EC-47 Crewmembers, Front and Back, Roster

Kenneth Batson says, I was a SSgt with the 6994th SS at Tan Son Nhut and Hue Phu Bia from September 1967 to September 1968 and flew over 200 missions in the various EC-47's. Received the Air Medal during my service there. Says "No where have I found reference to the 19 or so Airmen who served with me a Hue Phu Bia.

The base came under almost daily attack from mortars and 122 rockets. We came under heavy ground attack during th Tet offensive of 1968 and had to evacuate to Nha Trang. Says he would appreciate it if anyone can identify the other guy in the photo with him on the 'Photos Page'. He has some duty rosters assigning crews to flights and areas from his time at Tan Son Nhut. Is also very interested in finding out the name of a Captain who worked there in Squadron HQ (located inside the 5th AF HQ). He had crew cut blonde hair, about 6ft tall and he had Jump wings as well as Air Crew badge and pilots wings. If you can help, let him know. Kenneth now lives in Denver Colorado and would welcome contact from any of the crewmembers, front and back.

Stan Poyas says, I served with the 6994th in Vietnam in 1969/70 at Pleiku, DaNang and at PhuCat for 18 months. I was in Bravo Maintenance and also flew mission in the area. Returned again in 1973 to NKP, Thailand for another tour and moved to Ubon until we quit our operations in May of 1974. Stan has some photos of the last flying day on the Silent Warriors Website created by Airlee Owens Sept. 97. There is a link to this site on my links page.
Stan's Email Address: [email protected]

Col. Paul Arnett says, I was the Aircraft Maintenance Officer for the 361st TEWS from March of 1968 to October of 1969. I think he is going to provide some photos soon. And I am sure a little more information for this block. I believe he is still on active duty and presently teaching at an ROTC unit, I will not mention here.

Paul's Email Address is: parnett1(at)cox.net

Bill Gucciardo had a unique tour with the 361st TEWS. Bill was a Crew Chief and says his father was a Bombardier in WW-2 in Italy. The Pilot his father flew with actually ended up as a Pilot in teh 361st. Says they had many good times together.

Fred E. Sanders says, I flew with the 360th TEWS at Tan Son Nhut for about a year beginning in August 1967. He was the Wing Flight Examiner. Fred says he remembers a couple of the fellows from the 361st. One by the name of Jim Stoke, and another, last name Smith but says he cannot recall his first name. Fred is now a retired SMSgt living in Destin Florida, just outside Eglin AFB. I am sure glad he showed up, now I know I am not the only Flight Mechanic that is still around. Just joking, but I was beginning to wander where they were.
June 8th, 98. More information from Fred. Says he knows 2 more of the guys living in the Destin Area from the 67/68 era. a James R. Kesterson and a Joseph Snodgrass, says also there are several from later groups. I feel better allready. J.C.

L. Gordon Bassett, Says he served as a Pilot/Aircraft commander as a Lieutenant with the 362nd TEWS at Pleiku from June 68 to June 69. Had several TDY's to NKP and Ubon Thailand and flew missions over the northern parts of Laos.

Gordan's Email Address: gbassett(at)tampabay.rr.com

Bill Petrie says, I was a Buck Sergeant, AFSC A43151A, A Crewchief/Mechanic with the 360th TEWS at Tan Son Nhut in 1968. He says he spent most of his time up in Hue/Phu Bai attached to the Army's 8 R&R (Rock&Roll) Radio Research Company on the RU-8 aircraft. This unit flew missions similar to the missions of the TEWS. Bill is responsible for some of the nose-art on the EC-47's. The "Pink Panther", "Snuffy Smith", "Arkansas Razorback", "Buzz Off" and "Patches" were some of his handy work. Says he remembers a SSgt or TSgt Booker.
Bill Retired a CMSgt. See The War Story Page for a little more from Bill.

Bill's Email Address is: retcmsgt(at)cox.net

Dave Abel provided the following today, 26 June, 98. Dave says, I was assigned to Det. 2, 6994th Security Squadron at Da Nang from January 71 to January 72. He was an Airborne Electronics Warfare Repairman with the AFSC 301x5. Says he flew 50 missions. His maintenance shop was called "Bravo Maintenance". Thanks Dave, good to have you join us.

