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SOME UNSEEN PHOTOS OF VNAF C-130A HERCULES EARLY 1973 FROM THE TOP 55-00034/HCE 56-00500/GZE AND THE 2 BOTTOM ONES ARE 57-00465/HCN.

Hello All.this is my file i have created of all UNITED STATES AIR FORCE,UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS and UNITED STATES NAVY C-130 HERCULES LOSSES IN SOUTH EAST ASIA DURING THE VIET NAM WAR BETWEEN 1965 and 1975.If anyone has any corrections or changes to add please send them,thank you regards Simon.

US C-130 LOSSES IN SEA.xlsx

VNAF C-130A.xls

3 1954 MODEL C-130A SENT BACK FOR REPLACEMENT IN 1973 BY 3 1956 MODEL AIRCRAFT= HCP/GZP/HCO. NEVER RETURNED TO VIET NAM. 7 CAPTURED BY VPAF 30/04/1975=GZB/GZC/HCD/HCI/HCK/GZP/GZN. DESTROYED 1974 AT SONG BE AIRPORT=HCH/HCO. DESTROYED IN LANDING OVERRUN AT BIEN HOA AIR BASE 06/04/1975=HCB. ESCAPED FROM VIET NAM to U TAPAO AIR BASE THAILAND BETWEEN 29/04 to 01/05/1975=HCC/GZA/GZM/HCL/GZF/GZG/GZE/GZK/GZD. DEFECTED TO SINGAPORE 24/04/1975=HCF. 5 AIRCRAFT UNDERGOING WING SPAR REPAIRS IN SINGAPORE AT THE TIME OF THE SURRENDER AND RECOVERED TO THE USAF IN MAY 1975=GZH/HCE/HCM/HCP/HCJ. DESTROYED IN COMBAT AT OR ABOVE TAN SON NHUT AIR BASE LATE APRIL 1975=GZI/HCG/HCA/GZJ/GZL/GZO/HCN. THIS COVERS THE FATES OF ALL 35 VNAF C-130A HERCULES OF THE 435 TRANSPORT SQUADRON HCA HCB ETC....AND 437 TRANSPORT SQUADRON GZA GZB ETC..I HOPE THIS HELPS.

HELLO AGAIN -THESE 2 PICTURES PROVE THAT 56-00500/GZE WAS NOT DESTROYED AT SONG BE IN DECEMBER 1974-THEY SHOW IT AT TAN SON NHUT AIR BASE IN LATE APRIL 1975 IN A REVETMENT -ZOOM IN AND IT IS CLEARLY GZE.THE BASE IS UNDER ATTACK FROM ARTILLERY AND ROCKETS AND MORTAR FIRE IN LATE APRIL 1975.THE OTHER PICTURE VERY CLEARLY SHOWS 56-00500/ GZE AT U TAPAO AIR BASE THAILAND ON 30/04/1975-HAVING ESCAPED FROM VIET NAM THE SAME DAY.IT WAS RECOVERED BY THE USAF AND TAKEN BACK TO THE USA ALONG WITH 14 OTHER C-130A HERCULES-6 FROM SINGAPORE AND 8 FROM THAILAND AND LATER SERVED IN THE 64th TACTICAL AIRLIFT SQUADRON.I HAVE RESEARCHED FOR YEARS ON THIS SUBJECT AND STAND BY ALL OF MY RESEARCH.IF YOU CAN PROVE ME WRONG I WILL BE DELIGHTED TO ACCEPT SUCH PROOF.PLEASE ACCEPT MY REPLIES IN GOOD HEART-THEY ARE ALSO SENT TO ASK IF OTHER PEOPLE KNOW IF I AM WRONG?ON LAST THOUGHT=COULD THE FLIGHT CREWS OF THE 2 DESTROYED HERCULES HAVE BEEN FROM 437 TRANSPORT SQUADRON?COULD THIS BE WHY PEOPLE BELIEVE THEY WERE BOTH 437 AIRCRAFT??

HELLO AGAIN-PICTURED ABOVE ARE 56-00521/HCH DESTROYED ON 18/12/1974 AT SONG BE AND ALSO PICTURED IS 2 PICTURES OF HCO ON THE GROUND AND THE TRAITOR TROUNGS F-5E USED IN THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE ATTACK HIDDEN UNDER THE WING OF HCO. SORRY THE LAST PICTURE IS UPSIDE DOWN-I COULD NOT GET IT THE CORRECT WAY UP!

