EC-47 Crewmembers, Front and Back, Roster
Received from, Duane W. Farnham, Orangevale, California.

Duane says he was a Navigator with the 361st TEWS at Nha Trang from March, 67 to December, 67.

Says he was at the Air Force Museum in early October ( a little late for reunion 2003, J.C. ) and found Chuck Miller's article in the Friends Journal. Through that article, I was able to locate the Web-Site, I never knew it existed.

Received from, Gary Myers, Collierville, Tennessee.

Gary was a Pilot witht the 361st TEWS at Phu Cat from July 70 to July 71. Says he just found the site.

Received from, Bud Crowder, Spokane Washington.

Bud was an Airborne Analyst with Det. 3, 6994th SS at NKP from June 71 to June 72.

Received from, William R. Wilson, Memphis Tennessee.

William was Squadron Pilot for the 361st TEWS at Phu Cat from July 1970 to August 1971.

Says this was his first visit and is already planning to attend the next reunion.

Received from, Bill Schless.

Bill just found the site and says, great site, great memories. Bill arrived on Station as a Pilot with the 361st TEWS at NKP on 5 Feb. 1973, the time of the loss of Baron-52.

Says he was the Co-Pilot in April 73 on the mission with the infamous hole in the wing, captured on the site. This was my first assignment right out of UPT.

Received from, Galen P. Suiter, Coosada, Alabama.

Galen was an Aircraft Mechanic with the 361st TEWS at Nha Trang from June 1968 until June 1969.

Galen's Email Address: galen(at)elmore.rr.com

Postal Address: P.O. Box 134 Coosada, AL 36020

Phone: (334) 285-3109

Received from, Scott Magee.

Scott says he was assigned to Det. 2, 6994th Security Squadron at Pleiku in 1968/69.

Received from, Gary McPherson.

Gary says he was assigned to Supply with Det. 5, 6922nd Security Squadron at Tan Son Nhut in the very early years. Said he arrived from Yakota in late December, 65 and setup unit with 2 C-47's believe the tail numbers were 254 and 680 picked up from Korea. Left TSN in February or March, 66 for the 6931st in Crete to be married.

Here is what he sent me via email.

Subject: DRILLPRESS 1965.

JUST STARTED TO READ YOUR SITE AND IT IS GREAT. I THINK YOU MAY BE OF HELP ALSO. I WAS PART OF A TDY GROUP THAT WAS SENT TO TON SON NHUT TO START UP A NEW UNIT WITH TWO OLD C-47S FROM KOREA BACK IN 1965. WE PICKED UP THE BIRDS AT YOKOTA (6988TH) AND FLEW THEM TO THE P.I. THEN ON TO TON SON NHUT. I WAS THE ONLY SUPPLY TYPE THERE ALONG WITH ONE 702 AND OPS AND MAINT. OUR CO WAS A LT HALL OR HILL. I REMEMBER ONE SSGT THAT WAS IN MAINT, I THINK HIS NAME WAS BOMAR. WE HAD A CIV TECK REP BY THE NAME OF PATTERSON OR PETERSON. WE WORKED WITH A USAFSS GROUP ON THE GROUND THAT HAD ARRIVED LONG BEFOR WE DID. WE HAD 2 TRAILER VANS BEHIND A ARMY BLDG CLOSE TO THE GCA TOWER. HAD 2 BRICK WALLS AROUND US. I HAVE SLIDES AND SOME PHOTOS THAT IAM GOING THROUGH TO SEE IF I CAN SEE THE TAIL NUMBERS. WHAT I AM LOOKING FOR IS IF YOUR FOLKS WERE THE ONES WHO TOOK OVER AFTER WE LEFT. NEVER DID HEAR WHAT HAPPEN AFTER I LEFT. I WENT BACK TO KELLY THEN BACK TO CRETE.I DO KNOW WE WERE THE 1ST THERE AS WE FLEW THE BIRDS IN COUNTRY.HOPE YOU CAN SHED SOME LIGHT ON THIS. Gary Mcpherson.

More from Gary.

Date: Thursday, November 13, 2003

In December 1965, some of us met at Yokota, AB, Japan. We had to wait for the two C-47�s to arrive from Korea and then set it up with the correct configuration inside. We were attached to the 6988th at this time.

While the planes were being worked on, I set up two flyaway kits and played in the snow. Man it was cold. When both aircraft were ready, we left for the Philippines for overnight. If I remember correctly, the tail numbers were 254 and 680. It was so cold inside I had my parka on and dug into a pile of chutes. When we arrived in the PI, we had to follow the cops to a secure ramp. I opened the door and still with my parka on and all I saw were Air Police with shorts on. They looked at me like I was from space.

