jconner2

I was a loadmaster in the 346th and at Dyess when the crash ocurred. We did hot crew changes on those triaining missions. One crew would get off and another get on and do another run around the circuit. That was the last run of the day. These were mostly navigation training runs. As with Jim's comment above, my recollection of the cause (heresay only) was the A/C had recently converted from B-47's and that the mic buttom on those planes was in the same location on the column as the trim tab button on the C-130. I understood that he had possibly hit the trim tab instead of the mic and put down trim into the aircreaft and it flew into the ground at speed. That is my recollection. I remember we did not hear about the crash until the middle of the night. Someone must have read the official report and probably should clear up this as it has been posted so many times in so many ways by lots of old memories.

Look at some of the airfields on google earth. a lot of the revetments are still visible. DaNang had some on both sides near the refueling area, but I think that's where the c-47 psych birds were and those aren't. I don't remember revetments for C-130's at Saigon or CRB in 67/68 but I'm old and CRS.

My class graduation photo from Shepherd November 65. Most of my flight orders, awards, evaluation records etc.. I have the maps from Survival School. I could still walk to Idaho and locate the safe zones. I have my 772 Red hat, which looks like a beannie cap on me now.

If you mean the cattle drops. Nope, Operation Mule Train was quite real and supported by C-130's and C-123's. Livestock drops were in support of LRRPS, Special Forces and remote villiages.

Did lots of PLADS at Dyess and some in SEA. Anybody else drop Live Cows in RVN using CDS? Basically a reverse "L" made of plywood with a cow strapped to the upright board. Had a chute on the front side of the board which acted as a steering chute to get the cow into a clearing. Used to supply Special Forces units with fresh meat.

I did some research for the co-pilot's daughter earlier in the year. Her husband had posted in another thread. There was some newspaper articles, a copy of the service at the base chapel I had and I believe some names of people who knew the co-pilot. One of the men who pulled Gary from the plane was also at the reunion Ralph mentioned. I did not know the FE, except by name but perhaps some of the members of the 347th knew him.

I sent a note off to one of the guys in Abilene to see if he could talk to someone at Dyess. I'll let you know when I hear back. S/B some active duty guys over in the technical thread. Maybe get one of them to do an enquiry? john

"Giz, I hate to admit to senility, but refresh me memory: how many guys can we seat in the ol' Herk??? " Vietnam seating or passenger seating?

Can we haul a Duece and a Half, so I have my usual place to sleep during the flight? Otherwise passenger bags will work.

When we did our reunion at Dyess, there was discussion of a flight around the area. At the time all the old "E" birds were not flying due to stress cracks in the wing boxes and weight restrictions. I guess all us old Fat-a$$$ were too much. I would suggest contacting the base public affairs officer or a squadron commander of one of the units to see if something could be arranged. I am pretty sure had there not been restrictions at the time we could have gone up on a touch and go around the base a few times. I know Abilene had local reporters out there for all of us, so it was good publicity. I'll ping one of the guys who retired in Abilene who set up the whole thing last time and see if he has contacts. S/B a couple of pilots around who ended up Generals by the time they retired who can assist??? Some of you pilots had to maintain some connections? john

I'll help tie everyone down and between me an JimH we can probably rig a Mucullum bundle for air drop. Might take a day or two to figure the Form F, but damn I would be in as well. My last one was in Jan of 69'. When we had our 346th / 347th reunion at Dyess in 2005, we at least got to go climb around in one of the remaining E's. Sure brought back the memories.

Dyess switched in 1966. When I went there in late 65 it was TCS and sometime in the middle of 66, about the time we rotated to France on crossswitch, we were TAS. Also they switched from Troop Carrier Wings to Tactical Airlift Wings. I think that happened first.

Besides Mactan and tons of TDY's bases no longer in existance. Too many to list. Some big ones, all of Vietnam, Wheelus, Evereaux and Clark.

After Mactan I came back to Dyess. As well as I can remember, I went to Mildenhall almost immediately and after that rot, the crews did a 3 day turnaround at Dyess and went TDY to Clarke and staged out of CRB (sometime in 68). My first trip in I had to catch up to my crew and came in on a ANG flight late in the afternoon. Night shift OPS had no idea where to put me up so I spent the first night in a 2 man pup tent about 100 yards from the outdoor theatre and about 10 feet from the road. I didn't get much sleep with the traffic and drunks. When the adults came in during the day shift, I got moved to Herky Hill, though I don't remember it being called that at the time. the quonsets at CRB were much better than the ones we had at Mactan. There, all four sides were screen and 1/2 way or less up with wood. Could not close them off in the rain so you stayed in the middle of the hut. Of course we did have the Mactan Hotel:-).

