT.  The 130 was on a LAPES practice flight.  The next day we loaded the 25K into the 130 (it took up every inch of the inside of that aircraft) and brought it back to CCK for major repair. 

The 130 is an amazing aircraft, Big Bertha was an amazing crane, and CCK was a really cool ride!! 

Scan0021.pdf

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  • 5 months later...
On 10/29/2009 at 11:51 PM, Budd Johnson said:

I just joined this group and was chatting with Sam about this Herk. I was stationed at CCK and worked on "Patches" as an AR Specialist along with a sheetmetal guy for about a week trying to patch the over 300 holes and seal them well enough for the return flight to depot. If I remember correctly, a C-130 pressurizes until the safety valve pops at 14.1 inches of mercury, but the most we could get was something like 3.5. Those were the days........ working a minimum of 12 hour shifts, 6 days a week if we were lucky and the only sleep we got was riding on the "Smoker". I was stationed there right out of tech school in late 1969 to 71 and then again 74 until closing in 75 (total of 27 months) all in the AR Shop / Crash Recovery / Transient Alert. I was the crew chief on "Big Sam" & "Big Bertha" (the 50 ton LeTourneau - Westinghouse crane. The Taiwanese guards never messed with me when I would take it for a spin around their side of the base and runway. I have pictures to dig through and will post when I find them.

 

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