HighTide

Do we have an active Spectre/AC130 thread or forum? If so, I am having a senior moment.

SIAP - Anyone interested in going to the 2011 SAFB reunion, the dates have been set: June 2 - 5, at the Nashville Airport Marriott. I plan on attending, if any other Herkybirds members decide to attend, please let me know. [email protected]. I would like to meet you. You may get all the info you need at www.safbtn.org.

HighTide (Cecil W Wright)

I remember the "Fu*k You" lizards, that was always good for a laugh at a new guys expense.

Those FU lizards were a hoot. I had a female (according to mama-son) just above my bunk and she wouldn't leave. The scream or cry sounded pretty much like "FU". I was poking at her one day and was quickly briefed on what I was in for if she jumped and suction-cupped on me. I left her alone for my duration.

strong interest Casey.

Thanks

Cecil

FYI - today's Arkansas Democrat/Gazette has a long article about C-130 upgrade at LRAFB. I think you can read the entire article at www.arkansasonline.com. Briefly the article states that the Air Force will shift 18 C130H's and form a new unit while the remaining C-130E's will be retired. Cost of maintaining and flying '62,'63, and '64 too expensive. Again FYI.

Cecil (HighTide)

JimH - may I make a possible correction. I was telling my grandson the war story after the last post. I said "Ben Tua" to him. At any rate, the incident took place at one of them "Tua's" LOL

HighTide

JimH,

It was Tuy Hoa. Personal experience. I was crew chief flying with my acft, 55-0040 and I don't remember any of the crew's names. The AC took a voice vote for us all - asking if we wanted to risk the landing, etc. There was no lights on base, base was under fire and a damaged C-130 was just off the side of the runway. When they on the ground heard our Acft, they turned the Anti collision light on. Just above touchdown, the AC would turn out landing lights on, (we were blacked out also). It was the third try before we were lined up with the runway. One experience I will never forget. FYI as a crew chief, I was not on flight orders so I got no medal. Guess no one could add me after the fact, anyway the crew received the AF Cross, i believe if memory serves me correctly.

HighTide

Cecil Wayne Wright

Ken, maybe it was you I talked to at Naha, LOL

HighTide

of crewing the C-133 and the C-130???? I met a C-133 former CC while on Okinawa.

This was as close as I ever came to the C-133. I don't remember the guy's name but he had several horror tales.

HighTide

I'm not good at putting something visual into words, but here goes. Was leaving back gate at LRAFB today and there she was, beautiful as ever. The lady was turning down wind with left wing tip looking at me and the right wing looking toward heaven. Was just something special, no known reason. The rest of the way home to Gravel Ridge, I thought of pre-flights, BPOs, all day appointment at the wash rack, brake changes, tire changes, TDY memories that will last forever, late night engine runs, and on and on.

Do you live near a C-130 base. I would not trade the sounds for anything. Still when the wind is right, I can her purr during engine runs at night. I think it was Haggard that said something like "even the bad times are good". I say even the bad times WERE good. What I wouldn't give!!

HighTide

"Wayne"

I'm somewhat ashamed to tell this one but I hurt like the devil. I was E-2, just recently assigned to C-130A 54-1636 at Sewart, circa 1964. The acft was slick floor and I needed some eng oil which was in the left overhead rack. Well, I stood the ladder up by/near the overhead rack and climbed up to get the oil down. Well, I failed to secure the safety arm that keeps the ladder from spreading ---- guess you know what happened. My 5' 5" frame was well up the ladder when the ladder legs spread and i hit as hard as I ever dreamed one could and still live. I was alone on the acft and I didn't know if I would ever get up, just glad my arm(s) were not under the ladder legs.

HighTide

thanks to all who posted, you have rekindled a lost memory, lol.

HighTide

Wayne

I don't recognize me, LOL. I had probably already moved to Yanabaru with wife and daughter. BTW I do remember the roommate that was with Lavesque and me, a guy with the last name Lafferty, or very close to that. You may have moved in room after I moved out, which would have been June '68.

I think I see Levesque in your pic but don't recognize or know other names.

Wayne

I was at Naha, 35 TAS from Oct '67 to Apr 70. For the life of me, I cannot remember spending any time visiting Kadena, too much Nam I guess. Anyway, was C-130s at Kadena during this time and what was the mission. Was it the 345 TAS????

Thanks

Wayne

Mt Crewchief, Sorry, I will try my best to get into the Okinawa box of Pics I have. Feel sure I can find at least one to share, LOL>

Cecil "Wayne"

Ed, I arrived Naha in Oct '67 and stayed to Apr '70. I am Cecil "Wayne" Wright. I do remember you, I crewed 55-040 before expediting my last 6 months or so. 55-040 was black bottom and had several blindbat mission at Ubon. I returned PCS to Ubon in Dec '70 and stayed a year, first crewed the first lady 53-3129 then was sent to Job Control. Forgot my hooch number at Ubon, spent some time at Fairlane club, Anon hotel, and Ubol hotel. The NCO club was always fun, especially the clash of Blindbat and Spectre personnel.

[email protected]

HighTide

PS: 55-040 was also a AC-130 by the time I got to Ubon.

Glad to have you Groundhog. Visit often and enjoy.

C. Wayne Wright

HighTide

I was at Pope from Jan 72 through Apr 74. I was in maintenance for a while, did rotation to Panama, then was assigned to Maint. Control. Stayed in Maint Control until departing Pope for Kadena. Also had a 90 day to rhein Mein.

Cecil Wright, then SSgt.

I don't think 040 had ECM, but I could be wrong. I don't remember but I do remember getting the Blind Bat painted on my Acft. I was so proud, LOL.

HighTide

55-0040 was a black bottom and flew Blind Bat missions. I know as I was the crew chief and I also cleaned the entire bottom of the acft to prepare it for painting. I had to bargain to get my acft Blind Bat status. This must have been 1968 as I was at Naha, 35 TAS, 1967 to 1970. 55-0040 was at Ubon as a gunship in 1971 when I was assigned to Ubon PCS. I didn't crew 0040 at Ubon, as I was assigned to crew the First Lady, 53-3129. Great memories but eventually was transferred to Job Control. All this is FYI.

C. Wayne Wright

HighTide

Anyone remember the NCO club at Ubon, Ghost Riders would play, then someone would request Batman (Blindbat) and generally all heck would break loose. I believe that playing both songs were banned. Both were a bunch of great guys. I had the honor of serving with both on two separate tours. Blindbat while at Naha, and Spectre on tour to Ubon. Great, Great memories. Some things just cant be bought. What a deal.

C. Wayne Wright

Casey,

I was on '53, '54, and '55 models my entire career. I believe that the GTV stars on '57 models, maybe late '56, not sure on that. I do not remember an access panel on the early models, maybe my "sometimers" has set in but I sure don't remember opening one, only the panel that covered the GTC exhaust.

HighTide ( Cecil Wayne Wright)

Ken, good to see you again, been out of touch for a few days.

Wayne

jr, I thought "club paresian" was the spot of choice. lol

Wayne

Sewart was the best stateside assignment I had. good things did indeed end when I left Sewart. maybe noteworthy, my first assignment was the 314th and also my last. As you may know, the 314th moved to Little Rock when Sewart closed - but LRAFB was no match to Sewart for assignment. But we do have some great memories. Good to hear from you

Wayne