Joe Martin, a source of much of the information on this website. How could I have overlooked him as being one of the EC-47 Crewmembers. With all the data he has supplied, Joe I am truly sorry it took me so long to wake up.
This is Joe's block. Joe say's, I was a 292X1 Morse Intercept Operator with the 6981st Sct Gp (Elmendorf AFB) from Dec 1967-Nov 1969 and after TDY to Goodfellow, survival schools at Fairchild and Clark AFBs, served with the 6994th Scty Sqn (Tan Son Nhut) from early Feb 70 to 11 DEC 71 when I returned to CONUS for discharge. I was also TDY to the detachments at NKP and Phu Cat. During the last months of my VN tour I was an IRO in the 6994th group charged with "Vietnamization" of the ARDF effort, orienting ARVN [not VNAF] Morse operators to take over our mission.
I've been a Quality/Manufacturing engineer for the past 20 years or so and currently work at AlliedSignal Engines (formerly Garrett AiResearch) in Phoenix. I hope to piece together an accurate and detailed history of the EC-47 (rather than just the 6994th) and perhaps publish an article in one of the "slicker" aviation magazines.
I'm sure your site will help me fill in the blanks! Regards, Joe Martin

Harold R. Lagasse, Deceased. Major Lagasse, retired in 1969 as a Lt. Col. He was my Pilot in the 361st TEWS. We crewed up together in New Hampshire in August 1966, ferried an EC-47 to Tan Son Nhut then moved up to Nha Trang. We flew together as a crew the entire year. I had not seen him since our return in 67. I did locate him via Lt. Col. Hinkle, our Aircraft Commander, in Scottsdale, AZ.
Joe Martin, who lives in Pheonix looked up Lagasse's phone number for me an emailed it to me about an hour ago. I called, but I was a couple of months to late. I had learned he had been diagnosed in November with cancer and through his widow just a few minutes ago that he passed away on 17 April, this year,1998, at the age of 69. We had a good visit lasting about 25 minutes and she approved of me putting this notice on the website.

This was the hardest personal data block I have had to do yet, even moreso than that of my cousin, John Baskin. J.C. 26 June, 1998

Frank E. Hinkle, Lt. Col. Arrived at Tan Son Nhut in early September, 1966 after crossing the Pacific in an EC-47, ferried from Grenier Field New Hampshire. He remained at TSN in the 360th TEWS for about 6 weeks then moved up to Nha Trang to help set up the new squadron, the 361st TEWS. He took along with him, Maj. Harold R. Lagasse Pilot, Capt. Robert M. Harris Navigator and SSgt James C. Wheeler Flight Mechanic, all members of his Ferry Flight Crew. He would spend the remainder of his tour as Stanboard Pilot and Aircraft Commander, with the 361st and keep his crew intact, fly together and come home together. He is now retired, living in Arizona. No E-mail address.

Robert M. Harris, Capt. Arrived at Tan Son Nhut in early September, 1966 after crossing the Pacific in an EC-47, ferried from Grenier Field New Hampshire. He remained at TSN in the 360th TEWS for about 6 weeks then moved up to Nha Trang to help set up the new squadron, the 361st TEWS. He became Standboard Navigator, flew with the same crew the entire tour. He retired a Lt. Col. and is now retired and living in Arkansas. No E-Mail address.

Darwin R. Bruce, SSgt was assigned to the 6994th Security Squadron at Tan Son Nhut in 1966-67. Says I Flew the JC-47D (43-16254) (Drill Press) with "crash" O'Malley Lt Col John Brotherton, Maj Weathersby, SSgt Jerome Cotten (deceased), SSgt Joe Dennison, SSgt Byron J. Boekel, A1C Eugene Ross. I can't find a record of the Lingy on our flight. I learned my RA202X0-L trade from Carroll (Chief) Miller (deceased). Chief and I remained in touch until his death. Col Robert L. Wallander was the first full time commander of the 6994th. He and I still correspond. Maj Fisher (deceased) was the Ops Officer. MSgt Tony Z. Odom was the NCOIC after "Chief" Miller transferred back to AFSCC. Here's a few more names I remmeber from the Drill Press Project: A1C Ed Klem, TSgt Troy Little, TSgt Johnston (Turk) Claire, SSgt Bob Lovett, A1c Ken Klann, A1C Russ Raymond, A1c Dave Sothard, A1C John Fitzpatrick. That's all I could find from my old records.
Darwin's Email Address is: bruced(at)embarqmail.com

