KJam Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 This is all the info I got: AC 63-7775 C-130E, Shot down April 1972 from Dyess AFB and blown up in place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullwinkle Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 What would you like to know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muff Millen Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 Ask Bullwinkle...as he was a survivor...had a front row jungle seat.... Hey Ralph, welcome home again. Muff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullwinkle Posted October 26, 2009 Share Posted October 26, 2009 Welcome home to you also. I sent my e-mail to that guy waiting for a response from him. What a beautiful Aircraft that was at one time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbob Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 Ralph Bemis, the Load, is retired in the Little Rock area. Used to fly with him. I think he's been in like 3 or 4 crashes/mishaps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJam Posted October 31, 2009 Author Share Posted October 31, 2009 Bullwinkle sent me the awesome story of what went on. I would like to frame these pictures with the story below it and post it in our Heritage Room. It is a true Herk story that should be known. Thanks BW.... Kel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dutch Posted October 31, 2009 Share Posted October 31, 2009 Bullwinkle sent me the awesome story of what went on. I would like to frame these pictures with the story below it and post it in our Heritage Room. It is a true Herk story that should be known. Thanks BW.... Kel Post the story here I am sure all of us would like to hear it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullwinkle Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 Hey for those that would like to read about this mission from a Nav. then check out anloc.org and read Bob Kirkpactrics account. It was one H--- of a day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davis Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 That one hell of a story Ralph, My butt was purking just reading it. Welcome Home Ralph. I had a good friend killed at An Loc Ssgt Joseph Hopper Loadmaster in the 50th TAS acft. 62-1797 loss 3May72. Any you guys remember him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullwinkle Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 Yes I remeber him. I was one of the Stan Eval Loads with the 50th. We lost a bunch of good people on those drops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Wilson Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 Man that was one hell of a day, but everybody walked away and that don't happen too often with herks. Glad ya all made it to fight another day! Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jconner2 Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 He was awarded the Silver Star for that episode. We all got together at Dyess in 2005 for our Loadmaster reunion and notible attendees were Ralph and Gary Speer who was the only survivor of the Dyess crash in 66. He also forgot to mention no one is his right mind would fly with him because he was a bullet magnet! Hi Ralph. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muff Millen Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 John, you do not what you speak of...I'll fly with Bulwinkle any day any time. Ralph hope you had a great Vets day. Muff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jconner2 Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 Muff, I see that my comment did not come across as humor; which is what was intended. For that I am sorry. If in any way it infers that I am disrespectfull of Ralph's experiences, achievements, honors and above all his exemplary career I also apologize. Ralph knows me and the comment was intended to tease him not insult him. I have the utmost respect and trust in anyone who has ever looked at, walked on, maintained, crewed or otherwise loved the C-130 as I do. I would fly anywhere anytime with all of them. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbob Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 He also forgot to mention no one is his right mind would fly with him because he was a bullet magnet! Hi Ralph. John Funny you say that. I remember the same discussions back in my early days of flying in the 61st. Some would say if we get into a shooting war we wanted to fly with Ralph. Surely after 4 crashes he wouldn't get into any more. Then there were those who said but dangit after 4 crashes maybe he's snake bit. Guess it depends on which side of the fence you were on. lol This was all in good spirited fun of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullwinkle Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 To start with the Bullet Magnet came from my 18 month tour at Clark during that time I was on 17 "B" models that came back with holes in them.As for crashes I had the one , plus one off the end of a dirt field in nam and one that ended up crossways of a dirt runway plus one in Hondurus where the parking area gave way.I guess maybe the one at the Rock where a student took us off the runway on a three engine landing might count as something. Now you all be good to my buddy John we've known each other since we were just wet nosed teenagers. Muff are you staying out of trouble??? jbob where are you??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Railrunner130 Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 Well, after reading that Bullwinkle, I think it's safe to say that flying with you would ALWAYS be an adventure. I have a decent amount of time in Herks, and done a lot of different things in many places. Thankfully, none of them compare to your adventures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muff Millen Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 [ Muff are you staying out of trouble??? Me in trouble? No way was I ever in trouble. Just ask Ron Zgoda Muff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbob Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 jbob where are you??? Ralph I'm in LR now. We exchanged some emails back in 04 after I retired. We were in the 61st together back around 82 till you retired in 86. I was a newbie back then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charliea Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 (edited) Joe was a good friend of mine!! He was attached to the 50TAS for flying but assigned to Det6,6APS, as was I. I was Bullwinkle's 2nd LM on 18Apr72/63-7775. After returning to CCK, after hospital stay, I was reassigned to Det6,6APS(50TAS for flying). When Joe and Lester Bracy's acft was shot down, I and another LM with Det6 escorted Joe's wife (Blue Bark) back to his home in Memphis, Tenn. I'm glad I did that, but I hope I never have to do that again! I still think of Joe and his family today. Charlie "A" Armistead Edited November 23, 2009 by charliea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jconner2 Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 "Now you all be good to my buddy John we've known each other since we were just wet nosed teenagers." Thanks, tough crowd here. Ralph, they used to give away "Wounded Herky" awards at Mactan for hits. Image of a "B" Herc with a crutch under the wing. Did they have something similar at Clarke? I went back to Clarke from Dyess in 68 on "E"'s for a 90day TDY. No hits, so it must have been the "B" models and not you. BTW - Great pic of your grand-daughter. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullwinkle Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 Hey john I've got one here somewheres. It was something the 834Th there at Tan Son Nute gave out.I got mine in Feb. of 68 on my first in country stay. They stopped the program in Mar or April of 68 when they started having to many Aircraft taking hits.I'll dig around and see if I can find it and scan you a copy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jconner2 Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 We got them at Mactan in 67. but they could have originated at TSN. I got one from a couple hits at Song Be but it along with most of my stuff was stolen hitching a ride on a C-97 out of TSN on the way back home. Had one of those hand made garment bags made by the riggers at TSN; which was a real prize that I hated losing. Most of my pictures, camera and personal stuff were all taken off that plane by "handlers". Appreciate a scan. You should post it up here. Seem to remember they were orange and black? The old memory is vague. Hope you had a good T-Day. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobdaley Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 From Bullwinkle, Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamMcGowan Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 What would you like to know? Ralph's account is in the most recent issue of the PLA newspaper The Loader. He's lucky to be alive. Charlie Armistead with with him. The two of them and the nav are the only ones still living if I'm not mistaken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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