PLEASE FIND ABOVE THE C-130A CODED HCO-THIS PICTURE WAS IN THE VIETNAM WAR MUSEUM IN SAIGON AND SHOWS 55-00016/HCO BY SERIAL AND TAIL CODE ON THE GROUND AT SONG BE IN LATE DECEMBER 1974.THE C-123K PROVIDER BEHIND THE WRECKED HERCULES IS 54-00651/XM OF THE VNAF 425 TRANSPORT SQUADRON WHICH HAD A BAD LANDING ACCIDENT ON 28/10/1972 AT THE SAME LOCATION AND WAS ABANDONED THERE.IT IS NOW IN A LOCAL MUSEUM BADLY PAINTED AND REPAIRED.THIS PICTURE IS USUALLY CROPPED BUT THIS IS THE FULL VERSION SHOWING EVERYTHING.

Hello All,several answers have come my way after my last request for updates or corrections.This is my now ULTIMATE LIST of VNAF C-130A HERCULES of the 5th AIR DIVISION,53rd TACTICAL WING,435 TRANSPORT SQUADRON and 437 TRANSPORT SQUADRON. VNAF at TAN SON NHUT AIR BASE 1972-1975.435 TRANSPORT SQUADRON HCA-HCP= 55-00045/HCA 55-00002/HCB 55-00008/HCC 55-00013/HCD 55-00034/HCE 57-00460/HCF 55-00017/HCG 56-00521/HCH 56-00476/HCI 57-00472/HCJ 56-00482/HCK 56-00481/HCL 56-00518/HCM 57-00465/HCN 55-00016/HCO 56-00545/HCP. 437 TRANSPORT SQUADRON GZA-GZP= 55-00027/GZA 55-00001/GZB 55-00005/GZC 56-00543/GZD 56-00500/GZE 56-00483/GZF 56-00495/GZG 55-00012/GZH 55-00006/GZI 56-00489/GZJ 56-00524/GZK 56-00505/GZL 56-00479/GZM 56-00432/GZN 56-00542/GZO 56--00519/GZP. ADDITIONALLY 3 1954 MODEL C-130A HERCULES WERE DELIVERED IN 1972 BUT DUE TO RADAR INCOMPATABILITY WERE SWAPPED IN 1973 FOR 3 LATER 1956 MODEL AIRCRAFT-THEY WERE 54-016131/HCP 54-01634/GZP 54-01640/HCO. I AM CERTAIN THIS LIST IS 100% CORRECT AND COMPLETE. LASTLY A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE LATE BOB DALEY WHO ALWAYS WANTED TO COMPLETE THIS LIST AND HELPED ME IN THE EARLY DAYS-THANK YOU BOB,REGARDS SIMON.

Hello All, after some new information from a French AVIATION MAGAZINE came my way I have a newly updated list of VNAF C-130A HERCULES 435 TRANSPORT SQUADRON HCA-HCP and 437 TRANSPORT SQUADRON GZA-GZP,53RD TACTICAL WING/ 5TH AIR DIVISION/TAN SON NHUT AIR BASE ,REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM. 54-01631/??? 54-01634/GZP 54-01640/HCO 55-00001/GZB 55-00002/HCB 55-00005/GZC 55-00006/GZI 55-00008/HCC 55-00012/GZH 55-00013/HCD 55-00016/HCO 55-00017/HCG 55-00027/GZA 55-00034/HCE 55-00045/HCA 56-00476/HCI 56-00479/GZM 56-00481/HCL 56-00482/HCK 56-00483/??? 56-00489/GZJ 56-00495/??? 56-00500/GZE 56-00505/GZL 56-00518/HCM 56-00519/GZP 56-00521/HCH 56-00524/??? 56-00532/GZN 56-00542/GZO 56-00543/GZD 56-00545/HCP 57-00460/HCF 57-00465/HCN 57-00472/HCJ. As before,if anyone can add or correct information to this please send it,thank you regards Simon.