When we arrived in Vietnam, we were attached to Detachment 5, of the 6922nd or 6924th. We were given two new trailers with air-conditioning and located behind an Army building with two brick walls around it, not far from the GCA tower.

We met up with the rest of the team and off we went. Our CO was a Lt. Hill or Hall. We lived in a hut close to base supply. Made it easy for me. Our 702 person was named Long, he and I were both A1cs. One of the Comm. Maintenance Sgts was a Sgt Bomar. There was a civilian there also and I think his name was Richardson.

The crews flew daily missions and I went along for the ride as my Fly-away kits were working out great. Our Lt. CO got shook up one night while he was listening to Hanoi Hannah who said hello to tail numbers 254 and 680 and all the people under Lt. Hall or Hill. He felt there was a contract out on him. Felt real sorry for him.

Well I left the unit 1st and went back to Headquarters at Kelly and reported to General Klocko (spelling ??) on how things went and then went back to the 6931st in Crete to get married. Never did find out what happened to the unit after we left until now.

Man, did it grow into something big, I am still reading items on The EC-47 History Site to learn more on what our guys did after we left. The crewmembers of our birds then did a great job. We flew so damned low, I could watch in detail, what was going on, on the ground. Short missions and extra long mission.

I was just the supply troop there but very proud to be a part of a group of people as we had. Oh, by the way, our Gal Friday who cleaned our was named Kim. Her mother also cleaned our area. They may have still been there when our replacements arrived.

I will open up my scrapbook and check out the pictures from that time. Hope to send some for the web-site soon. Our front end crews were TDY to us from TAC and rotated often. That is about all this old mind can remember. Bless you all in Drillpress and Aberu�

Gary McPherson, USAG Retired.

Gary's Email Address: [email protected]

Received from, Donald Cohee Portland, Oregon.

Don write that he served with Detachment 1, 6994th SS at Nha Trang in 1968/69 as a Radio Operator. Said he arrived in-country shortly after TET 68 and missed the action. Served with a bunch of great guys, "Tree", Leggs and Bullwinkle" just to name a few. I was "Uncle Donnie".

Don's Email Address is: [email protected]

Received from, Joseph Murray Klamath Falls, Oregon.

I Arrived at Danang late Jan. 1972 supposing to be assigned to the 0-2 squadron but as we got off the Plane the 362 nd TEWS First SGT was there , he asked if any of us were Recip mechanics and four of us said we were and he said jump in the truck, you are now assigned to the 362nd TEWS.

It was a shock coming from working on T-29's, spending two weeks at Eglin AFB training on 0-1 & 0-2 A/C . but I grew to like the EC-47. I started out on the Flight line for a short time, then was assigned to the Docks primarily working on the engine ring cowling. My shift was from 6 PM - 6AM. I liked this Shift, because I was close to the bunker and awake when we usually got Hit. I resided in Gunfighter Village across from the BX.

To our surprise one morning at 7 Am as I hit the sack the attack siren went of and the BX was HIT really bad. Also, our barracks got a little tore up. When the siren went off I rolled out of my upper bunk and landed on my roommate as he was crawling under his bunk.

Of course the BX had to be moved and I think a Chinese restaurant was at the end which was also destroyed. The BX if my memory serves me well was moved by the 362 TEWS HQ SQ. I spent most of my off duty time at the NCO Club or the World ( SQ BAR). I did get to go to China Beach once and a one week TDY to NKP Thailand. I also did get to see a Sammy Davis Jr show at Freedom Hill.

I have many memories to share and some pictures to show as soon as As figure out how to get them on the site. I left Danang some time at the end of NOV 1972 ( my name came up on President Nixon's troop cut back with 3 Hrs to clear the base) leaving found memories of the ones I served with. I went back too working T-29's until they were phased out. I finely retired at Vandenberg AFB CA, in 1990 at the Rank of (E-7) MSGT after 20 years. My final duty assignment was the NCOIC ICBM Missile Maintenance Unit , 394thTMS

Thank you all for this wonderful Site and allowing me to share some of my memories

Joe Murray

Joe's Email Address: jomama1950(at)eaglecom.net

Received from, Rob Deichl.

Rob says he was with the 362nd Tactical Electronics Warfare Squadron at DaNang from June 71 to May of 72.

Added Feb. 14th, 2004.

