Sonny

Casey,

The price is now $22.00 (in cash) and Lars' e-mail is [email protected].

Sonny

Great Pictures! I especially liked the ones of Ubon. Many memories. I was the Crew Chief on 56-0533, a Blind Bat bird. I was in the 21st from May '67 until Oct. '68

Wishing all a Merry Christmas and a happy, HEALTHY, New Year.

Thanks Ray. Great picture. I know some changes took place after I left in '68. They must have painted the tail codes differently because all the tail codes were white when I was there and each squadron only had two Blindbat birds. I understand they consolidated all the Blindbat birds into the 21st after I left.

I found this post this morning while trying to find info on 56-0512.

The link is as follows: http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/lofiversion/index.php?t122246.html

Not sure how reliable the information is, but there appears to be a list of various tail numbers of "Blind Bat" aircraft.

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Some photos for people who want to make a black bottom one that's not a gunship.

Blind Bat was the project name for 347 TAw C-130As that carried out flare missions over Viet Nam and the Ho Chi Mihn Trail. They were involved in restricting movement of supplies to SVN.

For a good view of the program. Look at Sam's C-130 page. It is difficult to read but very illuminating. Hats off to all of those brave men.

Some were modified with similar electronics as the early AC-130As, with RHAW antennas on the nose, rear fuselage and tail. There was also a belly radome and a large blade antenna in front of and to the right of that radome. There was also what appears to be an channel strips to smooth the air flow under the open cargo ramp. It was attached to the bump on the lower ramp door. Tail codes and acft sns were red.

Some Blind Bats had whte tail codes and early aircraft had just the undersurface white replaced with black. Later aircraft had the black extend further up the fuselage.

These are some tail numbers that I have collected. The list is not definitive, nor do I have photos of all of them. I would write down the tail number of Blind Bats that I saw, whether in some one's photo collection or in a magazine article. Unfortunately, I neglected to list where I saw them. Sorry. So errors most certainly have creeped in.

YD 21 TAS Tail code and sn color

55-0005 red

55-0007 red

55-0023 white

55-0046 red

56-0483 red

55-0005 red

56-0508 red

56-0517 white

56-0533 no code?

YJ 35 TAS

55-0044 white

55-0048 red

56-0471?

57-0469 white

YU 41 TAS

56-0471 red

56-0495 white

56-0500 white

56-0512 red

YP 817 TAS

55-0006? ?

56-0533 had white tail numbers and had ECM installed in January 1968. I was the C/C from late '67 until October '68.

Right back at you and all the veterans out there.

Dutch, what year did they start using those letters?

Don

The letters were on them when I arrived at Naha in May '67. At that time each squadron had two aircraft desinated as Blind Bat A/C's. I was lucky enough to be the Crew Chief on one of them, 56-0533.

I vote yes. Is there anyway you can import the patch gallery from the old Herc Hdqtrs. site? Many of us sent in patches there.

Thanks for the post. It was all too true!

Thanks for the pictures. I was the Assistant C/C on her when she was at McGuire ('66-'67).

Add my name to the long list of congratulations.

Here's a picture of 63-7872 that was sent to me by a member of the Illinois National Guard.

Last I heard she was at Peoria with the Illinois ANG. In fact one the guys there sent me a picture. Actually it was a poster featuring 7872. Sure hope they use her in a nice way!

Are we talking about 63-7872? I was the assistant cc on her when she was at McGuire (66-67).

Cliff,

I should know you. 543 was a 21st bird. I was Crew Chief on 56-0533 '67-'68. I was also the assistant under Bob Ramierez on 56-0489 in early '67.

Sonny Cook

Done a few of those in my time. Sure brings back memories.

By the way, Happy Birthday!

Lars should have an updated one out around April. But you can e-mail him at [email protected]. Last year the cost was $22.00, postage included. He likes the money in cash sent to him. Apparently the banks in Sweden charge him about $18.00 to cash company checks and they do not accept foreign personal checks.

I don't think it was, but it is possible. He was already at CCK when I got there in 1970. He stayed overseas for many years and went to Hurlburt SOS I believe in 77 or 78. I know he was at Hurlburt until he retired. He was black, but not heavy set. Super nice guy and a helluva common sense loadmaster. We used to fly some of the tougher EFlight missions where no one was sure it would fit on the airplane. We made it work every time.

I guess all Witherspoons were nicknamed "Spoon". Spoon was assigned to my crew on 56-0533 (Blind Bat) when he first arrived at Naha in '68. I would like to think he went on to bigger and better things. He was just one of those guys you enjoyed working with.

Thanks for the response. By the way , where abouts do you live in Dover? I have a retirement home waiting for me in Georgetown (as soon as the Boss decides she wants to retire) that I can't wait to get to. Hopefully it will be within the next year. I spend a lot of time commuting between Hyattsville, MD and Georgetown.

Sonny

Crew Chief 56-0533

21st TAS ('67-'68)

[quote name=' Wesley (Spoon) Witherspoon and I flew with E-Flight from the initial crews at CCK until I left Clark in November 75.

Jon Andrews

Dover, DE

Retired Air Force

Loadmaster C141A, C130E, C5A/B[/quote']

Was this the same "Spoon" Witherspoon who was at Naha in '68? As I recall he was a short , on the heavy side African American. Hell of nice guy.

Ken,

All squadrons at Naha were involved with the Pueblo Incident. I went to Korea with 56-0533 and all I recall was I spent the time hauling tents between Kunsan and Punsan. I also remember it was cold and snowing!

Sonny

Bob,

I think I have some photos of 57-0472. She took some fire while at Naha and I took some pictures. My roommate (Bob Mallot) was the asistant c/c on her at the time.

Sonny

Just bought their Christmas album last night. Great music!!

Thanks or the link.

I intend to send them a copy of my Basic Training Picture to add to their collection.

I was in the 3724 BMTS, Flight 58, 1964.

Sonny

Mt.crewchief wrote:

Sonny,

Thanks for your reply. Do you have any more info other than the date etc? I\'m looking for more details such as crew members etc. You know official write-ups etc. Do you happen to know the crew-chiefs of 0477 at the time? I was at Naha at the time, and I am starting to remember some of the details, but have always wondered what I have forgotten.

Thanks for any more info you might have,

Ken

Ken,

Sorry, thats all I know. I was at Naha at the same time also. Try as I might, I can\'t remember the CC\'s names.

Sonny

jrkaegi wrote:

From 68-71 i was in the 21th, 41th, & 374 OMS. Looks like the same barracks i live in. Most of the time i injoy Naminoue,the misty bar. Yes i \"remember it Well.

Did you mean the \"Bar Mitzi\"? It was the place the 21st hung out in \'67-\'68 when I was there.

Sonny