Again, we were not the first crew to arrive but we were again, one of the first.  And again, we were instrumental in setting up another squadron, the 361st.

I was among those who aquired the plywood used to build our briefing  or ready room as well as our operations office. We used and old trick learned from the movie "No Time For Sergeeants", with Andy Griffith, to aquire not only this, but many of the other items needed by a new operation.

While at Nha Trang, I lived off base in downtown at Number Two Mei Lien, along with five other members of our unit.  One of these was SSgt Ken Evans, Wonder where Ken is today, would love to hear from him.  There was no glass in any of the windows, only screens.  You Did Need a misquito net over you bed at night, lest ye be carried away during the night.  You also had to be on the alert for the "Cowboys", as the local burglars and thieves were known.  They were very proficient in their trade and got us for everything they could carry early one morning, while one man still slept in the house.

Each member of our crew, including myself, became Stanboard Flight Examiners on the EC-47's for our respective flight crew position.  For the most part, we flew together as a crew, only occassionally would one of us have to fly with another crew.  I would normally give another flight mechanic an evaluation while he performed the flight mechanic's duties while flying with my crew.  We flew 114 Combat Reconnaissance Missions for a total of 610 hours flying time.  We rarely if ever had to abort a mission for the basic aircraft and only a few times for the additional special equipment.

We took no foolish chances, doing what was necessary plus whatever it took, short of foolishness or stupidity to accomplish the mission.  Each member of our flight crew could, and did, with some degree of proficiency, operate at any other flight crew position, in preparation, heaven forbid, the need should arrise.

It was for my duties and performance here, that I was awarded the

"Enlisted History Research Project"

Now, Back to the World, Off to 19th at Kelly AFB.