North Vietnam F4D
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- čas přidán 2. 05. 2014
- My time in Thailand with the F4 Phantom in the 13th and 555th Tactical Fighter Squadrons during the Vietnam war. 148 Combat Missions: 13 Hanoi, 87 other North Vietnam, 48 Laos, 1967 - 1968 at Ubon & Udorn Thailand This is a slide show from digitized Kodak Instamatic 35mm slides I took at the time with a small camera I used, including in the plane.
I think I speak for most pilots when I say that it was only because of hundreds of others who did their job so well, that we were able to do ours on each mission; get to the target, do our work, and get back to base. The guys who provided security, and those who maintained our aircraft and weapons systems. The guys who loaded our ordinance. The aircrews who flew the KC135 tankers we needed to get in and out, and those who flew in the Jolly Greens who had our back when things went really badly. The guys in Red Crown and Eathen Bravo who provided crucial warnings of Migs and SAMs when in the target area and the FACs who marked targets and assisted in SAR. On day missions to Hanoi, or night missions for trucks north of the DMZ. We were aware of all of you,, We were appreciative and thankful.
Thank you for everything you did to serve this country. Triple Nickels were badass. Robin Olds one of the best leaders this country ever produced.
I was was an engine guy on F4s. At Udorn for Linebacker II TDY from Homestead AFB, 308th TFS. Went home in Aug 72 and then back to Udorn PCS in Jan 73 for a year. 8 of my 10 USAF years were on F4s. It is still my "baby". Welcome Home to all the vets.
Thank you for your service . I was aircraft maintenance. Highlight was Holloman and Nellis. Served 79-2004.
What was it like in '73, when Cambodia bombing renewed? I mean, FAC-guided airstikes and Pave Phantom missions. F-4Ds really saved Pnom Penh from Khmer Rouges storming then.
F4 Phantom is a timeless legend 👍✈️
It flew like a bus.
so are the men who flew and maintained them
I was in Ubon on a 90 day tdy from Hill AFB Utah in 1970 doing some F-4 mods . After returning to the states I was sent PCS to Udorn and then sent to Korat to finish my year. I was an F-4 crew chief and Korat needed some crew chiefs so I volunteered . I always enjoyed working on the F-4 and met some really great guys.
For Cobra Gold in 2008, we stayed at Korat. We taught the Thai's urban warfare. We used the old hospital to teach them room clearing. There was still a pool table with the balls in the break room. The place was like a time capsule.
They taught us jungle warfare. Their SF guys were bad ass. I'd follow them anywhere. And their regular infantry units were good soldiers that picked up MOUT training pretty quickly.
Thank you sir, for the incredibly interesting and informative slide show. The F4 is my favorite acft. I was a kid at El Toro MCAS in the early 70s (not sure of the model). I always loved watching them fly over our house at night with that huuuuge tail plume.
Thank you for your service. You "Nammies" are my heroes.
I served 12 years as a C-5 structural mechanic AFSC 29773 (previously 45872).
Earlier I mentioned my father, Ted Dorris being there as an F4 pilot. Didnt realize you departed EglinAFB in '67. So did he! I remember my mom hauling us 4 children out to the flightline in order to watch them take off early in the morning. He was also with the triple nickel. Small world! Thank you all for your service and sacrifice!
Thank you so much for shareing that terrifying and personal journey up north with us, F4 jocks were right up there with the A1 skyraider guys as my hero's of that campaign. My pops was 25 years air force and we lived at Clark 67-69. We even knew some kc 135 guys that would meet you guys on the way in and out, that only made the flight one way. God bless you and thank you for your brave service!
Thanks for the share, i was at Ubon from 71-72 although with Det 3,601st Photo, part of the job was backseater with the 23rd TASS & documenting the AC-130 gunships. We used to get a few of the F-4 drivers who came in and had their fil processed by us. We gave them film and they allowed us to keep copies of their photos, ans we also traded photos taken from the Broncs and the AC-130s for shots of the F4s, especially the refueling pics. Sawadee Khap!