Hello All-after some new information came my way here is a much updated VNAF C-130A SERIAL/TAILCODE update- 54-01631/??? 54-01634/GZP 54-01640/HCO 55-00001/GZB 55-00002/HCB 55-00005/GZC 55-00006/GZI 55-00008/HCC 55-00012/GZH 55-00013/HCD 55-00016/GZE 55-00017/HCG 55-00027/GZA 55-00034/HCE 55-00045/HCA 56-00476/HCI 56-00479/GZM 56-00481/GZK 56-00482/HCK 56-00483/??? 56-00489/GZJ 56-00495/??? 56-00500/HCL 56-00505/GZL 56-00518/HCM 56-00519/GZP 56-00521/HCH 56-00524/??? 56-00532/GZN 56-00542/GZO 56-00543/GZD 56-00545/HCP 57-00460/HCF 57-465/HCN 57-00472/HCJ. 435 TS HCA-HCP and 437 TS GZA-GZP/ 53RD TRANSPORT WING /5TH AIR DIVISION/ THE REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM AIR FORCE. As before if anyone can help with new or updated information please reply,thank you regards Simon.

Hello All-this is my newest update of confirmed VNAF C-130A HERCULES serial numbers and tailcodes. 54-01631/??? 54-01634/GZP 54-01640/HCO 55-00001/GZB 55-00002/HCB 55-00005/GZC 55-00006/??? 55-00008/HCC 55-00012/GZH 55-00013/HCD 55-00016/GZE 55-00017/??? 55-00027/GZA 55-00034/HCE 55-00045/HCA 56-00476/HCI 56-00479/GZM 56-00481/GZK 56-00482/HCK 56-00483/??? 56-00489/GZJ 56-00495/??? 56-00500/HCL 56-00505/GZL 56-00518/HCM 56-00519/GZP 56-00521/HCH 56-00524/??? 56-00532/GZN 56-00542/GZO 56-00543/GZD 56-00545/HCP 57-00460/HCF 57-00465/??? 57-00472/HC? As before if anyone can add to or update this please reply to fill in the gaps.THE REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM AIR FORCE 435 TS HCA -HCP and 437 TS GZA-GZP. Thankyou regards Simon. /

Hello All,here is my very latest updated list of VNAF C-130A HERCULES serial numbers and tailcodes. 54-01631/??? 54-01634/GZP 54-01640/HCO 55-00001/GZB 55-00002/??? 55-00005/GZC 55-00006/??? 55-00008/HCC 55-00012/GZH 55-00013/HCD 55-00016/GZE 55-00017/??? 55-00027/GZA 55-00034/HCE 55-00045/HCA 56-00476/HCI 56-00479/GZM 56-00481/GZK 56-00482/HCK 56-00483/??? 56-00489/GZJ 56-00495/??? 56-00500/HCL 56-00505/GZL 56-00518/HCM 56-00519/GZP 56-00521/HCH 56-00524/??? 56-00532/GZN 56-00542/GZO 56-00543/GZD 56-00545/HCP 57-00460/HCF 57-00465/??? 57-00472/HC? As before if anyone has any information updates or corrections please reply to fill in the gaps of THE REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM AIR FORCE 435 TS HCA-HCP and 437 TS GZA-GZP, thankyou.

Hello All,this is my newly updated list of the VNAF C-130A HERCULES serial numbers and tailcodes. 54-01631/??? 54-01634/GZP 54-01640/HCO 55-00001/GZB 55-00002/??? 55-00005/GZC 55-00006/??? 55-00008/HCC 55-00012/GZH 55-00013/HCD 55-00016/GZE 55-00017/??? 55-00027/GZA 55-00034/HCE 55-00045/HCA 56-00476/HCI 56-00479/GZM 56-00481/??? 56-00482/HCK 56-00483/??? 56-00489/GZJ 56-00495/??? 56-00500/HCL 56-00505/GZL 56-00518/HCM 56-00519/GZP 56-00521/HCH 56-00524/??? 56-00532/GZN 56-00542/GZI 56-00543/GZD 56-00545/HCP 57-00460/HCF 57-00465/??? 57-00472/HC? As can be seen there are a lot of missing Tailcodes from this list of the 435 TS coded HCA-HCP and the 437 TS GZA-GZP.If anyone can add to or correct this list please reply,thankyou regards Simon.

Correction-this aircraft was in Singapore along with 4 others being repaired when the Republic of Viet Nam fell-they were all repaired and claimed back by the USAF and flown to Guam then on to the USA-most re-entered USAF service and others went to MASDC.