Jim Kesterson, says I was assigned to the 360th TEWS at Tan Son Nhut from July 4, 1967 until July 1968. I was an Instructor Flight Mechanic and spent a lot of time with the 362nd TEWS at Pleiku and even more time up country, at Hue PhuBai. Returned to Scott AFB, Illinois and flew the DC-9 Air Evac. Later went in to the First Sergeant Field. Am now living in Destin, Florida. No E-mail address.

John writes, In July 1969 I was sent to Eglin AFB to fam school for the Douglas A-1E Skyraider. But in true military fashion when I arrived in Viet Nam in Sept 1969, I was a bit suprised to be assigned to the 362nd TEWS at Pleiku and that I would be working on EC-47's.
For the first few months, I was assigned to the flight line crew. Later I was assigned to the Phase Dock crew. During a phased inspection, the aircraft is given a very thorough going over. All access doors and panels are opened and things that are not normally checked during pre and post flight inspections are addressed. Things like flight control rigging, landing gear wheel and brake assemblies were taken apart and checked, the floorboards were taken up, and the control wires given a liberal of dose of CPC (corrosion preventative compound, a black foul smelling gunk that looked like tar). The best thing about the phase dock was that we worked under a roof.
One of the more unusual duties I was subject to was Security Police augmentee. All of the lower enlisted grades (E1 thru E4) had to pull this duty one or two nights a month. At 2100 hours, we reported to the SP compound, drew a M 16, got on a flatbed truck and were dispersed to sandbag bunkers around the perimeter of the base. It wasnt very heartening to be told "Dont worry, the VC wont try to kill you on their way in, but they will on their way out!" Around 0600 we were picked up. At least we were given the next day off.
About June or July 1970 the squadron was moved to DaNang AB. I liked DaNang much better than Pleiku. It was a much bigger base, with better facilities, both for maintainance work and off duty hours as well. I also felt much safer there too because of a large Marine base that was nearby. All in all, as I think back about my tour, I feel honored and fortunate to have been given the opportunity to have worked such a classic and beloved airplane.
John Fuertinger

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William W. (Bill) Watters had the following SEA tour data to share. I was stationed with the 6994th Security Sq. at Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Saigon from Jan. to Dec '72 as a young SSgt. Flew over 150 combat missions in the EC-47 Combat Cougar/ Combat Cross as an Operator, Instructor (IRO), Airborne Mission Supervisor (AMS) until the program was turned over to the VNAF/ARVN.
It was the most challenging and rewarding assignment in my 24 year 3 month Air Force career. I was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and four Air Medals along with some unit awards. Most of my tour in Vietnam is etched in my memories; however, some names have faded. Lt. Col. McMakin was the 6994th commander when I arrived and Major Dave Eddy succeeded him a few months later. MSgt Bill Marshall, NCOIC of Airborne Ops, a friend named Frank Adams, a few others were the last 94th personnel to leave Saigon in mid December 1972 after the Headquarters was moved to NKP, Thailand.
Several airborne ops and maintenance techs took follow on assignments to the 6990th Security Group in Okinawa to fly Combat Apple / Burning Candy missions. I'm very much appreciative of this website for paying tribute to those who flew and supported the little known "Electric Goon" missions in Southeast Asia during that war. It's nice to get however little public recognition.
Bill's Web-Site is:My Air Force Experience

Robert (Bob) Patzelt says, I was a Crew Chief with the 360th TEWS, & Combat Cougar, February 1970-71. Attended the reunion at Andrews AFB a few years back.

