airfix1338 Posted July 19, 2017 Author Share Posted July 19, 2017 A C-130A flew from Con Son Island?-this is news to me-can anyone throw any light on where this information came from?BoHD can you tell us this source??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonny Posted July 20, 2017 Share Posted July 20, 2017 My roommate, Sgt, Bob Malott, was the Crew Chief on 57-0472 in '68. I have a couple of pictures of her with bullet holes somewhere. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EFLTatCCK Posted August 12, 2017 Share Posted August 12, 2017 On 8/1/2014 at 4:12 PM, airfix1338 said: hello all,i have just found a picture of C-130A 54-01640 in an old edition of AIR EXTRA issue 26 page 6 and the camouflage matches a picture on this website showing the aircraft in VNAF service coded HCO-there is even the faint outline of the VNAF star and bar on the rear fuselage! does anyone have any thoughts or comments on this? C-130A 54-1640 was a "Snub-Nose" that was later at Willow Grove ARF,PA in 1975. I flew that a few times as an Flt Engineer. It flew great during a Europe run we made from the US. EFLTatCCK 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomlpi Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 I was crew chief of 55-034. 927 TAG, Slfridge AFB in 11972. I was on the mission to take the airplane to Tan Son Nhut. We left Selfridge 10/27/72 and arrived 0n 11/03. The aircraft came home and went to storage at Kirtland AFB. I'm searching for a pic of my bird after the ARVN AF painted their insignia on it. I have been asked to write an article about that trip and would love to have a pic of 55-034 in Vietnam Tomlpi49@yahoo.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airfix1338 Posted April 4, 2020 Author Share Posted April 4, 2020 Hello-this aircraft was coded HCE of the 435 Transport Squadron 53 Tactical Wing VNAF at TAN SON NHUT Air Base and escaped on 29 4 75 to U Tapao AFB Thailand.A picture of this aircraft in black and white is on the vnafmamn website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airfix1338 Posted April 8, 2020 Author Share Posted April 8, 2020 Correction-this aircraft was in Singapore along with 4 others being repaired when the Republic of Viet Nam fell-they were all repaired and claimed back by the USAF and flown to Guam then on to the USA-most re-entered USAF service and others went to MASDC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airfix1338 Posted May 21, 2020 Author Share Posted May 21, 2020 Hello All,this is my newly updated list of the VNAF C-130A HERCULES serial numbers and tailcodes. 54-01631/??? 54-01634/GZP 54-01640/HCO 55-00001/GZB 55-00002/??? 55-00005/GZC 55-00006/??? 55-00008/HCC 55-00012/GZH 55-00013/HCD 55-00016/GZE 55-00017/??? 55-00027/GZA 55-00034/HCE 55-00045/HCA 56-00476/HCI 56-00479/GZM 56-00481/??? 56-00482/HCK 56-00483/??? 56-00489/GZJ 56-00495/??? 56-00500/HCL 56-00505/GZL 56-00518/HCM 56-00519/GZP 56-00521/HCH 56-00524/??? 56-00532/GZN 56-00542/GZI 56-00543/GZD 56-00545/HCP 57-00460/HCF 57-00465/??? 57-00472/HC? As can be seen there are a lot of missing Tailcodes from this list of the 435 TS coded HCA-HCP and the 437 TS GZA-GZP.If anyone can add to or correct this list please reply,thankyou regards Simon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airfix1338 Posted July 21, 2020 Author Share Posted July 21, 2020 Hello All,here is my very latest updated list of VNAF C-130A HERCULES serial numbers and tailcodes. 54-01631/??? 54-01634/GZP 54-01640/HCO 55-00001/GZB 55-00002/??? 55-00005/GZC 55-00006/??? 55-00008/HCC 55-00012/GZH 55-00013/HCD 55-00016/GZE 55-00017/??? 55-00027/GZA 55-00034/HCE 55-00045/HCA 56-00476/HCI 56-00479/GZM 56-00481/GZK 56-00482/HCK 56-00483/??? 56-00489/GZJ 56-00495/??? 56-00500/HCL 56-00505/GZL 56-00518/HCM 56-00519/GZP 56-00521/HCH 56-00524/??? 