Yes, I echo the sentiment. I was worried as well. Thanks for getting it back and flying.

Here is a couple from my past. The 772nd Hallmark Squadron SEA patch "If you care enough to send the Best, Send Someone Else, I've already been" was a great patch but unauthorized.

When I saw the title, I thought it was about chock surfin the rails. Something I use to do that really aggrivated the A/C. I would take off up by the forward stantions and try and ride all the way to the ramp. Made it a couple times. Tried a ride down the ramp once but the chocks just weren't flexible and I wiped out. Don't think I would have tried that trick though. I've sat on the edge before but hanging on by the rollers?

Impact was very popular when I was at Dyess (mid 60's). Basically a single street on the North side of Abilene that had been incorporated by one guy. Had a Pkg. store and a convenience store and that was the town. They also had a club downtown where you could see visiting bands (Jay and The Americans, The Five Americans etc.) but I can't remember the name of it. At the Base, you got to see Jerry Lee Lewis, every 3 or 4 weeks. Of course there was Wrestling at Fair Park(?) and a drive-in nearby. Taxing my old brain trying to remember this stuff.

Abilene, Texas. It's on I20 just west of town on the South side. We did our drop approaches right over the top of it. There was a big tower in the parking lot that could be seen for miles. The drop zone was a few miles south of that tower. Also had the best steaks in the area back in the Mid 60's. Last time I drove through Abilene, it was still there. Some of the Dyess guys who retired in Abilene can chime in. Might have a different name now.

When we had our Loadmaster reunion at Dyess in 2005, my wife was volunteered by me to sit at the table to log in the attendees, hand out the agenda and talk with most of the guys and their wives. I think that experience meeting "us" and what an impact our time with C-130's had on each of us was pretty eye-opening. She no longer asks why I have that great big C-130 Model airplane in the Den or why anthing that hints at C-130's on TV or in movies is an absolute priority in our house. Used to have Herc's passing over all the time when they were at Ellington. Now ocassionaly one will fly over when the air show comes to town. Guaranteed to pull me out of the house. When passing through Abilene, I always go by the city airport to see if they are doing touch and goes and I always glance up when passing the Tye Truck Stop.

Tinwhistle, First I enjoyed your paper. I don't agree 100% with all your points, but your opinion is well presented. If the professor grades you down for what you wrote rather than how well you presented your case, he will be at fault not you. I would add that news media coverage in Vietnam was unedited and mostly unsupervised by the military which was a first. The impact of that reporting on the public at home was significant. Second, the economic factors contributing to that war were larger even than WW II. Contracts for supporting Vietnam were huge. I certainly remember wondering how Hawaiian Punch and Salem cigarettes scored their immense contracts. I certainly would have preferred Coke or Dr. Pepper over Hawaiian Punch. Still won't drink that crap. Any way, great job, well done and I hope you get an A.

We were parked in the fuel depot at DaNang once when they rocketed. I ran to the bunker as we were the middle aircraft with no way out. The bunker entrance was on the back side and you had to come around to the front to actually get in. I made it over the top on the front side; which was probably 6 or 7 feet. Over the years that wall has grown to pole vaulting heights. The rockets landed to our left where they parked the psych birds.

When we had the 346th and 347th Loadmaster reunion at Dyess in 2005, we invited Gov. Perry to come and speak. He wrote a nice note saying he wished that he could but was busy with state business at the time. Instead, he sent a proclaimation thanking all of us for our service and a special one for Gary Speers, the lone survivor of the 66' crash at Dyess. Gary was our guest of honor. Gov. Perry got a lot of points in my book for that gesture.

We did one cram-all standup pax run that was so full we couldn't run the straps. At the last moment they added a K-9 and guard; which cleared up about 10 feet on the ramp. Hardest load was a road grader with a flat tire. The thing was basically a motor on a steel frame, with a blade. They had added a lead bar to weight down the front and never noted it. I had them back it in thinking the weight distribution was normal. Started raising the ramp and nothing was happening. Looked up front and the nose wheel was about a foot off the ground. Managed to lower the ramp without blowing seals. Had to take the thing out and put it in frontways. A/C noted it seemed awful nose heavy on take-off. Typical SEA thinking, take the road grader to the tire instead of the other way round. Anybody else drop cows?

Do a search in the historical threads for Agent Orange and in-country proof. There is a lot of information that has been posted. Look for some of Sam McGowan's posts as he did a lot of research for VA claims. A letter from someone who was on flight status and flew you in-country or whom you worked with in-country could help. I was lucky and kept all my old vouchers, records and flight orders in a 1968 50cal ammo box with a big yellow X on it from the pile they use to leave at CRB. Nothing fades in that baby except for the blueline copies of various school certificates.