Calliedo, thanks for the video. First I’ve seen relative to my tour. I left Elgin a month before you guys showed up at Udorn. Still gives me hose bumps to remember the day the whole squadron flew over the base. I was a weapons mechanic attached to 432 MMS and spent most of my tour on top of and underneath the F-4’s chasing malfunctions in the weapons delivery system wiring. Also spent some time in the line shack debriefing pilots on returning from sorties. Interesting comment on Laos missions when “we don’t fly into Laos”. We actually could go into Laos but without our dog tags...
We had one bird, tail number 721, that when the safety pins were pulled before TO, would fire it’s 2 75” rockets down the runway. Made for interesting takeoffs. Hope you never got to fly that AC as more often that not, gun wouldn’t fire and bombs wouldn’t completely release. Spent many hours with the Mcdonoll Douglas rep on that one. Was working the day the F-105 F model (2 seater) flew in, made a barrier engagement and blew the canopy. Both pilots climbed our and stood up through the the hole in the wing ..
Thanks again for the video...
Thank you, Marvin. We may not have known firsthand what all it took, but please know we pilots DID understand the important role guys like you played in our being safe and successful. with our missions. It was a complicated bird. On the 148 missions I flew during that time, there were only two times we had mechanical or electrical problems. Tanks wouldn't feed right and as the guy in back, I had to fuss with circuit breakers to get us home. The only time we had weapons system issues was when my aircraft commander pickled off a rocket pod instead of firing them. Our error. Our first night mission and the flack was a bit thinker and brighter than normal.
Thank you for posting this video. My father was an F-4 pilot with the triple nickel in 1967 in the days of Robin Olds and Chappie James. He was shot down north of Hanoi on his 93rd trip. They have excavated twice but found no remains. I have some old pictures he took, but I loved seeing yours. Thanks again.
I am so sorry for your loss, JoAnne. The nickel was a standout during that time.. yet, we lost so many fine people in that area, then and later. Some that I knew well. '67 was a particularly tough year for F4 and F105 pilots. By late '67 and early '68 fewer Migs were brave enough to come up and we were getting somewhat better dealing with SAMs
JoAnne, I am @ChuckB60 on Twitter. I have some additional material, etc. regarding that time and place I would be happy to send to you. If you are interested, please Twitter direct message me your email.
I’m sorry for your loss.
Good Video.
We had F4 Phantoms on the USS Corel Sea back in the early 80's ,one of the best looking birds around.
Thank you for your service and sharing your photos. I was a Corrosion Control Specialist, stationed, first at Phan Rang, then Da Nang before being transferred to Korat in Thailand. I worked primarily on the F-4's at Da Nang and Korat.
Hello from Thailand
I was very much touched and in by your vdo thanks a lot for the memorable moment of those days given by you. I was born in 1968 at a small and remote village in Roi-Et province just about 150 km from Ubon Ratchathani. One day in 1973 l and father traveled to the funeral of grand my father at the church near US airbase. As of my first shocked memory from the big sound of something that l have never heard penetrated to my ears. I was really so scared and shaking by wave after wave of that strangest sound. After more than 10 years l realised that was a sound of fightet jets that participated in Vietnam war.
My grand father and his wife converted to christianity by American chapel at Ubon airbase then after that all of his children followed him included my father and all of 10 children of my father.
My grand father, father and my mother burried at Christian cemetery along with many American pilots and civilians during Vietnam war at the suberb of Ubon.
Our family has a unforgottabe relationship with GIs from those days. Moreover, younger brother of my father also served a secret war in Laos as CIA's FAC.
In the past decades l collected information and photos from American retired pilots who got direct experience from the war.
If you have some more photos During your service at Ubon, Udon or Korat please kindly share with me :
clampar61@gmail.com
Respectedly yours
Chaleo Lampar
Chaleo,
Your heartfelt comment deserves a more thoughtful answer. The wonderful Thai people around the airbase and in the towns were one of the few, positive, motivating factors of that war for many of us. (The Domino Theory) I will email a better answer soon.
I was PCS at Ubon in Mar 68, assigned to base FMS. Sometime in mid May 68 I was assigned TDY to Triple Nickel (no duty awaiting orders).
555 was ordered north to Udorn RTAFB later that month.
So the 13th went to Ubon in Feb 68, changed to the 555 TFS and shipped back to Udorn as the 555th in May 68. Assigned 555 TDY, I went with them, and then was promptly reassigned PCS to Udorn in FMS. There I remained until May 70, my enlistment over, I was sent back Stateside for my discharge and civilian life.
