Mt.crewchief

Happy belated birthday jmotes/chief.

Ken

Jim, I probably didn't know you at CCK, but we probably crossed paths once or twice. Have a happy birthday, and that is no April Fools!

Ken

Crew Chief 62-1804 until June 1970.

The picture with the YJ  on the tail could have been my bird, as my squadron was the 35th TAS. at Naha.  The same squadron Sonny wishes he would have been in!!!

Ken

I'm sure glad I decided to read this article about our Herk. When I got out of basic, I was scheduled to go to Lowry for Weapons and Munitions training. Then of course the Air Force decided to change my career field. To what---nobody knew. I got orders to go to Shepherd, went to PAT  School for awhile, did KP twice, then finally got orders to start school as a 43151F ---!

Nobody in the squadron knew what that was. Finally through research, a friend and I discovered that we were going to school to learn about a C-130. We drove around until until we found the building that we were starting school in. We  laughed at that big snub nosed silver airplane looking and decided it must be a C-130. A few months later, I was working on them at Naha (A Models), and for the next thirty three months I lived on them and E models at CCK. It was the best experience of my life!

I will never forget the times and friends And experiences I had on the Herk.  

I would have re-enlisted if the C-133 wouldn't have soured my good relationship with the Air Force. Also, since I had never had stateside duty, and had no guarantees of working on the Hercules again, and also having been promoted to Ssgt. I figured it was too risky.

Sorry about the long post,

Ken

Hey thanks guys. Sonny, I will look that stuff up on my real real computer instead of my Kindle. 

Bob, I suppose you have a point about the staff at the New Cindy. I know you and I and Sonny haven't  changed any, but I doubt that we could say the same for the gals.

Funny how that works isn't it?

Ken

This is a question for all of you guys stationed at Naha  in 67, 68, &69 and maybe 66. Also had to be members of the 374 TAS/TAW.  While I was there, Our squadrons and our wing were awarded an Outstanding Unit citation and a Distinguished Unit Citation. Two different awards. When I got out I had one of each along with my two air medals. They were on that official blue paper like all of those things were on. Now when I go through my surviving records, I can't find them. I have the two air medals, but the other two disappeared. 

I am  asking if I am going nuts or am I right. If I am not screwed up, how do I replace them if possible. I have several documents missing also.

If any of you old farts  can help me I would take you downtown and buy you a fresh Orion. Maybe I would even throw in a steam bath & massage.  Maybe the New Cindy?

Ken

Bob thanks for the great pictures! You know I'm not sure I ever saw that place in the daylight! I can still remember the smell!

I see from the list, that I must have missed a few of the clubs. Once I got my 5-level, I started to go on a few CRB  inputs, a 60 day TDY, then 90 days in Blind Bat in Ubon. Then off to CCK to learn another language and another Bar district.

I am going to save those pictures they are so good.

Ken

Hey Jeff, happy birthday. 69 big ones huh? I remember when I was that young!

I see Sonny baked another cake. I hope you had a good day.

Beer's on me I'll even pay for the "skoshi" cab to Naminoue.

 Ken

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One more question you guys. When I first got to Naha,  (sept 67), I remember seeing pictures of people (Blind Bat Crew types) wearing berets and bloused pants/boots and the works. I assume that died out soon, because I never saw that in Ubon in 1968 . At first, I thought it was cool, but I had no urge to have a beret. I am glad that wasn't still in style when I was a crew member. 

Possibly the berets went by the way of the nose art !

That's all until I have another brain-fart!

Also just a few pics taken at Ubon. 

Ken

10 hours ago, Sonny said:

Ken,

My recollection, and anyone correct me if I am wrong, is that each of the 4 squadrons at Naha had two Blind Bat aircraft each. Also relying on my memory that is sometimes suspect, we had 5 aircraft at Ubon and flew four missions every night and one aircraft was a spare. Like you, 533 never aborted a mission.

Sonny, you could be right. I just know that we flew missions early and late. The early ones we took off just about sunset, and the late were around midnight to back across the river at daybreak(hopefully) I always assumed there was another crew up during the times we were flying which would make four missions every night. Another question Sonny and nascarpop, did either of you or anybody reading this ever see the gunship without the radome. (Vulcan Special?) there? I swear we drove past it several times, but what I read, it wasn't there when I was there!  Also nascarpop, it is remotely possible  that I may be full of crap about the black planes!  Of course, actually I am only sure of one thing---all of the 40 missions I flew on were in black bottomed planes! For all I know, they were all Sonny's Honey!

Hey, by the way, I am glad to see that you guys still have your memories!!!  

Ken

When I was flying with Bat 6 all of the Blind Bat birds had the bellies painted black like Sonny's Honey and like the one in my avatar. My tour in Ubon  ended sometime in November 1968. The gunships were all black with red numbers I think. I remember the next times I went to Ubon with my E-model from CCK all of the Blind Bats were black. That was in March of 69 on.

I am sure I went on a mission or two on Sonny's Honey!!  

How many Blind Bat planes were at Ubon to cover the mission.As a side note, out of the 40 missions I flew, we never had an abort and always had on time blocks. 

Ken

I feel like I knew him and I will miss his good information and his relentless work keeping track of the C-130.

RIP Bob

Thanks for the birthday wishes guys. So far 72 years feels the same as any birthday so that is good! Sonny, I sure wish I could get my hands on that cake! 

Thanks again all of you,

Ken

Chris, I didn't see your name on the birthday list, but I know it's today.

You need to start visiting with us old farts here on the forum again. We miss you.

Anyway, old buddy,have good one,

Ken

Hey Leland, it's your birthday. I hope you have a good one! Let's meet down at the "Dirty Dozen" ----I'll buy you a Taiwan Beer and Mongolian Barbeque.