56-00532/GZN 56-00542/GZO 56-00543/GZD 56-00545/HCP 57-00460/HCF 57-00465/??? 57-00472/HC? As before if anyone has any information updates or corrections please reply to fill in the gaps of THE REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM AIR FORCE 435 TS HCA-HCP and 437 TS GZA-GZP, thankyou. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airfix1338 Posted April 9, 2021 Author Share Posted April 9, 2021 Hello All-this is my newest update of confirmed VNAF C-130A HERCULES serial numbers and tailcodes. 54-01631/??? 54-01634/GZP 54-01640/HCO 55-00001/GZB 55-00002/HCB 55-00005/GZC 55-00006/??? 55-00008/HCC 55-00012/GZH 55-00013/HCD 55-00016/GZE 55-00017/??? 55-00027/GZA 55-00034/HCE 55-00045/HCA 56-00476/HCI 56-00479/GZM 56-00481/GZK 56-00482/HCK 56-00483/??? 56-00489/GZJ 56-00495/??? 56-00500/HCL 56-00505/GZL 56-00518/HCM 56-00519/GZP 56-00521/HCH 56-00524/??? 56-00532/GZN 56-00542/GZO 56-00543/GZD 56-00545/HCP 57-00460/HCF 57-00465/??? 57-00472/HC? As before if anyone can add to or update this please reply to fill in the gaps.THE REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM AIR FORCE 435 TS HCA -HCP and 437 TS GZA-GZP. Thankyou regards Simon. / Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airfix1338 Posted April 10, 2021 Author Share Posted April 10, 2021 Hello All-after some new information came my way here is a much updated VNAF C-130A SERIAL/TAILCODE update- 54-01631/??? 54-01634/GZP 54-01640/HCO 55-00001/GZB 55-00002/HCB 55-00005/GZC 55-00006/GZI 55-00008/HCC 55-00012/GZH 55-00013/HCD 55-00016/GZE 55-00017/HCG 55-00027/GZA 55-00034/HCE 55-00045/HCA 56-00476/HCI 56-00479/GZM 56-00481/GZK 56-00482/HCK 56-00483/??? 56-00489/GZJ 56-00495/??? 56-00500/HCL 56-00505/GZL 56-00518/HCM 56-00519/GZP 56-00521/HCH 56-00524/??? 56-00532/GZN 56-00542/GZO 56-00543/GZD 56-00545/HCP 57-00460/HCF 57-465/HCN 57-00472/HCJ. 435 TS HCA-HCP and 437 TS GZA-GZP/ 53RD TRANSPORT WING /5TH AIR DIVISION/ THE REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM AIR FORCE. As before if anyone can help with new or updated information please reply,thank you regards Simon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonny Posted April 13, 2021 Share Posted April 13, 2021 54-1631 was intended for VNAF but was rejected according to Lars Olausson's Lockheed Hercules Production List. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daddyairplanes Posted May 27, 2021 Share Posted May 27, 2021 airfix1338 i want to say thank you for your research and pulling together of the serials for the VNAF. i am a flight sim modder active within the StrikeFighters2 community at CombatAce.com i have been working on creating historical skins for the C-130 of all major users that could be represented in game. the VNAF Hercules have been under represented in game despite the game being out for 20+ years and a C-130A model for 17+ years. your research and sharing it here have been a big help prelimminary work on the new skin note: this is not an ad for the game, even though it is not free. my work, as well as the model that i have repainted and done the markings on are free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airfix1338 Posted October 31, 2021 Author Share Posted October 31, 2021 Hello All, after some new information from a French AVIATION MAGAZINE came my way I have a newly updated list of VNAF C-130A HERCULES 435 TRANSPORT SQUADRON HCA-HCP and 437 TRANSPORT SQUADRON GZA-GZP,53RD TACTICAL WING/ 5TH AIR DIVISION/TAN SON NHUT AIR BASE ,REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM. 54-01631/??? 54-01634/GZP 54-01640/HCO 55-00001/GZB 55-00002/HCB 55-00005/GZC 55-00006/GZI 55-00008/HCC 55-00012/GZH 55-00013/HCD 55-00016/HCO 55-00017/HCG 55-00027/GZA 55-00034/HCE 55-00045/HCA 56-00476/HCI 56-00479/GZM 56-00481/HCL 56-00482/HCK 56-00483/??? 56-00489/GZJ 56-00495/??? 