I have to say 2 1/4 years in Thailand were a breeze and almost magical. I dove deep into the Thai culture, learned to speak Thai, got back after completion of my service and sorely missed Thailand very much thereafter.
I was at a VA hospital close by for an annual, one week, SCI tuneup stay. I met two nurses who were Thai so I got to speak Thai again with them both. Became friends.. Thais are amazing people. And that perineal forever smile you mention was real and genuine, they're happy friendly people. But the requisite cultural smile, though very real, is often a burden to many on a very personal level. Had to stay happy in light of too many hardships they're forced to face. Whenever a Thai smiles at you it's very real, but it's also very brave too.
A Great Update.. Yes, I made all those moves to and from Ubon and Udorn and the original deployment of the 16th TFS from Eglin AFB to Udorn in Oct '67 to become the 13th. Then back home to the US in July of '68 after 100 missions north.
Thank you for your courage, dedication and service Sir.🇺🇸
DaNang AB ‘70-‘71. Loved those F-4’s lived a stones throw from the runway watched them take off every day and night. Lovely sight to see those after burners kick in.
Dude, this video is so awesome. Thank you for sharing. More importantly, thank you for your service and flying those gnarley missions over the North.
McDonald Douglas F 4 Phantom are simply the most badass aircraft of their generation. I had the pleasure of watching flight ops while standing smoke watch aboard the USS KITTY HAWK CVA63 1972 ! Best seat in the house. High above the flight deck. Beautiful.
Thank you for your service and thanks for sharing your experience so that we may have a better appreciation of what it was like.
this is long before my time, but i really appreciate these men and machines. those jets where beasts.
Thank you for sharing this and a part of your life. It gave me a glimpse into the life of someone very important to me that was lost over Laos in July of 1965. This video helped me see and understand living conditions better. This added more depth to the memory of someone I miss very much.
Was "Summer Help" at Udorn in 72' Flew our F-4Es from Homestead to Undorn in 2 1/2 days- when we got to Udorn we hardly flew our Es - 13th and 555 got to fly them most of the time - BTW that was my third tour in Nam - 68 (Cam Ranh Bay); 70 (Phu Cat); and then 72. first tour was as a GIB - really sucked - got shot down and spent 6 months before they would let me into the cockpit - upgraded to the front seat at George then off to war again - had over 2800 hrs in the Phantom - great jet - your slide show brought back A LOT of memories - thanks for sharing!
Congrats Carl. Everyone from my UPT class at Webb AFB in 1966 that got an F4 started as a GIB. I never minded it... had a really great AC so I got most of the tanker time and much of the flying as well. I saw it as being a co-pilot who could also run intercepts.
@@calliedo My UPT class was 68B - Laughlin AFB - started in Sep 66 and graduated the following Sep. If I had been in the next class - 68C I would have gotten a Thud - and probably would be dead 🙂
@@carlparlatore294 I was 67B at Webb. After my tour I was a Tweet instructor at Laughlin and loved it. No Thuds out of my 67B class but they were more common than F4s the previous year. Yup. Many dead then too. Glad you made it Carl.
@@calliedo Back at you fellow brother in arms. You and I share a special bond that most will never know or understand - Oh I have slipped the surly bonds of earth---you know what I mean
@@carlparlatore294 Yes.. I do. Thank You. and my name is Charles (Chuck) Bennett, Tomball TX
Thank You for sharing, Thanks For Your Service! My brother was a F4 Crew Chief 72/73, my years may be off, I don't remember any pics but I do remember the letters he wrote with so many lines blacked out, I regret not saving them. He passed in January, I miss Him. He left for basic training June of 69, Dad (former Air Force) was so proud, Mom cried nonstop, my brother's wife was crying too. It had been his plan to join the USAF for years. As a 12 year old I was very proud of my older brother!
I can still remember him waving from the bus, as it left the station,......
You should be proud. We would not have gotten "there" or back without the excellent work of the crew chief and his people.... all of those who maintained and armed our birds.
Very well done sir. I enjoyed it very much! And thank you for your service!
Thank you for your service and sharing part of your experience with us....great video...very interesting, highly informative ..
Unimaginable courage. A belated welcome home, and thank you sir.
Thank you for taking us with you on your journey.