JC...Figured I'd answer your latest email where you asked me to give you a few of my memories while at DaNang. I arrived in June 71 as a 1st Lt copilot and left in May 72 as a Capt IP. I flew a mission over northern I Corps, just south of the DMZ and the backend picked up 23 targets within 2 miles of the center of Quang Tri. The next day, the Easter Offensive began. Awhile later, I was flying along the coast in that same area, and for 5 hours or so, got to watch a full blown shore bombardment by the Navy followed by a mess of LSTs heading toward shore. Didn't know what was up until the next day's Stars and Stripes reported a landing by the RVN Marines to try and retake the city. You are doing a great job, JC...keep up the good work. Regards, Rob Deichl

Received from, Ron Cosgrove, Nashua New Hampshite.

Ron was Field Supervisor for the Sanders Associates assigned to the 6994th Security Squadron at Tan Son Nhut AB from June, 1966 to December, 1967. Was the Field Supervisor of the technical supprot team for the ARD18 equipment built by Sanders Associates that was installed in the EC-47 aircraft.

He arrived in country with the first three aircraft 003, 524 and 767. Col. Robert L. Wallander was the Commander of the 6994th Security Squadron and a finer gentleman never lived.

Lt. Col. Jim Jelley was Commander of the 360th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, later renamed the 360th Tactical Electronics Warfare Squadron. The initial squadron manning consisted of about 45 Lt. Colonels, a major and two Lieutenant's.

This site brings back great memories of Operation Phyllis Ann.

Ron's Email Address is: ron.j.cosgrove(at)gmail.com

Received from, Ron Prince.

Ron says he was a Morse Systems Operator/Instructor with the 6994th Security Squadron at Tan Son Nhut from May of 1969 to May of 1970.

Received from, David Samppala San Diego, California.

David says he was assigned to the 6994th Security Squadron at Pleiku, DaNang and NKP as an Airborne Linguist from July 1969 until September 1971.

Received from, Daniel James, Staunton, Virginia.

Daniel was a Pilot and Safety Officer with the 362nd Tactical Electronics Warfare Squadron at Pleiku in 1969/70.

Received from, Buzz Lowe.

Buzz was a Flight Mechanic with the 360th Tactical Electronics Warfare Squadron at Tan Son Nhut from Janurary to November 1972.

Received from, Lex Cole, Roseville, California.

Lex was an Airborne Mission Supervisor with the 6994th Security Squadron at Tan Son Nhut from April 1970 to April 1971.

Received from, James C. Warren, Vacaville, California.

James was a Navigator with the 360th Tactical Electronics Warfare Squadron at Tan Son Nhut from February 1967 to February 1968.

Received from, Tom Kaminski, Spotsylvania, Virginia.

Tom was an Aircraft Mechanic with the 360th Tactical Electronics Warfare Squadron at Tan Son Nhut from July 1966 to July 1967.

Received from, Duane Larkin Sr. San Antonio, Texas.

Duane was assigned to Detachment 2, 6994th Security Squadron at Pleiku from October 1968 to October 1969 and Ubon RTAFB Thailand from Janurary to May of 1974.

Added Feb. 14th, 2004

Can't remember if I told you, I as a 'backender' at Det 2, 6994th, Pleiku Nov '68 - Nov '69 and 6994th, Ubon RTAFB Jan '74 - May '74. While at Pleiku, I was Flight Commander, IRO, Unit Training NCO. While at Ubon, I was RO and NCOIC, DORM. Flew next to last mission.

Duane W Larkin

Received from, Bobbie Springer Mulvane, Kansas.

Bobbie wasin Electronics Maintenance with the 6994th Security Squadron at Pleiku in 1966/67.

Email Address: hoogfan(at)cox.net

Received from, John W. Marshall, Atlanta Georgia.

John was assigne to Detachment 2, 6994th Security Squadron at Pleiku from March 1969 to April 1970.

Received from, Dave Seidl.

Cave was assigned to Detachment 1, 6994th Security Squadron at Phu Cat from May 1970 to April 1971 as a Senior Radio Operator, Instructor Operator and Airborne Mission Supervisor.

Received from, Jerome T. Stahl, Midwest City, Oklahoma.

Jerome was a Morse Systems Operator with the 6994th Security Squadron at Tan Son Nhut from July to December, 1971.

Received from, Ronald Ribellia, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Ron was an Airborne Mission Supervisor with Detachment 2, 6994th Security Squadron at DaNang and Detachment 3, 6994th Security Squadron at Ubon Thailand, 1972/74.

Received from, Marcel 'Frenchy' Gervais.

Frenchy didn't leave much information. He did say he was an ARDF Operator with Mission Management (DOM) with the 6994th Security Squadron at NKP, Jan - Dec. 1973.




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