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Don Dennis says, Excellent Web Page. Brougnt back loads of memories. I was an inertial/doppler radar tech on the EC-47's. I was also airborne maintenace along with SSgt Richard Williamson in Nam in 71 and 72 at Tan Son Nhut. I also worked the EC,s out of NKP in Ubon along with the AC 130,s in 73. The system we worked on was out of a 707 and put in a 47, where the ground speed was usually less than a 110 which was the landing speed of a 707. We got a lot of "Red Balls" for the EC,s for maintenance especially after they pulled the Americans off the birds and put Viet's in as crews. I had 10 Viets to train and I had 9 of the best. I spent my first 4 years with USAFSS before I crosstrained into electronics. Keep up the good work and heres to all you EC-47 and AC-130 Spectre troops. I respect you all. Retired with 25. I'll definetly revisit. Take care. Don's Email Address: dondedon5 (at) myway.com
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Henry Cremer in a letter this morning says, I was assigned to the 360th TEWS in 1966, before there were any aircraft there. He became the Crew Chief on the First EC-47 to arrive at Tan Son Nhut. Henry was a close friend of a friend of mine at Nha Trang, SSgt Prentice "Pat" Brenton, Flight Mechanic on ill-fated Tide 86 on March 9th, 1967. Henry's Email Address: bluemax2(at)comcast.net
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Steve Transue in signing my guestbook today, left the following information. Steve Steve's Email Address: [email protected]
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J.D. Smith served a tour flying the EC-47's in the 360th TEWS at Tan Son Nhut
in 1970-71. Says he has some photos to share soon. Says I have a photo of my
finni flite, that is an EC-47 with a drag chute. Says I had it tied on to the
tail wheel an threw it out after we cleared the runway. We taxied all over
Tan Son Nhut and stopped all work when we taxied thru the F-4 revetments.
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Received 23, April 1999 from Lewis B. "Lew" Davis Lewis B. Davis says he was a Flight Mechanic, stationed with the 360th TEWS at Tan Son Nhut from January, 1968 thru December, 1968. Lew says, I was a crew chief/Flt mech on 43-48158 at Maxwell AFB in 1962. I was part or the crew that ferried it to the bone yard (Davis Montham) prior to 1963 when I left for the Philippines. I was with the 360 TEWS from Jan. 68 to thru December 68. While with the 360th I was sent TDY to Pleiku, and sure enough one morning at preflight briefing found out the tail No. of our plane that day was 158. It had a one piece plastic windshield at the pilots side. While at Maxwell I had started ordering parts to replace the plastic but it was still there when I flew it in 1968. I really love this web site and if I can ever get off my butt and go thru my fotos I might be able to get some pict for you. Sincerely, Lew Davis Lew's Email Address is: Fortwaltonbeac8(at)aol.com
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John Galleazzi says, I served as an EC-47 Nav and IN with the 361st TEWS at Phu Cat, RVN from august, 1970 through August, 1971. I enjoyed your site and am glad to see that some of what we did is finally getting recognition. I was particularly pleased to see the reference to "Project Phyllis Ann", as I am interested in compiling a "history" of the TEW squadrons and ARDF in the Viet Nam war. Any information you have would be appreciated. Thanks again for making this site possible. Email Address: jgalleazzi(at)verizon.net
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James Dobbs was a 1st Lt. at the 362nd at Pleiku from February 68, just after TET, to January 69. He got almost 1000 hours flying the EC-47s as Pilot. Says some of those goonies were older than he, a 1st Lt. just out of flight school. Says, we lost one plane, with a crew of 10, and one got hit in the right wing by a 37mm. Says, I was the co-pilot on the one that crashed on take-off on December 31, 1968, because a halon fire extinguisher discharged into the cockpit which blinded the pilot an me when the tail wheel had just gotten airborne and he lost control. Continues, We departed the runway to the left, headed East, and went over the bank behind the tower. Crossing the road we made a convertible out of a pickup truck, and almost went through a warehouse. We all got out when the main gear hit a culvert, collapsed and spun the aircraft around, tore the right engine off and started a fire. I thought I was dead, but got out with only minor scratches as did every one else.
No E-mail address for Jim Yet.