Have a nice ,

Ken

I wish all of you a very happy New Year 

Ken

Yeah Muff, I hope you had a happy birthday. Have you gotten your sign in name etc. correct now?

Sonny, are you a cake-maker on the side? If so, that one is real fancy. 

Ken

Joe, welcome to the forum. Your name sounds familiar. When were you at Naha and Ubon? We're you a flight crew member at Ubon? If you have some names and dates, it would be great. I am always trying to fill in the gaps in my memory.

I am sure that most of us older guys would like to see a complete "about me" on your membership name etc.

Ken

Now that's a beauty Sonny!  How's it taste? Or better yet, Bob, how does it taste?

Anyway, again, happy birthday Bob. For all of the work you have done here you deserve the best.

Ken

Bob, I hope this 71st birthday finds you healthy and happy.

Ken

Happy birthday. I hope all is well and you have had an enjoyable day. I looked at your "about me" section and realised we were at most of the same places at the same time. It would be good if you could see if you could come up with some of the names of the guys you knew in our time period. Also, when were you in Dover?

Ken

Lynn, aka Dearstone,  hey thanks for worrying about me. I guess I read your reply and got to thinking and that was too much for me.  I didn't know Doug real well, but liked him and wouldn't mind hearing from him. If I remember right, he was from Kooskia Idaho?  Also, wasn't his Dad or brother or both Bush Pilots in Alaska?  See if my memory is close.  

 Also I have gotten in touch with Pete McPheters from Maine. I guess I should go back to my original post to find out what I asked about!!  

 Now, a new name. How about Chris Carter from Georgia. He and I both Volunteered to join a Blind Bat crew when we were stationed at Naha. After I moved ? to CCK  I ran into him again at CRB. He was getting short at Naha. Chris and I became pretty good friends while at Ubon. He was the kind of friend that you shared thoughts with about making it back to Ubon during a hard night over the Trail.  Of course after we were back safely (40 times), we would head downtown and get ---- faced!

Now, dearstone, look what you started---well at least stirred up.

If any of you guys think of names of guys during the 67-70 period at Naha,CCK , or even Clark and Tachi, there was the chance we could have been parked nose to nose at CRB.  We may have even eaten stolen steaks and drank stolen milk and potatoes together on Herky Hill.   For sure we drank the same Carling Black Label together.!!

Now, gotta go. I hope all of you old (now) crew chiefs, maint. shop guys & flight crews are all doing good and feeling well. Someday, it would be good to meet each other.

Ken

P

I was sitting around tonight and reading the forum, and names of some old friends, not just acquaintances, popped into my mind, and before I forget them, I am going to post them and see if can find out if they are still around and if any of you older gentlemen remember them. Here goes: John Chase--Naha & CCK. Ron Tennyson --Shepherd (went to Clark). Don Fargnoli--Shepherd & Naha. Chris Carter--Naha & Blind Bat.  Bruce Lawler--Naha.  John Eggers--Naha & Dover . Rudy(Bear) Rossen--CCK & Dover.  Larry Hinch--Naha & Dover.  Steve Stephens--CCK.  Doug Fitting--CCK. John Rosenfield--CCK. Dennis Guinane--CCK. Steve Mudge--CCK.  Pete McPheters-- CCK.   Luther--CRB (movie operator at Cam Rahn Bay. Remember him?  Remember him getting the movie reels mixed up? Remember throwing beer cans at the screen? Anyway that's not all of the names, it's just the ones that appeared tonight. 

More to come,

Ken

I personally think that my plane ,#62-1804 , which I was crew chief on at CCK from Mar. 1969--June 1970, carried containers that contained Agent Orange on several or more occasions during that time. I knew what agent Orange smelled like from hanging around some of the C-123 Ranch Hands parked over near the terminal at CRB. I would walk over there from my plane to get something to eat. Maybe even from the In Flight Kitchen. I even Sat on the ramp of one of them and ate chicken in the shade. The smell of that strong weed killer was easy to remember. That smell occurred in the cargo compartment of my plane from time to time over the period of the 15 months I went to CRB on 1804. From what I can figure, the smell in my plane came from pallets of mostly odds and ends including barrels strapped on together. I cleaned the whole plane after every mission, and never cleaned up what I would call spills, but wet oily spots were common. Just ask any crew chief.  During that time I just assumed that the agent Orange smell was annoying, but harmless. I had no reason to believe otherwise. Remember the green cans of DDT ?  Another case of using something harmful but hell, it was standard equipment in the aircraft and the barracks.                                                  Anyway, I know my plane lived it's final years at the Rock and I would imagine many other Viet Nam trash haulers did also.

Maybe you can make a legitimate claim. I hope you can. Also, since the war, those C-123 Ranch Hands were legally behind many agent Orange claims from men who were never in Viet Nam but had claims approved by the VA in recent years.

Just my opinions and hopefully I am wrong because I might have to prove boots on the ground someday due to an Agent Orange claim.

Also, thinking back, I am sure the weed spray smell that I lived with for 18 months at Naha and Viet Nam, were the same stuff I smelled as CCK for the next 15 months.

Ken

Way to go old timer. It's okay, I turned 71 in Feb. I also have nothing showing on my DD 214 that I was in Viet Nam 29 months out of 33 while stationed at Naha and CCK. I do have 2 Air Medals for Blind Bat (40 missions) but that is also missing from my records - the awards and dates are there, but nothing in my records show why. I have always planned on getting my 214 corrected, but didn't have any service related health issues. I did get 10% tinnitus and that was on my medical records from Naha. I still don't have any military related health issues, but who knows----that could be any time!

 Thanks for the post I realize I should probably get my butt in gear.

Ken