Thank You for sharing and Thank You Very, Very much for your service!
Thank you for your service Sir. I salute you.
Possibly one of the most powerful personal statements / testimonies I have yet seen on this subject... Thank you for sharing it.
Thank you. I have added some more background information in the description box
great photos. Tell a great story. Thank you for your service. I love your F4-D great aircraft.
Thank you for sharing your memories. ขอบคุณ ครับ. 🙏
Thank you for your service Sir. and for sharing your memories. God bless you.
@Calliedo Great video very informed it gave me some great ideas for a vietnam airbase diorama I just picked up the 1/48 scale academy F-4C just watched your post will be watching it again there's too much to take in at once thank you for your service stay the course Bruce
Thanks for sharing and your service! God Bless those souls who served and never returned.......
Thank you for your service. Grissom air base Peru Indiana did refueling in air. I worked with a couple of guys that did it. Enjoyed your video.
Thank you for the video & your devotion to this country.
Great slides, thanks a lot for sharing! Best regards from Germany
Superb. Thanks for posting. The F4 is my favourite jet aircraft. You look so young. What a responsibility and a real achievement. Best wishes
I was in Jr. High at the time. Thank you for your service and sharing your story in photos.
Very cool photo journal. Thanks for posting your memories. Cheers!
I must say that this is the best slide show that I ever seen about the war, thank you so much for your service! Slides show so much more then film. Stay safe!! :-D
I THANK You for sharing this video documenting this time 1967-1968. During this time, I would have been 10 years old attending elementary school having little knowledge of what was happening during the Vietnam War. Please let me salute you for YOUR service and putting your life in harm's way. I cannot say thank you enough for sharing this video and I would like to say the music you had used for this video was perfect. As I watched the video read the subtitle's the music added a somber tone to my whole experience watching North Vietnam F4D. I somehow feel this is the feeling You were trying to convey. Awesome, well done I applaud YOU.
Very kind words. Yes... I chose the background music thoughtfully. Thanks for noticing. Somber is correct. Not at all "fun." It still feels that way after 54 years.
Thanks for posting this great video. It gives us a small window into what the times were like. My father flew the RF-4C out of Udorn 1966-1967. We stayed at Mountain Home AFB while awaiting his return. Thanks for sharing and for your service.
A brave father, Francis. The RF 4s had even more dangerous missions than we did. Especially during that time frame. Be proud.
Thanks for sharing your memories,, it’s funny how you served many years before I did, (soldier) but looking at your deployments pictures, bought memories back to me of my deployments !! Thanks for your service!! I love the pictures of the Sansui box and the Reel to Reel!! I so hated I sold mine!! Thanks again 🫡🫡
I was a 19yo buck sgt crew chief in Satan's Angels at Ubon 72. We loaded the first 2K laser guided cbu used in combat. During the Easter Offensive I slept in my revetment. Your video is great. 90% of my photos were confiscated thanks for the memories. Was it a dream?
Thanks for the pictures. All the ones I wanted to take, but never did. This is shareable, 'cause it is just the same as I encountered in 1965. Ubon, 8TFW, 68TFS, 1965. This is great, thanks again.
Thank you for sharing!
I love your video and respect you very much thank you for your service
Thank you for your service, sir.
Thank you for your service. During your time there I was doing duty in the navy on a Boomer. I later went in the Air National Guard and worked in hydraulics on F4Cs and Ds. Always loved those birds.
Wow, I really enjoyed watching this. Incredible history, Congradulations,
My father SSGT Mike Cox who was an young US Airman in his early 20's stood 6'3 that served at an air base in Thailand Ubon or possibly Udorn for an entire 365 day tour he talked about the humidity would just eat the socks off the feet and changing uniforms often he was discharged in 1971 as a SSGT I'm very proud of him serving during Vietnam I wanted to find videos of what life was like I find this video very compelling shows all sorts of life even 10,000 miles away from America. thanks for your service. And yes that is his actual air force pic in my youtube image he loved the Air Force
God Bless your father's memory and all the dedicated and talented airmen and NCOs who kept our planes functional and effective as well as keeping us all safe. I am glad in a small way my slides were able to strengthen your memory and appreciation of him.There were, and still are, many many like him and they are the foundation for our liberty.
Great video. I was at Udorn from 1971-1972 with the 13TFS Life Support .