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Rick Hand writes, I really enjoyed your site. You've done a remarkable job gathering all the info and researching the history of the TEWS and USAFSS and their use of the EC-47. As a SSgt, I was involved in the Combat Cougar program from July 4, 1967 until mid-1968, then again From 1970 to Feb. 6, 1972. I began with the 6994th SS at Tan Son Nhut. I was a "lowly" ground support analyst. On occasion they would give us "ground pounders" thrill rides. My first ride was in "Balls 9," the bird who had run across the infield at TSN on takeoff and clipped it's wing off on a fuel truck - something about the locking the old tailwheel. After a month or so at TSN I got elected to go out and liase with the ASA. Kind of a permanent TDY to make sure the ASA ground sites were giving us "stuff." I was there with the 175th Radio Research Co. until late May of 1968. I left the 6994th one year to the day after I got there (I traded my helmet, army TA-50 gear and my flak vest to a clerk for a July 4 portcall. I eventually ended up at HQ USAFSS at Kelly working for Col. Pappy Wallander, Major Dave Eddy, and Capt. Harold Businger. Chief Carrol Miller was also in and out of USAFSS and he convinced me to go back to Vietnam with him (TDY to Det. 1 at Nha Trang) to work on some targeting projects that we had been involved with working with ASA troops while at Bien Hoa. (That whole ASA thing rose out of, I think, the ASA's preference in giving the ASA ARDF (aural null birds) better intell for targeting than we had...I may be wrong. I often am.) We went in March of 69. Carrol stayed there - Vietnam was his favorite place in the world. I came back to USAFSS in July of 69. One of the people I ran into there was the CG's aide, 1LT James Clapper. We spent some time talking about ARDF. He would eventually take the helm of Det. 3, 6994th at Nakhon Phanom. (He would later retire as LT GEN Clapper, Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency. In August of 1970 he invited me to join him there and I did - Aug. 4, 1970 to Feb. 6, 1972. I left USAFSS then to accept a commission in the Army Reserve. While undergoing infantry training at Ft. Benning, GA I would learn from "Major Clapper" that John Ryon, my replacement had perished in the crash of a goon out of NKP. John was a great guy who wanted more than anything to be a backend flying 202. He returned to the states, took the altitude chamber stuff, and survival school at Fairchild, and returned as a flying 202 at Det. 3. It was a very hard day rubbing his name on The Wall last December. Also injured in that crash was my best friend in USAFSS - Paul Weyandt. He was a super X operator who had flown about nine zillion missions at the 6994th and Det 3. He would survive only to die in an auto wreck in the PI. I've gone on too long. Again, I commend your work, your site, and the memories - wonderful and sad - of the goonie bird in combat in SEA. (I once told my wife that I never flew on a goonie bird that was younger than I was). Thanks for the memories. Rick Hand (TEWS/USAFSS people can join the Freedom Through Vigilance Association. Their email is [email protected] Many ARDF types are in the assoc.
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Nikali "Nik" Carl Boldrin, writes, I was an E-4 with the 360th TEWS at Tan Son Nhut. I was a Technician in the Radar-Nav shop on night shift from September 1967 - September 1968. Did a lot of work on the doppler systems. Nik has a couple of chapters of his book, Sitting Duck, in the war stories section.
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Tuesday, September 22, 1998 7:45 PM Doug Milton says; Hi, I served with the 6994th Security Squadron from June of 68 thru May 69, arriving at Nha Trang and ferrying to and from Pleiku, flying lots of missions as a 203 occupying the Z1 position. Many memories. I remember Sgts Gott, McNeil, Farley, VanZandt, Klemme, Al Martinez, and Koepke.
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Doug Campbell says; I served with the 6994th Security Squadron from August of 66 to February 68. Says he arrived at Det.1 at Nha Trang before there were any aircraft there. Got his ground training at Tan Son Nhut. Says he and Jim VanScooter were aboard the first aircraft brought up from Tan Son Nhut to Nha Trang.
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Richard J. Burda says, I was a backender at Tan Son Nhut and Phu Cat on the EC-47's in 1971-1972. Great mission, a great 30 year career and the highlight was the flying in Vietnam. Hope to have more on Richard soon, J.C.
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Rick Yeh says, This site brings back a lot of memories and is a great source of information on our mission in SEA. I was a 207 AMS ditty bop at Det 3 in NKP from Nov 71/72, but was mostly known as "Ho Chi" (as I was christened by my IRO-- Skeeter Dickerson on my Cherry ride). I found this site looking for info on Baron 52. I had left NKP only a week before we lost the plane. As I surfed the site, I noted that you didn't have many pictures of Det 3, so I plan to send a couple of shots I have recently digitized. I hope you can use them. I think you've done a great job with this site, and I've downloaded a lot of your articles about the ARDF program and the Baron 52 shootdown, as they are excellent descriptions of what we could never talk about until now, and of course are a great part of my personal history. Hope to visit this site many more times in the future. Rick's Email Address: blk67cougar(at)comcast.net
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Frank Dayton says, I served with the 6994th from Dec.'69 thru Nov.'70 as a 292. I started my tour at Pleiku and went to Phu Cat when we turned Pleiku over to the Vietnamese. I also spent a two or three week TDYat N.K.P., so I got to see a lot of the organization and meet a lotof great people during my 11+ monthes in country. I feel very proud of my service there and today it provides me some of my greatest memories and personal accomplishments. I'd really like to hear for some of the friends I made during that time. Don Adam, Dave "Hippy" Holt, John Callahan are a few of many. If anyone has info of their whereabouts, please contact me. By the way, you've really got a great website. Keep up the good work. Your efforts certainly show.
