Ray
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C-130 Hercules News
Posts posted by Ray
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There absolutely was two of them - one was Tyner and the other was Tiner - I knew the Tiner. When I get a chance I'll post all of my blanket orders to the gallery.
Ray
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Ken,
TSgt Herbert L. Tiner was his name - he was a great guy, real easy going.
Ray
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Gosh, Wasn't bunch a sevens nicknamed "Arnold Ziffel" from the green acres show ~69. If it wasn't bunch a sevens, which CCK bird was it? I seem to remember that the Crew Chief had "Arnold Ziffel" written on the edge of the ramp...I never saw Arnold Ziffel of the TV show as I was at CCK all during that time...
I don't remember which bird was Arnold Ziffle, but it wasn't 63-7777. My roomie, Harry Jorgensen was 7777's crew chief from 69-70. I do remember Arnold Ziffle was painted over the crew entrance door of one of the birds. I just can't remember Arnold's tail number
Ray
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For those of you that have not seen Pat's website and the extraordinary story of Homey 302,
take a look at:
http://www.pathatch.com/blog/?page_id=31
Ray
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The 7AF Command Center (Blue Chip) at Tan Son Nhut, controlled and directed the subordinate controlling agencies, which included ABCCC (Airborne Battlefield Command and Control Center) and Task Force Alpha (TFA). The Tactical Unit Operations Centers (TUOC) and Forward Air Controllers (FAC) were also extensions of the command and control system. Blue Chip made decisions from Saigon that affected operations in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand; even in Thailand, 7AF had operational control of 13AF assets operating in Laos and North Vietnam.
Blue Chip was in Saigon until we folded our tents; then 7AF moved to NKP and became United States Support Activities Group & Seventh Air Force. The Blue Chip call sign was used as late as 1975 during the Mayaguez affair.
Ray
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OK, I added a few extra goodies to the CD and I'll get it in the morning mail.
Ray
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I made a pdf of the last issue of the Tactical Aerodrome Directory a couple of years ago. The file is too big to email, but I'll be glad to make a CD for you. I can also put the Air America Lima Site Directory on there too. I have a huge amount of documents and records from that era - probably around 80-100,000 pages of stuff. Most of it was research data for my book.
Ray
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Klong 960 dropped at 1119Z on the 15th.
Blue Chip relayed drop coordinates for Klong 963 – 10/19/2N 103/08/2E - UTM coordinates TS9742 at 1258Z.
Klong 963 arrived on station minus computer; Spectre 21 was going to mark the target but Klong 963 had no drop instructions.
At 1347Z, Blue Chip directed Klong 963 to RTB. Cricket and Spectre were directed to remain on station.
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My dad, who passed away last July, had tickets for the practice rounds for many years. He was on the list for tournament tickets for 25 years before he finally got tickets about 15 years ago. Fortunately, he was able to will the tickets to my brother.
Ray
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Dan,
My son is Sgt Raymond (Tripp) Roddy; he's a member of the Scout Sniper Platoon. Tell Cameron if he gets bored to look him up. I just sent them 793 movies so they'll have something to look at. Our thoughts and prayers are with Cameron too.
Ray
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Hey Dan,
My son is aboard too.
Ray
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I had the unfortunate opportunity to work on the 133s at Travis for a few months in 1971. I was able to escape by working in maintenance control until I could get orders for Udorn. Life got much better in ABCCC.
Ray
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Good article by Michael Yon about airlift in Afghanistan:
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WHAT THE CAPTAIN REALLY MEANS...
(Serious, professional and very monotone American voice.) "The following statements were recorded when a civilian correspondent interviewed a shy, unassuming Air Force Phantom jet fighter pilot. So the correspondent would not misconstrue the pilot's replies, a Wing Information Officer was on hand as a monitor to make certain that the real Air Force story would be told. The Captain was first asked his opinion of the F4C Phantom.
Pilot: "Sh*t, it's so friggin maneuverable you can fly up your own ass with it."
WIO: "What the Captain means is that he has found the F4C highly maneuverable at all altitudes and he considers it an excellent aircraft for all missions assigned."
Reporter: "I suppose Captain you've flown a certain number of missions in North Vietnam. What did you think of the SAMs used by the North Vietnamese?"
Pilot: "Why those bastards couldn't hit a bull in the ass with a base fiddle. We fake the sh*t out of them. They're no sweat."
WIO: "What the Captain means is that the surface to air missiles around Hanoi pose a serious threat to our air operations and the pilots have a healthy respect for them."
Reporter: "I suppose Captain you've flown missions to the South. What kind of ordinance do you use, and what kinds of targets to you hit?"
Pilot: "Well, I'll tell you, mostly we aim at kicking the sh*t out of Vietnamese villages, and my favourite ordinance is napalm. Man, that stuff just sucks the air out of their friggin lungs and makes a son of a bitchin' fire."
WIO: "What the Captain means is that air strikes in South Vietnam are often against Viet Cong structures and all air operations are under the positive control of Forward Air Controllers, or FACs. The ordinance employed is conventional 500 and 750 pound bombs and 20 millimetre cannon fire."
Reporter: "I suppose you've spent an R&R in Hong Kong. What were your impressions of the Oriental girls?"
Pilot: "Yeah, I went to Hong Kong. As for those Oriental broads - well, I don't care which way the runway runs, east or west, north or south - a piece of ass is a piece of ass."