13TH TFS GIB JAN-AUG 1972
I was at PhanRang 68 69 , we had B57s and F100s . I was there during Tet and we experanced the best that the enemy could offer . After a week of rocket and mortar attects and a final human wave trying to overrun the base it can to an end. But we had held out and went back to the business of bombing the Hoe Trail and Army protection.
Thanks for the great pics and for all you did on your part to protect freedom. Its just so sad that we never got the credit we all deserve for our sacrifices.
My Dad was stationed in UTapao AFB 1975-1976 assigned to 635th MMS to close down the base to turn over to Thai Air Force just after the Vietnam War, my dad took pics slide film and regular film during his tour there. He bought a Sansui Stereo system which he gave to about 6 years ago to me and I still have it.
So cool that you took so many pictures. Gives a young guy like me a better feel for what your experince was like
Great slideshow! Was thrilled to see Eglin AFB and Ft. Walton Beach highlighted near the beginning, we lived in Niceville, FL (just a few miles from there) having just moved there from Louisiana in December 1966 as my dad was going to finish his USAF career there at Eglin (Chief Master Sargent) in November 1969.
Desert Storm Iraq Afghanistan Vet Pilot here. And former USAF Jolly Green. Incredible photos! Thank you for sharing. And thank you for your service to our Country. Vietnam Vets paid a heavy price when you all came back. Because of your sacrifice you all made it easier for us future generations of warfighters to get the benefits and recognition that you guys deserved back then and now are finally getting. Long overdue. So Thank you Vietnam Vets. We owe you a huge debt of gratitude.
And unfortunately with recent events in Afghanistan….I have a small glimpse of how you guys must have felt in 1975 Fall of Saigon. Not a good feeling. Seems like we don’t learn from others or from history very well. Much like us now you guys won the war only to have the politicians lose it for us. Not the way anyone should look at it. We did what our country asked us to do.
Thank you for your service . AF aircraft maintenance 79-04.
I was there in 70 and 71. I was a radio operator. I talked many times to the phantoms doing their jobs.
Concerning the video I would’ve much rather heard you narrate than the music.
Thank you for your service my brother
I always wondered what it must be like to fly one of those. Thank you for your service.
Thank you so much for posting this up. Great pictures and music too. Ive added it to my US Air Force playlist. My AFJROTC instructor (and mentor) served on the tankers, maybe he topped off your tanks! At any rate great video.
I know it sounds silly but I am a scale modeler working on a F-4J at the moment. I have a C/D in my stash of kits that this video has me looking to next.
Love the Mk82 slicks at 17:00. I'm an old 461 ammo troop. Built a bunch of these.
Thanks for sharing these photos I remember seeing some as a kid as my cousin Richard Oliveira flew F4C/D during that time period as well in vietnam. When he died a few years ago my other cousins threw out all his photography that I'd of loved to have seen. Thank you all for your service & courage & god Bless ( if any one has photos of my cousin i'd love to see them please contact me)
Thanks
Jim R
Thanks for the kind words, Jim. I am sorry but I was not familiar with ;your cousin Richard Oliveira. Although the military is appreciated these days, it was much different in the 60s and 70s. Many civilians of that generation just wanted to forget about it, even years later.
Thank You for your Service. My Father was with the 15th SOS out of Nha Trang 68-69. Died at age 56 due to complications from Agent Orange. I'm two year too young to have served there. But I went there to trace steps. Now I go a lot. Beautiful place and wonderful people now. Got a beautiful GF in Vinh Long......
Great Vid tks for sharing, powerful. Salute Sir
Served at Clark 81-83, learned to love the F-4. I was just a kid watching Howard K Smith nightly talking about this conflict and waiting to see if they were going to draft my big brother. After serving at Clark, I had met several crews and ground pounders who had served in Vietnam, I had quite the education of how the F-4 crews lived and breathed tactics and took their jobs seriously. I gained quite a respect that lives on today. Currently doing a 1:32 scale RF-4C to honor an aircrew who is still MIA from a mission over Laos in 1970 out of Udorn. I've been submerging myself in these vids so I can try and get things right on this display. Thank you for facing what you did at such a young age. God bless you and yours.