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Chon T. Pham writes, I was one of the first six VietNamese Navigators who were sent to 360TEWS for training in early 1972. My IN name was Major Pannel and I wish to have a chance to talk with him again. I found out your web site by Mr. Joe Martin. I was really enjoyed every single page. At least I still have something to remember and to forget. Thanks and keep up the good work. PTC/Sky Dragon 718TEWS. Chon's Email Address: May718(at)netscape.com
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Richard (Dick) Kale says, I was assigned to the 94th in 1970 & 71. When assigened, we were short people, so after my cherry flight, I was made IRO, one month later, was put in Stan Eval. Along with Capt. Collins, Bob Scofield, Homer D. Reynolds, and two other operators, we started up the Vietnamization program. I checked out the first of these flights, not only did we loose an engine, but the day before, we lost the other one, sort of hairy, but all turned out well. I was only in country 10 months, but did fly 149 missions. I was known as Kale and his munchkins. Tks Dick Kale
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Ernest L. Short says, Great site. Your site brings back a lot of memories. As a Captain, I was assigned as the first Commander, Det 2, 6994th at Pleiku in the summer of 1966. Unfortunately when I arrived at Pleiku, I was the sole member of the Det. Thanks to Jack Crook (The only member of 362nd TEWS), who also had no aircraft, I felt right at home. I have a book titled "The Longest Year" which has all of the 362nd TEWS personnel during the 66-68 time period. Ernest also has a list of all the original members of Det. 2 Ernie's Email Address is: eshort1(at)satx.rr.com
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Dick Aufiero says, I was a crew chief with the 360th TEWS at Tan Son Nhut and crewed the VC-47 number 44-77284. Great site, brings back lots of memories, keep it up. Dick's Email Address: DAA050(at)COMCAST.NER
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Edward J. "Jim" Maloney says, I was a Lieutenant with the 360th TEWS at Tan Son Nhut from September, 1971 to September, 1972. Jim's Email Address is: jim(at)maloney.com
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Robert Benzon, says, Whew! I was beginning to wonder if I ever did serve in a TEWS unit! Not much in the history books about what we did over there. I served as a 2nd Lt, then 1st Lt copilot in the 362 TEWS at DaNang AB during 1972 and 1973. We closed the unit down several months after the spring of 1973 cease fire agreement. Interestingly, we continued to fly missions from DaNang after the cease fire with South Vietnamese markings on the airplanes. I never did fully understand that little maneuver. I went on to fly as a copilot and aircraft commander in KC-135s, shot through the ranks to Captain, and went off active duty in 1980 or so. I'm now an aircraft accident investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board. Your web site is extremely interesting. It brings back memories, good and bad, and is teaching me things I never even really knew about the history of the mission and the mission itself. Please keep up the good work. I would be happy to hear from any old friends.
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Walter Palmer say's I was stationed at Nha Trang, 1968-69 with the 6994th SS, Det.1 as the Operations NCO and flew 205 missions in the EC-47's. The commanding officer at the time was Lt. Col Raymond H.Rade. I would like to hear from anyone that worked for me at Nha Trang. They all were the finest bunch of NCO's and airmen that you will ever find. Would also like to hear from Lt. Col. Raymond H. Rade and Major Grover Jackson. Retired in 1970 and live in the Poconos in PA.
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Mike Keller says I was a First Lieutenant and was a Navigator with the 362nd TEWS from November 1967 to November 1968.
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Received from Bob Brown.
During the year of 1969 I had the pleasure of flying with some great guys.
Anyone who might remember me and would like to say hello please do by e-mail.
So glad to see Walt Palmer is still with us! Teddy Costello and I are the
only ones I know of in the Orlando, Florida area. Sure would be good to hear
from y'all.
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Michael D. Lee sent the following information on his tour in SEA. I Arrived RVN Cam-Ranh Bay, flew north to Phu Cat on C-123. First afternoon "Charles" welcomed me to Phu Cat with my first rocket attack. I was a Sgt and was Assigned to the Phase Dock of the 361st TEWS. On 16 Oct-71 I was flown north to Da Nang on advanced party to merge some of our "GOONS" into the 362nd TEWS. I remained in the Phase Dock at the 362nd TEWS until DEROS in 1972. The pride that I developed in these two squadrons is still with me in everything I do today.
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Al Budington served with the 6994th as a 292x1, Morse Intercept operator on the "Back End Crew", can't recall the exact dates but late 72 to late 73. Should have a little more on Al soon. My AO is dated 03 Jan 1973, (cant find my original assignment orders with RNLT date, so assume was December 1972 sometime), flew my first flight on 07 Jan 1973 on EC47N #665, as Radio Operator. Somebody made me Airborne Mission Supervisor in July of 1973, and I flew my 129th mission and my fini flight on November 30 in EC47Q #087- dont have any harrowing tales to tell, I can remember a few IFE's, one in particular when we took off fm NKP and the pilot got a landing gear light, didn't know if the wheels were up or down, circled the field and the tower told us they were up---pilot decided to land, and wheels went down, but had red lite indicating not locked--I have never felt such a smooth landing, usually happy to get down on second bounce--and of course the moment of consernation on another misson when pilot pulled gear handle instead of flaps handle during pre-flight check.. picture on my page----take care my friend-- Al
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