56-00500/GZE 56-00505/GZL 56-00518/HCM 56-00519/GZP 56-00521/HCH 56-00524/??? 56-00532/GZN 56-00542/GZO 56-00543/GZD 56-00545/HCP 57-00460/HCF 57-00465/HCN 57-00472/HCJ. As before,if anyone can add or correct information to this please send it,thank you regards Simon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airfix1338 Posted March 22, 2023 Author Share Posted March 22, 2023 Hello All,several answers have come my way after my last request for updates or corrections.This is my now ULTIMATE LIST of VNAF C-130A HERCULES of the 5th AIR DIVISION,53rd TACTICAL WING,435 TRANSPORT SQUADRON and 437 TRANSPORT SQUADRON. VNAF at TAN SON NHUT AIR BASE 1972-1975.435 TRANSPORT SQUADRON HCA-HCP= 55-00045/HCA 55-00002/HCB 55-00008/HCC 55-00013/HCD 55-00034/HCE 57-00460/HCF 55-00017/HCG 56-00521/HCH 56-00476/HCI 57-00472/HCJ 56-00482/HCK 56-00481/HCL 56-00518/HCM 57-00465/HCN 55-00016/HCO 56-00545/HCP. 437 TRANSPORT SQUADRON GZA-GZP= 55-00027/GZA 55-00001/GZB 55-00005/GZC 56-00543/GZD 56-00500/GZE 56-00483/GZF 56-00495/GZG 55-00012/GZH 55-00006/GZI 56-00489/GZJ 56-00524/GZK 56-00505/GZL 56-00479/GZM 56-00432/GZN 56-00542/GZO 56--00519/GZP. ADDITIONALLY 3 1954 MODEL C-130A HERCULES WERE DELIVERED IN 1972 BUT DUE TO RADAR INCOMPATABILITY WERE SWAPPED IN 1973 FOR 3 LATER 1956 MODEL AIRCRAFT-THEY WERE 54-016131/HCP 54-01634/GZP 54-01640/HCO. I AM CERTAIN THIS LIST IS 100% CORRECT AND COMPLETE. LASTLY A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE LATE BOB DALEY WHO ALWAYS WANTED TO COMPLETE THIS LIST AND HELPED ME IN THE EARLY DAYS-THANK YOU BOB,REGARDS SIMON. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grizzly437 Posted January 24 Share Posted January 24 Hi Simon, I'd like to extend my gratitude for your hard work, along with the efforts of the late Col. Bob Daley, with finding and identifying the tail codes of the VNAF C-130s. With respect to the two Herks lost at Song Be, both are attributed to the 435th TS (HCH 56-00521 on 18 Dec 1974 and HCO 55-00016 on 25 Dec 1974). The latter C130, HCO 55-00016, seems to be misidentified. Upon reading through some first hand accounts from pilots from the 435th TS, their memoirs all state that the Herk lost on 25 Dec 1974 was piloted by friends from the sister 437th squadron and should therefore be a GZ# tailcode, not the HCO tailcode attributed. One of these accounts attributes the 25/12/1974 incident to tailcode GZE, but there are photos of GZE in UTapao AB following the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. With that said, I believe two of your tailcodes are incorrect: HCO 55-00016 and the GZ# tailcode from the 437th that was shot down in Song Be. I've been trying to cross reference additional material, but am now hitting dead ends. Best wishes, JB 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airfix1338 Posted February 16 Author Share Posted February 16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airfix1338 Posted February 16 Author Share Posted February 16 PLEASE FIND ABOVE THE C-130A CODED HCO-THIS PICTURE WAS IN THE VIETNAM WAR MUSEUM IN SAIGON AND SHOWS 55-00016/HCO BY SERIAL AND TAIL CODE ON THE GROUND AT SONG BE IN LATE DECEMBER 1974.THE C-123K PROVIDER BEHIND THE WRECKED HERCULES IS 54-00651/XM OF THE VNAF 425 TRANSPORT SQUADRON WHICH HAD A BAD LANDING ACCIDENT ON 28/10/1972 AT THE SAME LOCATION AND WAS ABANDONED THERE.IT IS NOW IN A LOCAL MUSEUM BADLY PAINTED AND REPAIRED.THIS PICTURE IS USUALLY CROPPED BUT THIS IS THE FULL VERSION SHOWING EVERYTHING. