dkronemeyer

The crew of 1297 was FP Wessels, Larry W. CP Kronemeyer, Douglas K. XCP Cleland, David J. Jr. NN Webster, Douglas W. FE Taylor, Larry D LM Thomas, W.Allan I actually still have a copy of the flight orders as well as pictures of the aircraft after the attack. My recollection of the mission is slightly different in some areas as discussed above. We were a relief crew for a mission of three aircraft that were to carry BLU-82s into TTN and back haul passengers. Our mission was put on hold due to the fact TTN had been attacked by A-37s that had been captured at DaNang. We were finally released and 1297 was the third bird in the stream. The over-water flight was relatively calm. Nothing but scattered thunder storms. We had been issued kevlar vests, steel pots and survival vests with .38 pistols. No one wanted to suit up, but I did put my kevlar vest on. The survival vests were all stored in a large metal container which I placed on the cargo floor next to the crew entrance, and none of the crew ever accessed them, even after the AC was hit by artillery. I was the officer that signed for them, and later had to certify that they were destroyed in the wreckage, as well as the FF transponder. We had two Security Police on board, armed with M16s. When we coasted in we contacted Red Crown and they were calling active SA32 sites to the west and north of TTN about 40 miles away. They were also reporting active 37 and 57 radar cans. The TTN controller wanted to set us up with vectors to an ILS. We instead chose standard op combat approach. We flew overhead the field and depressurized at 14K. Bleeds off. We experienced numerous golf balls slightly to our north, but they did not go above about 10K. They were probably 37s. We spiraled down and landed. There were numerous fires still burning on the airfield. We taxied to the bomb dump and offloaded the BLU-82. We taxied to go pick up paxs. While on the parallel taxiway, I notices what I thought was a fountain of sparks at the very end of the taxiway, which was about a mile away. I had no idea what it was. The FE then immediately said we were being rocketed and to get out of here. Wessel’s made the decision to take off from the current position from the taxiway. The FE immediately told him we did not have enough taxiway, so he aborted.. I could see a very orderly path of artillery rounds marching down the centerline of the taxiway, about 50 yards between them. We all very calmly watched them. I saw the last round hit about 30 yards in front of us and them I was slammed into my right arm rest. I cursed, and the LM called out that we were hit and to evacuate. Wessel’s ordered an emergency shutdown. The crew exited and formed up in a ditch to the forward left of the aircraft. We agreed to go to the pickup pt and we all started jogging. We located the CCT at their jeep. At that time there was a long burst of automatic weapons fire. The CCT team called out to hit the deck. After that we looked on the ramp and noticed there was a C-130. We did not know if it was a VNAF. We decided that if it was a VNAF, that our SP’s would take it by force if necessary. It turns out it was a 21TAS aircraft that had rode out the barrage. I think they were #2 in the stream. #1 had already departed. They offered us a ride out. During the takeoff roll I had walked up to the cockpit, and I could not believe the number of artillery rounds that were impacting on the runway in front and around us. It is amazing that we were not destroyed. We continued to circle up to 14K. I remember looking down at the field out the left side door, and noticed rounds still impacting the field. It is amazing that we survived. I have a picture of the crew, the crew orders , and pictures taken by the CCT of the aircraft immediately after it was hit and burning, plus what was finally left.