Bob's Email Address: patzelt(at)charter.net

David (Dave) Liebergot supplied the following information about his tour.
I Found you by accident today while looking for some other AF info. I was assigned to the 6994th from Aug 70-Aug 71 as an Intercept Analyst. While I was there, analysts were added to the flying program, so I got to be in the initial group of trainees.
By the way, Troz and I probably worked together while we were there. In addition to flying, I was a primary intel briefer when I was not flying and an instructor after about my 15th mission.
Ended up flying 56 missions out of Ton Son Nhut. My memories of those times are very vivid to include the 360th mascot who attended all of our briefings and ate the crummy chicken the in-flight kitchen put in the box lunches, aircraft 009 clipping it's starboard wing on a take-off, one of my aircraft loosing an engine in Cambodia, then watching as the other started smoking when we neared the Parrot's Beak on the way back to Saigon. We landed that day at Tay Nihn AAF. Great hamburger lunch! By the way, the only front end guy I remember was 1lt Frenchie Rondeau. He was the pilot on the aforementioned emergency landing.
My best friend from when we were stationed in Germany at the 6910th was MSgt Monte Pettit, who was at TSN with me. We were room mates there and flew a few missions together. He was a white knuckler but ended up flying over 150 missions if I remember correctly. One other note, Monte Pettit and I were stationed with TSgt Lou Cleaver at the 6910. Lou was on the flight that lost the wing, and nosed into the ground in the jungle.
There is lots more in my memory but I don't want to bore you. I will stop by again. One last note, I am still on active duty (35 years in Sept) and assigned to the On-Site Inspection Agency at Rhein-Main AB in Frankfurt Germany. Great work you are doing here. Hope to see more.

Glen Germany sent this information in today, 12 Aug. 98. Says he was assigned to Detachment 2, 6994th Security Squadron at DaNang in 1971. Says he was a Sgt. at that time. He is interested in locating some of the folks he worked with.
Glen's

Received from Steve Sohn, Sunday, August 16, 1998
Whoa! Knock me down! I left in Dec 69, and I remember many of the guys you have listed in the 362d. What a trip! Wish I could do much of it over again. I was the last guy to sleep in the RMK (alone) at Pleiku, since everyone else moved to the new quarters and I was derosing the next day. What a night. What a time!
I arrived in country a First Lieutenant and flew as Co-Pilot. Passed my check ride for Aircraft Commander an got curtailed. Left as a First Lieutenant.
The guy with me in the Typhoon Tess picture was Mike Lane, the Messhall Officer, whose stuff I was forever scrounging or swiping to cater our parties. It was rough when we invited him to the parties, and he asked where we got the food from because it tasted better than his.
Steve also confirmed that the Photo of the EC-47 crash in the water was the one that lost an engine on takeoff from NKP Thailand. Co-pilot received a broken leg.

Steve's Web-Site

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Bob Washburn sent in this information on his tour on Monday, August 17, 1998.
As a Z-1 crew member on 128 missions out of TSN from January 20, 1971 until January 1, 72. I arrived as an A1c and left a Sgt (Maybe should read SSgt) I have a hundred or so photos of or from Electric Goons. A quick look through the album finds: Fini flight dousing 072 and 491 tail numbers unfortunately no clue as to crew members. 871 in flight including a great shot with foreground of unknown EC47 wing at sunset. 702 in flight - 814 on the ground TSN - 979 in flight and Phnom Penh Airport from air.
We did an emergency landing and an overnight. Lost radar on a late evening flight. Storm between us and base, pilot reported low oil pressure #2 engine. Phnom Penh airport closes at dusk. We buzzed the runway and did a one engine landing. Pulled off the runway and waited. Eventually someone rode up on a bicycle. One of the Vietnamese trainees on the flight spoke to him in French and he rode off. Half an hour later a truck shows up with a home made drag bar and pulled us over to the military side. Air attache was not happy to see us. Next day they brought in a recovery plane. Mechanics could not reproduce the low oil pressure condition and we flew back to TSN.
I'll try scanning a few and see how they come out.
Bob's Email Address: washburns(at)charter.net

