Spectre623

Well guys it has been a long time since I posted on this site. Lot of things have changed since 2015 when I was advising some guys on this site on how to do this and that with the VA and Agent Orange. Well Agent Orange finally bit me with Multiple Myeloma which is a bone and blood cancer. No cure but may live 2-7 years depending on health prior to cancer which was very good. The VA, after much paperwork gave me 100% disability, says yes, I was in Vietnam (Really?) and exposed to defoliant Agent Orange. Have had 30 chemo treatments and the cancer is in remission. Doctor says this should last about 2 years then chemo process starts over, if I'm still alive, ha ha. I'm 79 so who knows. No regrets about serving this wonderful country we live in as it was one heck of a ride.... on old Herk. Loved it and hated it at times but would not take anything for the experiences. So God bless everyone and hang in there! And yes I still visit old Ghost Rider AC-130A 54-1623 at the museum in Marietta Ga. just off the corner of the Lockheed factory where she was born. Bill

Do you have a date on that TCTO Tiny? Spent 3 years on the A at Sewart AFB TN and only remember the term synchronizer.

A Model gunship blades were painted black for a while but paint wore off pretty fast. Went back to bare metal after a while.

We had 10 Rescue birds at Hill AFB Ut. in 1971 when we stood up The 1550 ATTW. Had H. N and P models and all of them had the ODS rails. And as stated before we used the winch on the ODS to lift the end of the 1800gal. tanks and drag them to the end of the ramp. We also removed the Fulton booms on the nose at Hill as they made too much noise and no one was qualified on the system anymore. Some tails, 971 and 851 and 224 I think. Been so many years ago. We crew chiefs were trained on the IFR pods also, what a mess when the hose unwound inside the pod. Max hacksaw time.

I was stationed at Sewart from 63 to 66. Was assigned to either the 61st or 62nd ,don't remember which,for about 2 months on B models then the 18th was formed with A models and I being a newbe was transferred to the 18th. Didn't take me but a day to realize the A models were a baaaaad deal. I survived 18 months and 2, 60 day rotes to Clark and TDY in country to VN on the A models. Found out about Scanner openings on brand new E models in the 4442/4446 CCTW down the flight line and jumped at the chance to be a crew member and a full time flying job. Did that till I left Sewart in Nov.66. Great job. Anybody know Joe Tidwell or Clyde Cook at Sewart? 61st or 62nd. Worked with Clyde as an ART for many years.