Thank you for the kind words Bryan. Laos was just as bad as Hanoi in some places. And those missions didn't "count" toward our hundred. I had 48 of them. We never wanted to go down in Laos. And, yes, some did. Few came out. Blessings to you.
Great photos. Gives a different perspective on what went on behind the flights into and out of Vietnam.
An extremely well done video, with a perspective which is rather unique; a person who was not a pilot but spent a lot of time flying. An F4 cockpit is very cramped, both of them, and the refueling receptacle is immediately behind the rear cockpit. I have seen big scratches on the rear cockpit canopy, where the refueling probe bashed into the canopy right above the backseater's head. Refueling was a constant affair with the F4, as it had very little on-board fuel storage. Flying across the ocean meant refueling about every 45 minutes or so.
Thank you for your memories and your service. Welcome home, although home will never be what it was before.
Thank you Scott... just to be clear. I was a pilot at that time. An F4
"copilot". In 67 and 68, some new USAF pilot graduates were offered an F4 rear seat assignment, as the attrition rate was high and that provided a quicker upgrade to the front seat after their Viet Nam tour. I, however, became an instructor in the T-37 after my 100 north. This is explained in more detail in my "Pilot History" linked in the "show more" of the video description.
Thank you for your service. My AF career a generation after yours. My highlight being stationed @ Nellis.. supported T/A …Red Flag TFWC 86-89.
Really nice video that you made, love the pictures and thank you for your service. I'm here at Aviano Air Base, current home of the 555th Fighter Squadron. I'm retired AF 26 1/2 years as a AMMO troop and a patch collector. If you have any extra patches from your time with the 13th or 555th I would gladly give them a good home in my collection.
Thanks for posting. I was a 16th/13th squadron mate of yours from the deployment at Eglin to Udorn...flew with Russ Teising. Note: in the first picture with Tighe King (sp) is Walt Reinhard. Walt was my F-106 school commander at Tyndall for "Six" training following our tour at Udorn. Enjoyed your presentation.
Классные слайды ! уникальные, thanks
I spent 1966~67 at Udorn RTAFB, as an RF-101C VooDoo Medicine Man (maintainer). Stressful times, high tempo ops 24/7/365.
I was there in 1968,crew chief in 497th next door to triple nickel where my best friend was crew chief in 555 sq,met a lot of the pilots every day but forgot names,I'm 77 now but still remember that yr
Welcome home and hats off to you both, Phillip. I wouldn't have gotten back without men like you doing your jobs so well. We were always aware of that.
Not bad for a Kodak Instamatic! The F4 is one of my fav fighters. Wow! Thank you for your service and posting your war images. My two older Jarhead brothers wrote me warnings from Nam not to join the marines. When it was my turn, I enlisted in the USAF. Vietnam was winding down. So, I babysat Russian Bears in the straights between Greenland and Iceland for 14 months. Today, Russia is at it again. I do not trust Putin/Russia. Remarkable how Vietnam is a vacation spot now. Cheers!
I was stationed at Eglin AFB May 67- Apr. 69. I was also in the 16th TFS only we had the F-4E's and we left in Apr 69 for Danang to spend our year.
I believe my father Allan D. Brown of Lincoln, NEBRASKA was part of this squadron and knew you. He died today. Thank you for sharing these photos. ❤️
Jennifer, I am very sorry to hear that. Yes, I knew Allan while at U of N in Lincoln. We went to pilot training at different bases but then both wound up in the same F4 squadron. However you wound up seeing this little video, I appreciate your letting me know of Allan's passing. Blessings to you and yours.
@@calliedo Thank you so much. I first saw this maybe a year or two ago. Some of the images looked very familiar from photos I had seen of my dad's. Yesterday as lots of memories were playing in my mind my husband and I were talking about this video and decided to watch again.
I’m sorry for your family’s loss.
Awesome !!!
Wow, thanks for posting these pictures ! Not used to seeing AIM-4 Falcon Missiles (10.01 & 10.25 mark). Most pictures of F-4's from that time period usually show a mix of Sidewinders and Sparrow Missiles.
Four Sparrows we're always there, of course, tucked onto the belly of the aircraft.
You did something on your tour I did not do on my first tour in Germany. My second tour I took pictures of everything I could! Every nice day I went and took more pictures.