Hello-this aircraft was coded HCE of the 435 Transport Squadron 53 Tactical Wing VNAF at TAN SON NHUT Air Base and escaped on 29 4 75 to U Tapao AFB Thailand.A picture of this aircraft in black and white is on the vnafmamn website.

Hello,this aircraft is 56-0432 GZN of the VNAF 437 TRANSPORT SQUADRON FORMERLY AT TAN SON NHUT UNTIL A FEW YEARS AGO DERELICT-WITH POSSIBLY PARTS USED FROM SOME OF THE OTHER 7 C-130A AIRCRAFT-ONLY 4 ARE LEFT NOW.WHEN CAPTURED IN 1975 IT WAS REPAIRED AND WAS IN THE VPAF UNTIL THE EARLY 1980s.

A C-130A flew from Con Son Island?-this is news to me-can anyone throw any light on where this information came from?BoHD can you tell us this source???

Hello again,I have came across another Vietnamese language film called Nhung guong mat thang 5 (phim tai lieu 1975) showing the aftermath of the war in 1975,it shows the final fate of C-130A 55-00045 of the VNAF at Tan Son Nhut. At 2m09s pictures show the aircraft burnt out on the ground on the southern ramp area further south than the group of 3 C-130As led by 56-0489/GZJ.The tailcode is clearly shown on the still intact tailplane which has fallen on the ground as HCA/(0)5-0045.The pictures continue until 3m12s.Anyone got any thoughts or opinions on this?

Hello all,one of my original questions has been answered-I have just received MILITAIR 1982 by John Andrade as a secondhand book-in the section on Vietnam the ex-VNAF C-130A HERCULES that defected to Singapore in 1979 crewed by an ex-VNAF C-130A pilot is identified as 002-the VPAF code for VNAF C-130A 56-0519 GZP captured on the ground at TAN SON NHUT on 29/4/1975.The pilot was probably granted political asylum,the aircraft was presumably collected by a VPAF crew and taken back to communist occupied VIETNAM.Does anyone have anything to add or comment on this?

My latest information on VNAF C-130A Aircraft- 54-01631/??? 54-01634/??? 54-01640/HCO 55-00001/GZB 55-00002/??? 55-00005/GZC 55-00006/??? 55-00008/HCC 55-00012/GZH 55-00013/HCD 55-00016/GZE 55-00017/GZL 55-00027/GZA 55-00034/HCE 55-00045/HCA 56-00476/HCI 56-00479/GZM 56-00481/??? 56-00482/HCK 56-00483/??? 56-00489/GZJ 56-00495/??? 56-00500/HCL 56-00505/??? 56-00518/HCM 56-00519/GZP 56-00521/HCH 56-00524/??? 56-00532/GZN 56-00542/GZI 56-00543/??? 56-00545/HCP 57-00460/HCF 57-00465/??? 57-00472/HC? Any information or corrections are welcome.Thankyou,regards simon.

Hello again Bob-you are correct about everything in your reply,however the mystery remains as to which aircraft have which correct tailcodes? GZG and GZM were photographed at U Tapao in April 1975 after they escaped from the communist invasion-I have been unable to tie-up these with their respective Aircraft. Does ANYONE have any information or photos of the Aircraft in 1975?I am particularly interested in Guam where all Aircraft transited back to the USA-was anyone reading this there in that timeframe?Please reply if you have ANY information.Also MASDC/AMARC pictures of the returned Aircraft.

Hello all,I have just received a book-UNITED STATES AIR FORCES DIRECTORY 2014/15.Published by Mach 111 Publishing on the website AVIATION RETAIL DIRECT-the book is so popular it is in its second printing-I had to wait for mine-the information in it is first rate-including on our favourite-the C-130 Hercules.My original question on this thread is answered in this book-the 5 C-130A in Singapore undergoing wing repairs were 55-00012/GZH 55-00034/HCE 56-00518/HCM 56-00545/HCP 57-00472/HC?.Apart from 57-00460/HCF which defected to Singapore on 24th April 1975 and was interned the remaining 9 C-130A that escaped were 55-00008/HCC 55-00027/GZA 56-00479/GZM 56-00481/??? 56-00483/??? 56-00495/??? 56-00500/HCL 56-00524/??? 56-00543/??? .All of these aircraft went to the United States via Guam in 1975-most re-entering USAF service.