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airfix1338 Posted February 16 Author Share Posted February 16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airfix1338 Posted February 16 Author Share Posted February 16 (edited) HELLO AGAIN-PICTURED ABOVE ARE 56-00521/HCH DESTROYED ON 18/12/1974 AT SONG BE AND ALSO PICTURED IS 2 PICTURES OF HCO ON THE GROUND AND THE TRAITOR TROUNGS F-5E USED IN THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE ATTACK HIDDEN UNDER THE WING OF HCO. SORRY THE LAST PICTURE IS UPSIDE DOWN-I COULD NOT GET IT THE CORRECT WAY UP! Edited February 16 by airfix1338 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airfix1338 Posted February 16 Author Share Posted February 16 (edited) HELLO AGAIN -THESE 2 PICTURES PROVE THAT 56-00500/GZE WAS NOT DESTROYED AT SONG BE IN DECEMBER 1974-THEY SHOW IT AT TAN SON NHUT AIR BASE IN LATE APRIL 1975 IN A REVETMENT -ZOOM IN AND IT IS CLEARLY GZE.THE BASE IS UNDER ATTACK FROM ARTILLERY AND ROCKETS AND MORTAR FIRE IN LATE APRIL 1975.THE OTHER PICTURE VERY CLEARLY SHOWS 56-00500/ GZE AT U TAPAO AIR BASE THAILAND ON 30/04/1975-HAVING ESCAPED FROM VIET NAM THE SAME DAY.IT WAS RECOVERED BY THE USAF AND TAKEN BACK TO THE USA ALONG WITH 14 OTHER C-130A HERCULES-6 FROM SINGAPORE AND 8 FROM THAILAND AND LATER SERVED IN THE 64th TACTICAL AIRLIFT SQUADRON.I HAVE RESEARCHED FOR YEARS ON THIS SUBJECT AND STAND BY ALL OF MY RESEARCH.IF YOU CAN PROVE ME WRONG I WILL BE DELIGHTED TO ACCEPT SUCH PROOF.PLEASE ACCEPT MY REPLIES IN GOOD HEART-THEY ARE ALSO SENT TO ASK IF OTHER PEOPLE KNOW IF I AM WRONG?ON LAST THOUGHT=COULD THE FLIGHT CREWS OF THE 2 DESTROYED HERCULES HAVE BEEN FROM 437 TRANSPORT SQUADRON?COULD THIS BE WHY PEOPLE BELIEVE THEY WERE BOTH 437 AIRCRAFT?? Edited February 16 by airfix1338 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airfix1338 Posted February 16 Author Share Posted February 16 (edited) 3 1954 MODEL C-130A SENT BACK FOR REPLACEMENT IN 1973 BY 3 1956 MODEL AIRCRAFT= HCP/GZP/HCO. NEVER RETURNED TO VIET NAM. 7 CAPTURED BY VPAF 30/04/1975=GZB/GZC/HCD/HCI/HCK/GZP/GZN. DESTROYED 1974 AT SONG BE AIRPORT=HCH/HCO. DESTROYED IN LANDING OVERRUN AT BIEN HOA AIR BASE 06/04/1975=HCB. ESCAPED FROM VIET NAM to U TAPAO AIR BASE THAILAND BETWEEN 29/04 to 01/05/1975=HCC/GZA/GZM/HCL/GZF/GZG/GZE/GZK/GZD. DEFECTED TO SINGAPORE 24/04/1975=HCF. 5 AIRCRAFT UNDERGOING WING SPAR REPAIRS IN SINGAPORE AT THE TIME OF THE SURRENDER AND RECOVERED TO THE USAF IN MAY 1975=GZH/HCE/HCM/HCP/HCJ. DESTROYED IN COMBAT AT OR ABOVE TAN SON NHUT AIR BASE LATE APRIL 1975=GZI/HCG/HCA/GZJ/GZL/GZO/HCN. THIS COVERS THE FATES OF ALL 35 VNAF C-130A HERCULES OF THE 435 TRANSPORT SQUADRON HCA HCB ETC....AND 437 TRANSPORT SQUADRON GZA GZB ETC..I HOPE THIS HELPS. Edited February 16 by airfix1338 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWS Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 I can post a link (it's in Vietnamese) where it look like 56-519 is being moved to a museum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airfix1338 Posted June 18 Author Share Posted June 18 VNAF C-130A.xls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grizzly437 Posted August 14 Share Posted August 14 Hi Simon, Thanks again for all of your hard work and years of research into this. I suppose that the likeliest explanation for the discrepancy surrounding the second Herk lost at Song Be on 25 Dec 1974 may be due to the fact that a 435th Herk was crewed by members of the 437th squadron instead. Members of both transport squadrons that I've been in touch with are adamant that the 437th squadron was flying on 25 December 1974 when its C-130 was shot down during its ascent after successfully dropping supplies at Song Be. Thanks again for your help and research! John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airfix1338 Posted August 17 Author Share Posted August 17 (edited) SOME UNSEEN PHOTOS OF VNAF C-130A HERCULES EARLY 1973 FROM THE TOP 55-00034/HCE 56-00500/GZE AND THE 2 BOTTOM ONES ARE 57-00465/HCN. Edited August 17 by airfix1338 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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