JibberBook

Stationed at CCK , Taiwan 72-73 C-130 Crew Chief 374 OMS Acft. 63-7819.
Great site!!!!!

Currently in Taichung Taiwan (16 JAN 2012). Was stationed at CCK late 71 until we move to Clark AB in NOV 73. With the 21st TAS. Enjoyed your site and will be back for more visits. Happy Chinese New Year 23 JAN -- Year Of The Dragon!

I was an Aerial Port Duty Officer with the 8th Aerial Port Squadron at Tan Son Nhut from Nov 69- Oct 70. This web site has been great reading and brought back a lot of memories, both good and bad. Thanks for this superb effort Alan.

I was an Army MP Plt ldr A/504 MP BN whose 53 men and 11 jeeps were being shuttled up to Phu Bai frm Nha Trang to guard the Tactical opns center- Gen. Abrams- in three flights a week after TET 68. Phu Bai was being mortared so we diverted to Dong Ha at 0200.The LTC flying was determined soul-three GCA' attemptts down through the stratus deck, he gets in on the third try.The lots of stripes loadmaster was pissed the pilot kept trying and vented some of his anxiety on us-"I want to see nothing but assholes and elbows Lt. When we land".We hit hard, taxi fast, the ramp goes down and he starts screaming "get, get out". We drive the jeeps off, its dark, there is no one around, the Herk diappears down the PSP does a 180 and is in to the overcast in seconds.We hear low flying jets and I think how can jets be flying below this OVC at nite.Its not jets its 152mm artillery being fired at the airfield from across the DMZ by the NVA.12 rounds mostly down the strip but one close enough to ping sharpnel off the stacked aluminum pallets we take over behind.I'll never forget that night or that aircraft commander-what a gutsy professional. whoever you were you were brave-some of the toughest flying conditions I have ever seen(I later became an Army pilot).You C-130 and C-123 pilots were tough heroes who earned my respect- I salute you years later!

here is a web site that is about the 8th aps mobility section..please check it out thanks,,, www.8thmob.org jim

Hey Jim,
I knew a few guys in the 50th, but we didn't fly with them. Sorry--I didn't know him.
Alan

hi alan...great site...i was with the 8th aerial port sq. mobility section...i had some great friend who were on the 719. my son is station at the rock (lit). he works on all the old vietnam E models..he tells me that they are getting old and tired...wonder why..got a question, do you know a loadmaster my the name of bert curry...he was with the 50th at cck in 71.

Creat reading. I was a loadmaster in the 774TAS from Jan 70 to Mar 71. Flew A models out of Lackbourn AFB and E models at Pope. I quit fling in 1972. The C-130 is the best.

I started my career as a loadmaster with the 14 MAS out of Norton AFB, on C-141A and later became a Aerialport Load. Alan, thanks for the memories and the great website. Was in country at the same time but out of Clark AB and Naha AB instead. Great Job!

Alan, thanks for this website! Altho we served in different squadrons, your CCK experiences pretty much parallel mine. Good job!

I was an Army pilot flying U-21's during 69/70 part of the time hauling beer and cokes, pigs and slopes to all of the wonderful destinations that you outline at your site. Brought back many memories...logged over 1000 hours in country with lots of minimum approaches. I still marvel that there were not more mid-airs. We also had a intel mission that was all night time over bad guy country in support of the special forces folks. I once tried a buddy start behind a C-130 at Bien Hoa...never did get my 8% before I went airborne... Didn't try that again..LOL. Again thanks for the Memories

I was one of four ops at Hilda Radio beginning 16 Dec 1970. After reading the tales from this site, I realized I could well have been one to relay instructions to Alan. The world just got smaller.

Hi Bob,

Yes, I flew C-130E's and C-141A's. I don't know about 8088--tell me the story.

Alan

Enjoyed the stories....was 774th 59-62....A's and B's....From the looks of the fuel panel you were flying E's....Worked trans maint @ Hickam 64-67 maybe worked your 141. Was there when 8088 was first to land. She blew 3 MLG tires and there were zero in the system.

Hi Joseph,

Thanks for stopping by! Pass the word on to your buddies. The 50th was one of four flying squadrons at CCK back in the day and I had many friends in the 50th--see http://vietnamairlift.com/sach.html. My hat's off to you guys who are still flying big birds into little airfields. Which things have changed and which remain the same? Alan

Im a flight engineer in the 50th AS, deployed right now supporting OIF and OEF, just wanted to say I enjoyed reading all your posts and stories, funny so many years later we still encounter so many of the same problems and hick-ups that your crew and Im sure many other did. And still flying some of the exact same aircraft, some tail numbers you mentioned we are still flying strong to this day.

Marty, The USAF probably still has those records SOMEWHERE. FYI, Phan Rang was a 10,000' runway used by F-100's--not a place we needed to make assault landings. Maybe another place? See http://vietnamairlift.com/googlemaps.html

Alan,

I flew on Acft 644, 774 TAS, on 11/22/67 from Mactan to Clark to Phan Rang to TSN. The aircraft sustained some damage while making an assault landing at Phan Rang Air Base that day. Is there a way to obtain a copy of the flight log and aircraft damage report publicly? I bet they would be interesting to read. I know you have published these items from your own records periodically. I know that this plane was lost nearly a year later on 11/28/68 while landing at Tonle Cham.

I always enjoy visiting your website to see what new stories you have published. I've got it bookmarked.

Thanks!

I grew up with Bruno Fronzaglio in Donora, Pa and we talk on the phone about once a month. We ran around together. You couldn't have had a better mechanic, we kept those 1937 $50.00 automobiles going in High School.Bruno and I were in Munich Germany together until the Air Force kidnapped him and sent him to Tripoli.

Thanks, Bruno. Fittingly, you are the first person to use the new address book!

Alan