WIO: "What the Captain means is that he found the delicately featured Oriental girls fascinating, and was very impressed with their fine manners and thinks their naiveté is most charming."
Reporter: "Tell me Captain, have you flown any missions other than over North and South Vietnam?"
Pilot: "You bet your sweet ass I've flown other missions other than in North and South. We get fragged nearly every day for.. uh, those mothers over there throw everything at you but the friggin kitchen sink. Even the g**damned kids got slingshots."
WIO: "What the Captain means is that he has occasionally been scheduled to fly missions in the extreme western DMZ and he has a healthy respect for the flak in that area." (Translation: the 'extreme west' of the Demilitarized Zone was 'neutral' Laos, where most if not all of that section of the Ho Chi Minh Trail was located and where the Americans did not officially go.)
Reporter: "I understand that no one in the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing has got a MiG yet. What seems to be the problem?"
Pilot: "Why you screwhead! If you knew anything about what you were talking about, the problem is MiGs. If we got fragged by those peckerheads at 7th for those counters in MiG valley you could bet your ass we'd get some of those mothers. Those glory hounds at Ubon get all those frags while we settle for fighting the friggin war. Those mothers at Ubon are sitting on their fat asses killing MiGs and we get stuck with bombing the g**damned cabbage patches."
WIO: "What the Captain means is that each element of the 7th Air Force is responsible for doing their assigned job in the air war. Some units are assigned the job of neutralising enemy air strength but hunting out MiGs, and other elements are assigned bombing missions and interdiction of enemy supply routes."
Reporter: "Of all the targets you've hit in Vietnam, which one was the most satisfying?"
Pilot: "Oh, sh*t, it was getting fragged for that friggin suspected VC vegetable garden. I dropped napalm in the middle of the friggin pumpkins and cabbage, while my wingman splashed it real good with six of those 750 pound mothers and spread the fire al the way to the friggin beets and carrots."
WIO: "What the Captain means is that the great variety of tactical targets available throughout Vietnam make the F4C the perfect aircraft to provide flexible response."
Reporter: "What do you consider the most difficult target you've struck in North Vietnam?"
Pilot: "The friggin bridges. I must have dropped forty tons of bombs on those swaying bamboo mothers and I ain't hit one of the bastards yet."
WIO: "What the captain means is that interdicting bridges along enemy supply routes is very important and a quite difficult target. The best way to accomplish this task is to crater the approaches to the bridges."
Reporter: "I noticed in touring the base that you have aluminum matting on the taxiways. Would you care to comment on the effectiveness and usefulness in Vietnam?"
Pilot: "You're friggin right I'd like to make a comment. Most of us pilots are well hung, but sh*t, you don't know what hung is until you get hung up on one of those friggin bumps on that g**damned stuff."
WIO: "What the Captain means is that the aluminium matting is quite satisfactory as a temporary expedient, but requires some finesse in taxying and braking the aircraft."
Reporter: "Did you have an opportunity to meet your wife on leave in Honolulu, and did you enjoy the visit with her?"
Pilot: "Yeah, I met my wife in Honolulu, but I forgot to check the calendar, and so the whole five days were friggin well combat-proof. A completely dry run."
WIO: "What the captain means is that it was wonderful to get together with his wife and learn first hand about the family and how things were at home."
Reporter: "Thank you for your time, Captain."
Pilot: "Screw you, why don't you bastards print the real story instead of all that crap."
WIO: "What the Captain really means is that he enjoyed the opportunity to discuss his Tour with you."
Reporter: "One final question. Could you reduce your impression of the war into a simple phrase or statement, Captain?"
Pilot: "You bet your ass I can. It's a f**ked-up war."
WIO: "What the Captain means is it's a f**ked-up war."
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Ken,
I'll have to see if the statute of limitations are up for some of those photos..
Ray
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Fox is reporting "Breaking News - U.S. to Reportedly Begin Using C-130 Aircraft to Fly Aid to Haiti Later Today"
I just spoke with my Marine son and his unit will be there in about 36-48 hours. They will be aboard ships - what a mess.
Ray
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I wonder who in the 314th she followed to the Rock? Glad it wasn't me!!
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I just ordered my new pilot certificate. I was looking at the samples which feature the Wright brothers and it reminded me when in the late 80s or very early 90s I attended the IA recertification meeting in Birmingham at the Southern Flight Museum. I was fortunate to meet Mr. Glenn Messer while I was there. He had only recently lost his sight and it had not been too long prior to that time that he was still flying. His mechanic certificate number was #174 or 175 as I recall and Wilbur signed off on it.
Ray
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Evening Muff,
I've just been so busy - a good thing in this economy - that I haven't had any extra time to get them all posted. I have a file with over 800 photos, taken by me, mainly in SEA that have been enhanced and look pretty good. I still have some negatives to scan also. While I was researching my last book I got some fantastic photos from people who contributed to the project that I would love to share, but I need to ask permission first.
If you get a chance, swing by Taichung and say hi to BB for me.
Ray
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Welcome Jerry,
I have a couple of hundred photos from the CCK days. I just can't seem to find time to get them hosted and posted. Great memories.
Ray
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Some of the Naha and CCK guys will know
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I found another shot taken the same day in Naha - can't make out the number. We were taxiing out at the time.
CCK Tail Numbers
in C-130 Historical
Posted
Alan,
The aircraft you mentioned was 63-7824. I still have all my blanket orders with the crew chiefs, assistants and tail numbers.
Ray