Jump to content

Help Wanted: Tail Identifications


118th AES Retired
 Share

Recommended Posts

Thanks to all who have helped me with my project in tracking down the history and disposition of the C-130 'A' models that were once assigned to the 118th/105th in Nashville!

Anyone interested in receiving a copy in Microsoft Word format can sent me your email address via private message and I'll be happy to send a copy to you.

I've be able to find a lot of photos and I need some help identifying the units (and putting a timeline) with regard to the tail identifiers on some of the birds. I need assistance with the following.

YP (55-0004)

HCA (55-0045)

MT (55-0047)

AG (55-0047, 55-0468, 55-0547)

VG (55-0468)

SG (56-471, 56-0504, 56-0517)

HCL (56-0500)

HCN (56-0500)

NCM (56-0518)

WG (56-0523)

NG (56-0529, 57-0464)

OB (57-0457)

Thanks!

118th AES Retired

Link to comment
Share on other sites

56-468 was the first C-130A I was assigned to at Sewart in Sept 1963.

TSGT Pappy Hayes was the C/C and Red Hutchens Was on it also.

I heard it ran off the end of the runway at Ft. Campbell in 86.

I don't know of a 55-0468 but that don't mean there wasn't.

It might of been the 55-468 I was on and CRS.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

118 AES Ret.

Here are some I've tracked down. Some of Lars Olausson's earlier books had the tail codes listed in them. You can also go to this web site -- www.chancefac.net and go to the tail code section. Not much help for your A-models, though.

I'm pretty sure all the 3-letter tail codes were from the South Vietnamese Air Force.

YP -- 41 TAS (1968 - 1971) Naha AB

MT -- 155 TAS (1974) Memphis

AG -- 195 TAS (1970 - 1974) Van Nuys

VG -- 115 TAS (1970 - 1974) Van Nuys

SG -- 139 TAS (1971 - 1974) Schnectady

WG -- 142 TAS (1971 - 1974) Wilmington

OB -- 40 TAS (1968 - 1971) Yokota or Naha, memory fails me (CRS)

I'll shoot you my email address by PM. I'd like a copy of your project. Thanks in advance.

Don R.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 year later...

I'm working on a project very similar to yours, I think. I'm trying to put at least one aircraft photo with every 130 organization from the beginning to date. Like you I've ran into a lot of old tail codes that I've had problems establishing the proper squadron for the code of that period.

I was hoping I might get a copy of your project as there may be some info in there that will be helpful.

Thanks in advance

Dusty Rhodes

[email protected]

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sorry that I've not responded sooner. I had to dig out this book. Published in 1991, Tail Code, by Patrick Martin, published by Martin Slides, 812 E 55th St., Tacoma, Wash., is a very good source for the grey area 1960s and 70s tail codes with starting year when known. HCL and probably HCN and NCM with US stars and bars were ex-VNAF C-130As probably being ferried back to the US or at the Boneyard pending reassignment. I saw HCL at Hickam in 1975 or 76 after the fall of Saigon when aircraft were being redeployed back to CONUS. Open House? Didn't know until later the story behind it.

I'll try to post the C-130 tail codes and bases, unit assignments and fin tip colors, if used, later when I have more time. If you have an immediate question, I can answer that.

There may be further books on tail codes, but I haven't kept up with them.

Best wishes,

Grant

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here is what I have.

YD C-130A 604 ACS/SOS,3 TFW Bien Hoa AB, RVN Combat Dragon

YJ C-130A 480 TFS, 366 TFW Da Nang AB, RVN 10 Oct 1966 - 15 Apr 1969

YP C-130A 480 TFS, 366 TFW Da Nang AB, RVN 10 Oct 1966 - 15 Apr 1969

YU C-130A 531 TFS, 3 TFW Bien Hoa AB, RVN 7 Dec 1965 - 31 Jul 1970

QB C-130B 480 TFS, 366 TFW Da Nang AB, RVN 10 Oct 1966 - 15 Apr 1969

QF C-130B 480 TFS, 366 TFW Da Nang AB, RVN 10 Oct 1966 - 15 Apr 1969

QG C-130B 480 TFS, 366 TFW Da Nang AB, RVN 10 Oct 1966 - 15 Apr 1969

QW C-130B 50 TAS, 314 TAW Ching Chuan Kang, AB Taiwan

TI C-130B 345 TAS, 314 TAW Ching Chuan Kang, AB Taiwan 1966 - 1971

DE C-130E 776 TAS, 314 TAW Ching Chuan Kang, AB Taiwan

DH C-130E 346 TAS, 314 TAW Ching Chuan Kang, AB Taiwan 1966 - 1971

DL C-130E 346 TAS, 314 TAW Dyess AFB, Texas

DR C-130E 16 SOS, 14 SOW Nha Trang 1968

DY C-130E 16 SOS, 8 TFW Ubon Royal Thai AFB, Thailand Spectre

FB C-130E 1 ACS/SOS, 14 ACW/SOW Nha Trang AB, RVN 4 Mar 1966 - 20 Dec 1967

LK C-130E 1 ACS, 14 ACW Pleiku AB, RVN Hobo

LF C-130E 58 TFS, 33 TFW Udorn Royal Thai AFB, Thailand TDY from Elgin AFB, FL, 8 Jun 1973 - 14 Sep 1973

LM C-130E 17 SOS, 14 SOW Nha Trang AB, RVN Shadow

LN C-130E 18 SOS, 14 SOW Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base Stinger

LO C-130E 8 SOS, 14 SOW Bien Hoa AB, RVN

LR C-130E 8 SOS, 14 SOW Chu Lai AB, RVN 1968 - 1971

OB C-130E 3 ACS/SOS, 14 ACW/SOW Nha Trang AB, RVN 1 May 1968 - 15 Sep 1969

PB C-130E 3 SOS, 14 SOW Pleiku AB, RVN Spooky

PG C-130E 4 ACS/SOS, 14 ACW/SOW Nha Trang AB, RVN 8 Mar 1966 - 14 Oct 1969

PR C-130E 4 SOS, 14 SOW Pleiku AB, RVN Spooky

SR C-130E 4 SOS, 14 SOW Phan Rang AB, RVN 15 Oct 1969 - 15 Dec 1969

ST C-130E 5 ACS/SOS, 14 ACW/SOW Nha Trang AB, RVN Psyops, 8 Mar 1966 - 15 Oct 1969

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

Unsure where you got your information for the first four listings. I was a LM in the 21st TAS at Naha AB, Dec 1968 – Apr 1971, and our C–130A tail codes were YD – 21st TAS, YJ – 35th TAS, YP – 41st TAS, and YU – 817th TAS.

John H Moore, SMSgt Ret

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Unsure where you got your information for the first four listings. I was a LM in the 21st TAS at Naha AB, Dec 1968 – Apr 1971, and our C–130A tail codes were YD – 21st TAS, YJ – 35th TAS, YP – 41st TAS, and YU – 817th TAS.

John H Moore, SMSgt Ret

John,

You are correct. I also was in the 21st from May'67 til Oct'68 (Asst. Crew Chief on 56-0489 and Crew Chief on 56-0533).

Sonny

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...