These indeed were very somber and sad times - especially for those of us of military age during the war. We often focus our thoughts and thanks on those in the military who served in SE Asia, and rightfully so. But we should remember to also include the parents, spouses, children, and siblings of those who served in our prayers as well. Their emotional suffering was often very tragic too.
As a newly minted AF crew chief in 79 my squadron commander was LT Col John F Piowaty. He was Vietnsm era F-105 driver. Notorious for handlebar mustache. He was my first exposure to all who served in SW Asia. I was at Holloman 79-83.
Welcome home Sir.
I’m English and was vert young at the time but still found this a touching reel of pictures. From what a heard a nasty time over there but I imagine great memories in there to?
Wow, that just took me back over 50 years... Udorn 69-70 and 72-73. I had no idea how good we had it compared to the guys in S. Viet Nam. Living off base was a cultural explosion. The locals had nothing but were very happy, nice people.
The F-4 Phantom is my favorite jet. It's had an enviable combat record.
I know a few retired F-4 pilots and the stories they tell are amazing. The books the retired Phantom drivers write are mind-blowing.
These are my 3 favorite aviation books:
- Topgun by Dan Pederson
- F-4 Phantom: A Pilot's Story by Robert Prest
- Great Fighter Jets of the Galaxy 1 by Tim Gibson (100 full-color pictures)
All available on Amazon
I was in Karamursel, Turkey in the mid-60's...as far from 'Nam as one was lucky enough to get.
My father, Ted Dorris may have been there around the same time. He was also in the triple nickel ( 555th ) and flew the F4 also.
555th moved from Ubon to Udorn 1968.
I was at Udorn June11 70-71 Weapons Mech F-4's (bomb loader). This brought back memories.
Was at Udorn September 70 - 71 432 FMS , F 4 engine shop would see some of you guys behind our shop where we parked engine stands
@@jimporter7602 -I'll bet at one time or another, we seen each other. So cool you replied, thank you! Seiko Circle, Jumping club, things have really changed.
Great !
Triple Nickel was Robin Olds Group for a while. Mission Bolo....I was in a Tanker Squadron out of Okinawa and Bangkok, then U-Tapao
Great upload. Thank you so much for sharing this. The music (and several of the photos) are haunting. I spent a year in Afghanistan as a military adviser and it already feels like a dream. It's difficult for me to believe it really happened. Is it the same for you? Thank you for your service...
God bless you I'm glad you made it and thank you!
F4E weapons control specialist, Danang Aug 70-71, Korat Thailand Jan-Mar 72. At Korat part of team that installed new wiring connectors on F105's. Korat had more amenities than Danang, you could actually leave the base and experience the downtown life, IE booze and women.
I was in 333 FMS. I was placed into the 16 that Fighter Squadron for the move. It became the 13 that TFS up on arrival at Hickam. When we arrived at Udorn, we were placed in the 432 and Field Maintenance Squadron. I can't remember the 13 th squadron commander's name but we called him "Old Slippery". He flew aircraft number 711. Soneone called it "The Crap Shooter". The name stuck because the next day, there was a pair of dice painted on the fuselage.
You are correct, Ron. His name was Lt. Col. Alva Henahan. He made Col after that. I thank you for your service. It couldn't have been easy keeping those birds in the air. In 148 missions I never had one that didn't get back to Udorn.
Was at Udorn 70-71 432 FMS jet engine shop
"Samlor kop?" How many times did I hear that line while in downtown NKP. LOL
I was abel to see a lot of these images from a friend in school when we were 10,11 years old when her brother showed us what was going on in Vietnam in 1965 I was 10 years old
Good pictures. I was too young for Viet Nam. I was 17 in 1973. I did join USAF in 1977 and went to England for 2 years. Worked ECM for F-4Ds and A-10s. I think I saw the antennas hanging down on an ECM pod in one photo. Did you see any 119 pods? Westinghouse An/ALQ-119. Your stereo equipment looked familiar. Sansui, Pioneer, Akai and Bose speakers in my room.
Yes.. we carried ECM pods on missions north. I can't say what type. The recording stuff was a favorite pastime. Long before email and Facebook.
I was an Air Traffic Controller in the GCA trailer from April 1971 to January or Feb 1972 at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force base. I loved my time there. Beautiful women., great food and cigarettes and liquor were dirt cheap. So was posse.