Jim Lamont sent me the follow today, 21 August, 1998. I went to Tan Son Nhut (6994th) in June (I think) of 1968 and flew my first mission in Aircraft tail number "009" or "balls 9" as it was referred to. After passing my 10 flight orientation, went on to the norm of doing at least one mission every two days for the next 2+ years. I flew missions out of all of the Detachments (Pleiku - Phu Cat - NKP) and more than I can remember out of Saigon. For my last 6 months before leaving in October 1970, I was the Senior SEFE (Stan-Eval-Flight-Examiner) for the 6994th and did many a flight check out of all the Dets on other subordinate SEFEs.
I flew many missions throughout III and IV corps and a few out of the corps assigned to Dets I and II. NKP was my favorite with the daytime missions into the Plain of Jars and Upper Steel Tiger. Clearly remember one mission when we had engine problems and got an escort back to NKP from the adversary (NKP units) Jolly Green Choppers and A1-Es who laughed us out of the club that night. Learned that day that a Jolly Green could out-fly us. Nobody wants to admit that a twin engine aircraft (with 1850 HP engines) couldn't keep up with a damn helicopter.
I retired in 1981 (E-7) and now live in Las Vegas, Nevada.
If there is anything I can do to add to your information gathering task, let me know. Your mention of the Q and Z birds sure brought back memories although I always preferred sitting X but I was good at all positions except, of course, the spot occupied by the happy language boys.
I was also assigned to the evacuation effort of Saigon during the last 3 days working out of the old MACV gym processing refugees and others and could provide you with some interesting info if you are interested. I left at approximately 7:00pm the night before the fall (29 April 1975) on a C-130 loaded with 250 Vietnamese, 1 retired AF Colonel, myself, and the assigned crew of 4. The 4+ hour flight to Clark AB was more fun than I care to remember.

Tom Glass says, I arrived in Tan Son Nhut in July of 1970 as a 292x1 from RAF Chicksands. Served in TSN as a radio operator, AMS, and IRO during my tour. I ended up with 180 missions, the most "memorable" on being on May 16 71 when we lost the left engine, and the pilot feathered the right engine and couldn't get it started again. The words still live on, "Everbody get your damn chutes on and get ready to go!" Luckily we made it to Tay Ninh, and then TSN sent a bird to pick us up. A lot of good times and great people! Departed for home in June of 71. As I talk to more people, more names of friends keep coming back. Thanks for the memories!!

L. D. (Vern) Holm says I am from Parkersburg, Iowa. Was a Sergeant with Det. 2 of the 6994th SS (DaNang) from July, 1970 to June, 1971. Flew 126 missions. Arrived at DaNang about the same time as Todd Melton who was also at DaNang (he was just out of tech school). Played a lot of cards with Todd and others. Roommates were Jimmy Godsey (Kansas) and Phil Pratt (Muscogee, Oklahoma) now of Albuguerque. Hello to Tom Yunker, Tom Glass, Phil Pratt, Mel Saltz, Charlie McGee, Perry Kaupa, Hy Brock, Jimmy Godsey, Wayne Ricks and all my other friends from DaNang. If anyone comes across this, please correspond.
For your info, my father was a Corporal with the 60th Coast Artillery (AA), Battery Chicago stationed on Corregidor, P.I. and was captured on May 6, 1942. He spent 3+ years as a POW at Bilibid (Manila), Camp O'Donnell and Palawan (all P.I.), and Funatsu, Japan. Your web site was passed along to me by Phil Pratt this evening in a phone conversation. We were roommates for 8 months at DaNang.
Vern's Email Address: bluestemwine(at)mchsi.com

Bob Looney says, I was a pilot in the 360th at Tan Son Nhut from Mar 1971 to Mar 1972. Bob Bonn, Jim Lashua, and I arrived about the same time and were pretty close throughout the year (in fact, I named my #2 son James Robert after the two of them).

Phil Pratt says, I was an RO with Detachment 2, 6994th Security Service at Da Nang from May, 1970 until May, 1971,
Phil's Email Address: phil53m(at)juno.com
Phil now lives in Norman Oklahoma.

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