Jump to content

elhubrich

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    6

  • Joined

  • Last visited

core_pfieldgroups_2

  • First Name
    Edward
  • Last Name
    Hubrich
  • core_pfield_13
    hunting and fishing

core_pfieldgroups_3

  • core_pfield_11
    Retired Air Force SMSgt. First assigned to C-130E at Pope AFB '68 doing apg(crew chief) work in '68. Next was C-130A at Naha AB '68-'70, I started out in the phase docks and finished up in the wash rack. Had as many TDY's as they would let me have. Most work in Vietnam was with the 834ALD at Tan Son Nhut. It seems that every other day was a mission to recover a C-130 somewhere in country. M-16, helmet,flak vest, tools and parts...and you're off to who knows what! I flew in caribous, c-123's, Hueys and even a C130 or two. Anything to get to where the broken aircraft was located. Late in '69 I was part of a recovery team that pieced together 55-026 at Bu Dop and flew it back to TSN. Did pretty well on 3 engines and a very perforated left aft fuselage and tail. It was mortared upon landing there. Working outside the perimeter of a special forces camp was not very comfortable. Another TDY location was Ubon RTAFB, Thailand with Blind Bat. Repaired aircraft during the day and volunteered as ACM spotting and kicking flares at night. At least it was cooler flying with the troop doors and ramp open. I was at Ubon when a VC sapper team came on base. Returning from a flare mission on approach we saw flares being dropped over Ubon! Later found out about the sappers. Since I had experience with propeller aircraft, the USAF figured I should graduate to something bigger, so '71 put me at Dover AFB in time to block out the last C-133 to the boneyard. Next I trained for the C-5 and was asst c/c on 680215 and 690015. In '73 I found myself in limbo at Udorn, Thailand for a few weeks sweating a transfer to rocket city(Da Nang), but since I had that propeller aircraft experience they sent me across the base to the Air America complex and I joined Det. 1 of the 56th Special Operations Wing. The unit maintained AT-28D aircraft for the Lao and Cambodian Air Forces and also had a training role. It was wonderful working with their people. I started out in the phase docks and ended up in the AR shop. Quite a challenge for a SSgt to be replacing wings, landing gears, cockpit canopies, flight controls and fuel bladders. You learn as you do it in those conditions. Returned to CONUS to Travis AFB in '75 on the C-5 again, crew chief on 690011 for two years. Next off to Ramstein, Germany for 4 years pushing all the C-141 and C-5 we could handle. After that I was at McGuire AFB with the 438th in job control for a few years then was transferred to HQ 21st Air Force. I was a controller in the Logistics Readiness Center for a few years and then took over as Assistant Chief until retirement in '90. I'll never forget the challenge and excitement of the Blind Bat mission. The crews and maintenance were outstanding. Keep 'em flying......
  • core_pfield_12
    Whitehall, PA
  • Occupation
    retired finally after 2nd career in telecom.

elhubrich's Achievements

Newbie

Newbie (1/14)

10

Reputation

  1. elhubrich
    I was part of the maintenance recovery team that went up to Bu Dop to get a C130A pieced back together to fly back to TSN. That was November of '69. She took some mortar hits after landing that wiped out the left main tires and number 2 engine. Also tore up the hydraulics for the ramp and elevator controls. There were shrapnel hits all over the left side of the aft fuselage and tail. The Army wanted to blow it up since it had been "quiet" at their camp for a while, but the A/C wouldn't hear of it. The rest of the crew left and he remained behind to make sure the Army left it alone. After our team arrived we stripped out all the extra weight from the cargo compartment to lighten her up, replaced the tires and wheels, removed the torn up outer gear door, scavenged some tubing to get the elevators working again, closed the ramp with a forklift. Then we got in, filled the other crew seats since there was only the original A/C remaining, and took off on 3 engines. I've got some pictures from Bu Dop and some slides I took after return to TSN. I labelled the slides as tail number 5026, but after reviewing the production list it must have been 55-0026. My photos show an angle view of the vertical stab with "YP". I hope this helps fill in a few gaps.
  2. elhubrich
    When flying volunteer ACM duty(flare kicker and spotter) with Blind Bat, after a full day of getting all the aircraft ready to fly that night, it was normal for the crew chiefs and other TDY maintenance folks out of the 817th to be geared up with survival vest, blood chit, S&W .38 Airweight revolvers. Nice and cool at altitude with the doors open. When tasked with recovery missions for broken or damaged aircraft out of TSN(834th ALD) it was normal to carry an M-16, a few mags along with flak vest, helmet, and a case of C-rats(older than the consumer, by the way). The M-16 I carried did not remain unused.
  3. elhubrich
    Found the song on you tube. Search for "ROAD TO NAMINOUE - OKINAWA". you tube will even convert it to a mp3 for you.
  4. elhubrich
    Anybody have a recording of that song that could be downloaded?
  5. elhubrich
    Does anybody remember the one of a kind, all in one meal called the Lumburger that was served at the Naha AB snack bar? It fueled many a hungry Herky maintainer, and the thought of it came to me a few days ago.
  6. elhubrich
    I think I may have a number for you on that A model RV7PLT saw at TSN in '69. I was part of the maintenance recovery team that went up to Bu Dop to get a C130A pieced back together to fly back to TSN. That was November of '69. She took some mortar hits after landing that wiped out the left main tires and number 2 engine. Also tore up the hydraulics for the ramp and elevator controls. There were shrapnel hits all over the left side of the aft fuselage and tail. The Army wanted to blow it up since it had been "quiet" at their camp for a while, but the A/C wouldn't hear of it. The rest of the crew left and he remained behind to make sure the Army left it alone. After our team arrived we stripped out all the extra weight from the cargo compartment to lighten her up, replaced the tires and wheels, removed the torn up outer gear door, scavenged some tubing to get the elevators working again, closed the ramp with a forklift. Then we got in, filled the other crew seats since there was only the original A/C remaining, and took off on 3 engines. I've got some pictures from Bu Dop and some slides I took after return to TSN. I labelled the slides as tail number 5026, but after reviewing the production list it must have been 55-0026. My photos show an angle view of the vertical stab with "YP". I hope this helps fill in a few gaps. By the way I saw a post in this thread from JCAP, thats one I do remember. Hi Jeff. I just retired too!
×
×
  • Create New...