Third Quarterly 2014
Longtrip E-Newsletter
Updated: 29 August 2014
HONOR ROLL: (Empty)
FOUND LONG TRIPPERS: (2 July)
CW2 Phil Powell joined our MailChimp email system and then sent an email containing a photo and a brief of his service with the Command Aircraft Company. Phil and his wife, Gracie, live in Georgia. We had an interesting conversation regarding his work life experiences, which also included service in Thailand with the 70th Aviation Detachment. We hope to have a strory from Phil about his experiences, expecially in Southeast Asia:
Don, I was an Aircraft Commander with CAC during the years of 1971 and 1972. I was the assistant motor officer when we moved to Saigon. I also flew U–21s as the (SIP) with the 70th Aviation Detachment in Bangkok, and participated in the movement of the last U-21s to Germany
[Phil also participated in the transfer of three decicated JCRC Flight Support Section aircraft (when that section inactivated in June 1975) as he and other pilots flew those aircraft to Korea. D. Ricks]
Phil Powell, CAC, 1971–72
Today I received a note from Gerald “Gary” Zentner who served in 1970–71: Zentner, Gary Sep 70 – Sep 71, CPT, AR, Pilot / AC. Gary sent the photo below and is now added to the roster
DEAR EDITOR: (Empty)
LONG THANH NORTH REUNION, 18–21 SEPTEMBER 2014 UPDATE: (1 July)
Just about 2.5 months until the reunion in Texas. Time to get serious about making reservations, Troops. We are in double figures for reservations now.
The phone number for the Sandcastle resort is: 361–749–6201. Reservations can only be made by phone. Be sure to mention you are coming for the reunion.
If anyone is interested in playing golf, please let me know before the reunion. They don’t call me “Pro&rsquo' for nothing. :) Hope you all have a great 4th of July!
Terry
Below are links to our 2014 LTN Reunion Committee Briefing and the Sandcastle Conference Center Registration Information web page. Please read carefully. Reservations can only be made by phone and be sure to use the ID given. Feel free to forward to anyone we might have missed. We will get options out there for fun and games in the next week or so!
See ya there, Troops! Thanks,
Lee and Pro
PS: If any link doesn’t work, copy and paste the link into your web browser.
2014 LTN REUNION COMMITTEE BRIEFING DOCUMENT
PORT ARANSAS LONG THANH NORTH REUNION INFORMATION
JACK WATSON, AVIATOR, AUTHOR, TRAVELER, EXTRAORDINARY MAN OF EXPERIENCE:
This introduction is from the heart—true! I know a handful of men who amaze me with their extraordinary experiences, talent, and a definite ‘I–can’t–believe–he/she–can–do–all–of–that!’ stuff. Jack Watson, CAC 1969–70, is certainly all of that and more. Let me give you an example:
The Watson great escape — 2014
On the Watson families fourth summer retreat from the heat of the “Sunshine State” I thought I’d share a memory of my past that resurfaced yesterday.
It was the winter of 1974 I had just left Rohr Industries as their senior corporate pilot flying a twin engine executive jet for the worlds largest manufacturer of airplane thrust reversers, among other things. Since my return from Vietnam I had been continually trying to get on with a major airline. I had just rejected an offer to become Rocky Mountain Airways Chief Pilot (to small – to regional) and answered a more intriguing employment ad in Aviation Week and Space Technology.
As I remember the ad stated: Wanted engineering test pilot for highly classified government research project. Flight operations will be conducted in severe meteorological environments. Qualified applicant must have over 1,000 hours multi–engine jet experience as PIC, and strong engineering background. Must have Secret or better security clearance. The ad went on to list contact information and application process. Sounded like fun, so I applied.
After a lengthy interview, engineering skills test and pilot check ride I was hired by a company called Meteorology Research Inc. (MRI), in Altadena California.
I signed enough non–disclosures, as a condition of employment, to scare the you–know–what out of even the most fearless individual. Suffice to say, my paycheck came from MRI but my real employer was the Department of Defense and more specifically the Defense Nuclear Agency. To complicate things more I would utilize NASA, Air Force and Navy assets during the project.
Some of what I did during the winter and spring of 1974 is still classified, what remains is a small unclassified recounting of one of the most interesting times of my fascinating life as a pilot.
The one–of–a–kind high altitude cloud physics research jet rolled to a stop in front of a large seemingly empty hanger at NASA’s Wallops Station Virginia airport and launch control center. I shut the big jet engines down and stepped out on the tarmac taking in a lung full of fresh Virginia air. The flight from California had been at high altitude on 100 percent oxygen and my lungs and mouth were dry.
The area appeared uninhabited so I started to snoop around and found myself on the second floor at the rear of the hanger I was parked in front of. I walked along a corridor with a glassed in view of the hanger floor on one side and glassed in offices on the opposing side, I saw a guy in one of the offices standing on a ladder that leaned against the largest blackboard I had ever scene. My memory may exaggerate a little, but the blackboard was easily 35 feet wide and 12 feet high. It was covered in a cryptic equation of some sort, I had no idea what I was looking at, and I supposedly had engineering skills. As fascinating as the site was, what struck me as symbolic was the individual on the ladder was erasing a small part of this wall full of hieroglyphics and making a change. I whispered under my breath “You’ve got to be kidding me,” and said “Excuse me,” twice before he acknowledged my presence.
That was my introduction to Wallops station — a place where there was no shortage of geniuses. Yesterday I returned to the NASA test site and launch facility—40 years later.
While the missile launch pads at Wallops are not as famous as those at KSC, Wallops has been in operation since 1945. Today it launches low trajectory and low earth orbit vehicles on a regular basis and continues to do “OTHER” unusual research.
Driving by the south end of the airport I could see the hanger that was once my office and launch point for about 4 months. I wondered if the big blackboard was still there. Looking through the fence as cars stacked up behind me (doing 30 in a 55) I admired the manicured lawns around the main runway. Tracking antenna’s, support buildings and several hangers dotted the landscape – painted in bright NASA white, they contrasted majestically with the emerald green landscape.
From Wallops I had chased hypersonic vehicles into some of the worst weather imaginable. I was a 27 years old hotshot combat pilot, intelligent, fearless, and the senior research pilot on a top–secret project that was vital to national security. At that point in my life I was on top of the world.
From a distance it seems little has changed at Wallops – a few more tracking antenna perhaps. As I looked at the cars piling up behind me in the rearview mirror my own face reflected that forty years had taken a greater toll on me—but there was I time when I had the power to close down the Atlantic Missile Range and fly experimental airplanes on some of the most incredible missions imaginable.
I wish I could tell you more about the project at Wallops, but then I’d have to kill you.
Our next stop in the RV is Falmouth, Cape Cod. I’m not traveling as high and as fast as I used to, but the view is still amazing.
Enjoy your summer.
Jack, Leigh and our furry support crew:
Tate, Dolly, Sissy and the ever entertaining Joey
What better way to also tell you that Jack Watson recently had his new and awesome book published, one that has special meaning to anyone who has ever flown a Birddog and knows the reconnaissance side of aviation–either from Vietnam or our modern–day drone operators (pilots). The book is impressive and has something inside for every person who has had the blessing and privilege of flying. The title says it all, and Jack says there are plans for other follow–on series editions. Yes, I am proud to say I have my copy obtained from Amazon.com:
BACK TO VIETNAM 2015 TOURS:
For those who wish to return to Vietnam there is a 2015 tour of the southern part of Vietnam beginning in January. Use this link for further details:
