Historical Comments Via Email:
John Moore: 1-30-2012
DON THIS JOHN MOORE IN OPELIKA, AL. I WAS WITH CAC FROM MAY 1968 TO 1970. THEN MY SECOND TOUR WAS FROM JUNE 1971 TO FEB 72. I WENT TO FLIGHT SCHOOL A FEW YEARS AFTER VIETNAM AND RETIRED A CWO. I FLEW SCOUT MISSION IN THE OH-58A'S. SEND ME AN EMAIL. thundereagle125@att.net JOHN
DONALD, I WAS A SP/5 AND A CREWCHIEF ON THE U-21. ON MY LAST TOUR I WAS A CREWCHIEF AND THE FLIGHT LINE CHIEF. SINCE I HAD BEEN THERE BEFORE AND THE SHORTAGE OF NCO'S THEY MADE ME THE FLIGHT LINE CHIEF. I HEARD CAC GOT TO VIETNAM AS THE USARV FLIGHT DETACHMENT IN LATE 1966 OR IN 1967. THEY MOVED TO LONG THANH NORTH IN OCT OR NOV. 1967. IN 1973 CAC WAS SENT TO SINGAPORE. NOW WHEN THEY LEFT THERE I DON'T KNOW. IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN TO LONG CAUSE MANY OF CAC AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO START SHOWING UP IN UNITS ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES. I WILL TRY TO REMEMBER MORE AND LET YOU KNOW. JOHN
Joe Tilghman: 1-30-2012
Don, my name is Joe Tilghman. I was a Long Trip pilot in Saigon July 1968–June 1969. Pete Faber and I have kept in touch and went to the Long Thanh North reunion last year in Branson, MO and had a great time. Only two other CAC pilots were there, but still a lot of fun. Pete and I are trying to get more pilots to come to future reunions. FYI, I went to the Catkiller reunion in Philadelphia a couple of years ago and they really do a nice job. Doc Clement is a good buddy from flight school, and I ran into Doc and Charlie Finch at Oshkosh last year. Anyway, I’d like to help with your Long Trip stuff. No computer expert but I’m scanning my old photos and have the names of several of the guys I served with.
Thanks for your work on this! Joe
Linwood Stevenson (Steve): 1-30-2012 Don,
Thanks for all the work setting up the LTN and Longtrip sites! Have sent a few pics of folks I can remember, and a few I can't. This will be the first of several emailed pics. Time diminishes memory and the two tours I had kind of blend together at this point. Was at LTN both tours. With Longtrip tour 1, July 69 to July 70. With Satellite (2nd Signal) tour 2 July 71 to July 72. Both tours U-21A. We all used the same O club and BOQ's both times.
The CLL and CML leukemias are in remission now. VA folks have done a great job in Nashville. CLL and CML are both thought to be Agent Orange related, but who really knows? Only medication is a daily pill. No chemo, and all is pretty much normal. Keep busy flying and instructing in gliders and LSA (light sport aircraft) these days. Hit 65 earlier this month. Just a number and feeling great. Retired from airlines (Piedmont and USAirways) in '07. Flew B737, B757, B767, A320 series, and internationally on the A330 last few years prior to leaving.
Linwood Stevenson
Bob McKenzie, Longtrip 6: 1-30-2012
I thank you a .million for the pictures which ignited many memories when I saw those who were still there when I was. Jack Spraque and I ran into each other many times when I was there in 67-68 with the 201st Red Barons. He is a superior pilot, as were all of the men who served in the pilot role.
As you know, CAC was ordered to move to Saigon in early 72. We had a good move but were relocated in a dump. Lots of drug stuff around, etc..
Bob McKenzie
Alan Smith: 1-21-2012
Don,
My oldest son got a kick out of the website. He's a CW4, Little Bird Gunship (AH-6M) pilot in the 160th SOAR, getting ready for his 30th deployment to Iraq/Afghanistan. You would be really proud and impressed if you saw how good those guys are.
Alan
Jane E. Austin, widow of Delbert J. Oldham: 1-20-2012:Don, Finally got up in the attic and did locate an obit; am still looking for a picture. The following obituary was published in the local newspaper, April 3, 2003 (ironically, his birthday), the Rappahannock Record, and the Washington Post. The service at Arlington Cemetery was held May 13, 2003 where he was interred in the columbarium.
I don’t know how much information you’d like; there are details which were not included in the obituary. We would have celebrated our 23rd anniversary on July 26th of that year. I shall continue to look for the picture. Please let me know if you need anything else.
Jane
KILMARNOCK:
Delbert James Oldham, 64, of Kilmarnock, formerly of McLean, VA died Monday, March 24, 2003. Mr. Oldham was born in Eugene Oregon to Ted James Oldham and Erma Ione Keenan Oldham.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served two tours in Vietnam. He was a combat pilot, senior aviator and parachutist. He received the Bronze Star and 19 air medals for dedicated and heroic service.
He retired from the U. S. Department of Defense as a DISA telecommunications project manager.
He was a lifetime member of the North American Hunt Club and was an avid fisherman and hunter.
He is survived by his wife Jane E. Oldham, four daughters: Deborah Quevado of Cupertino CA, Leslie Gum of Cave Creek, AZ, Jeannette Oldham of Tucson, AZ, and Julie Anne Oldham of Charleston, SC; five grandchildren; a stepson, Malcolm W. Tudor of Annandale, VA , and two sisters, Pat Ryan of Renton, WA and Audrie Bedortha of Paulina, OR.
A memorial service was held Saturday, March 29, at Currie Funeral Home in Kilmarnock. A memorial service at Ft. Meyer Chapel will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Kilmarnock-Lancaster Rescue Squad, P. O. Box 333, Kilmarnock, VA 22482.
Cam Tidwell: 1-19-2012
MAJ Dale Michelson was in the Ft. Ord area in 1975. I ran into him at a bar there while I was going to the Naval Post Graduate School. I have heard from several of the troops that worked for me. All are retired.
I am working on four weather radar programs for the FAA. The WSR-88D is the one that is used by NWS, AF and FAA is one I started in 1979 as a Lt Col. Once I retired I was hired by Martin Marietta and planned to work a couple of years. Started there in 1985. Have enjoyed the work so I have continued to support that program, two other weather programs and a phased-array program that is supposed to be fielded in 2024.
Besides Long Thanh North which was one of the best years of my life, I supported SDIO (Star Wars) which was demanding and very interesting, and several “Black Ops” programs (developed weapon systems for their use).
You are right, it was Det 10. That was the fastest year of my life. Have you heard from any of the other guys? I would especially interested in the status of Ken Dumas, Maj Mich, Shellenberger, Ridley, Lt. Col Bane (sp?) and Lt. Col Williams (the crazy one). I ran into Maj. Mike when I was TDY at the Naval Post Graduate School and he had retired. That was in the 1970s. I have heard from a few of the weather people, but other than that no one, until you.
The CAC was one of the best units I have ever supported. Under Col. Bane everyone pull together to get the job done and covered everybody's back. Too bad that Williams got moved for not doing his job at the 210th.
I still wish I could have sent one of my pets home.
Robert McKenzie: 1-19-2012
I know that 007 was totaled at Vung Tau prior to my arrival in 68 with the Red Barons the 1st Force flt det. we brought the unit over from Ft Bragg , I helped fly the planes to the coast to be shipped. All the Instructor pilots trained at the Beech factory would receive a set of orders to fly to Kansas to pick up an aircraft and drop it off in Calif. I made several trips. 007 was in country with members of the Army training team members who taught us at Beech. I think they were working /training the transportation unit there. I know of no others that were totalled other than 007 and 041.
I am sure that you know that CAC Long Trip was given control of the Nha Trang and Danang area U21's it was early in 1972 that brought our aircraft count to 30.
The loss of Cecil Perkins and Otha Perry with aircraft 041 was a tragic event and it caused all members of the compay much sadness. Both officers were super people and good pilots. The sadness did not go away for a long time but the traditional CAC memorial service added some comfort. Those members who were good friends, got their personal items together and got them sent to the families. I can assure you that ALL members of CAC never forgot the shock of losing these unit members. The unit plaques we had made in Philipines has 007 and 041 painted in the scrolls
As a side note, In 65 I was flying twins at Conarc ( Ft Monore) when I got my order to deploy they were for the 220 in Wash, when some of the Officers found out they got the orders changed to assign me to the 221st at Ft Bragg,
Take care and remember it has been so many years ago
Bob McKenzie
Thomas E. Iannarino (CAC) (Thom): 1-19-2012 Don, I must be the one as I did serve in the CAC from January '70 to July '70. Fond memories ignited. I hope I gave you a fair and good eval. I am in Charleston, SC. Since leaving that unit I have only had one other run in with anyone and that came in Korea while I was flying the RU-21-A. Nice to hear from you! How did you come across my name.? THOM
Alan Smith: 1-16-2012
Hey guys,
A couple of points from the “Safety Officer sent to get all of the facts.” Perry's name was Otha, no R, nitpicky buy might as well get it right. I'm pretty sure it was Longtrip 041, wouldn't swear to it but I'm pretty sure. I was also on the accident investigation board. Here's all we know:
They took off from Phu Bai, enroute to Danang with a normal load of pax plus one unidentified hitchhiker. When they were in contact with Danang Approach Control, one of the guys hit “Transmit” instead of intercom and said, “Hey, you lost your number two engine” Approach came back and said, “lost your number two engine, say ID.” They came back with, “Longtrip 041, we've lost our number two engine.” Approach said, “Roger your cleared for strait in approach, descend to six thousand.” The next transmission was garbled with the word, “Fire,” that was the last commo and the aircraft disappeared from radar about that time. There was no further contact with the aircraft. Danang had a helicopter out there right away who found nothing. They were over Danang harbor when contact was lost. An incoming Navy ship also searched the area and found nothing. Our best guess was that the right wing blew off and the two pieces went straight to the bottom. These guys were both very good pilots, they wouldn't have been in CAC if they weren't. With a turbine spinning 33,000 rpm at 750 degrees C, a thin firewall away from 58 gallons of JP4, if something comes unglued, bad things happen and there's really nothing you can do about it. Fortunately for all of us, those events were very rare in that great airplane. Actually I was in Bankok when this happened and when we were heading back to Long Thahn, somewhere over the middle of Cambodia, my Fire Warning light came on, talk about a jolt! All was well, but it sure got our attention.
I'm getting old but these events are like they happened yesterday.
Alan
I know of one other U21 loss, can't remember tail number, but here is story. CPT Guggenheim and a CW2 (only remember Steve) on a flight from Ben Thuy, South Vietnam, ran out of fuel on a direct flight to Saigon, and put it down in a rice patty. Passengers included a minimum of two navy admirals. All were rescued and taken to Saigon, with no post-crash evaluation. The navy treated the pilots to food and drinks instead. The navy wanted to award a DFC, but the Army wanted to court-marshall, as findings were that both pilots had utilized the aircraft's air conditioner (while the other slept). They did not refuel, as it is only a one hour flight to Saigon. I was on the ground, in the rice patty, when a Pipesmoke CH47 arrived to recover the aircraft. On the first attempt, the water taken on shifted and the aircraft fell from approx 15 feet back into the patty. I wrote it off the unit's property records in 1971. Colonel Bayne was commander of unit at this time.
We had an incident in Phnom Penh with R15048—when Captain John Jones was awaiting takeoff on the main runway—when a Combodian T–28 failed to make the turn off to the military ramp and ate the left wing of 048. The aircraft was repaired in Phnom Penh and remained with the fleet.
Skip McGranahan 70-71, S4
Haven't had a whole lot of contact with our former CAC colleagues, although I did run into Max Kennedy [Max and I were in Infantry Officer Advance Course together in 1973-74. Don Ricks] a few years back; he was a corporate pilot and had flown into my FBO at the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. Of course, been in touch with Brooks for a number of years and he's still as fun and crazy as always. [I found that out today during a lengthy conversation with the ever-energetic Brooks. Don]
It also might be of interest to know that most of CAC’s U-21 aircraft ended up in Bangkok where I got to fly them again in 1974-76 while a member of JUSMAGTHAI’s 70th Aviation Detachment—doing the same basic stuff we did at CAC. From September 74 through April 75, we flew into and out of Saigon almost daily (even drew combat pay), with my last mission occurring two days before Saigon fell, involved moving President Thieu's family (from a secure CIA location just outside Tan San Nhut—e had to taxi down a road to reach it) to Bangkok where they promptly reboarded a chartered Air France B747 for Paris. Not too much luggage, but it DID take three people to lift each of six suitcases onto our aircraft. We were so heavy taking off that the best rate of climb we could achieve out of (a totally uncontrolled) Tan San Nhut was about 300 fpm, at least until we got up above 7,000 feet. Not too much doubt about what was in 'em. [Craig, I was in the 70th at the same time as you, but I was up at NKP commanding the JCRC Flight Support Section. We moved to Utapoa Royal Thai Naval Base, before the fall of Saigon and Cambodia. My flight section was there as all those Vietnamese pilots flew into U–tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield and during the Mayaguez Incident (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayaguez_incident). As I recall, one of the 70th Aviation Company’s U-21’s flew the recon mission for that action. We couldn’t, because we were in an humanitarian mode with our mission. I was also there in Saigon the day before it fell taking our Joint Casualty Resolution Center staff out of country with our three U-21’s. We lived a lot of history back in those days! Don Ricks]
Craig HergetI DO remember you from BOTH our CAC and Thailand days, and especially the post-Vietnam aircraft “scramble” at Utapao. Also, I was the PIC on that Mayaguez recon flight; I was also thrown out of the debrief afterwards for questioning the logic behind attacking the island on the north beach. As it turned out I was right, since we spent some 14 hours recovering (in Hueys) downed air force helicopter crews and marines. That truly was an interesting time. Craig
When I was there, May 1968 to May 1969, the Long Thanh detachment was know as call sign, “Long Trip” and served USARV. The Saigon detachment was also Long Trip but served MACV. Both units were under the command and control of the 210th Combat Aviation Bn. One of the Bn commanders was COL Billy R. Wright who was there in 1969, maybe late 1968. I don't know when (and wasn't aware) that it had been transferred to 176th. Also, although no one seems to want to admit it, the unit was known OFFICIALLY as the Command Airplane Company, at least while I was there. While assigned as the Asst. S–4 we used to make IG inspections on all assigned units and detachments—all over the Delta and Saigon areas. Now I wish I had paid more attention! We borrowed a Birddog from one or more of the units for *ldquo;Rocket/Mortar” watch flights form 1800 to 0600, or dusk to dawn, whichever was needed. Those flights, at least the ones I did, could be long and boring or quite busy.
Richard A. Hendrickson
Grant,
I was in the USARV Flight Det from around November 1967, til coming back to the US in July 1968—and the first time I met you was at the detachment which was, I assume, shortly after you arrived for your first tour in late 67 or early 68. The photo at the website is interesting, as I really can only recognize you after seeing the names. I also saw CW3 Paul Gembarowski (name only as the photo is not recognizable), who was in our graduating flight school class (and already a WO in flight school for whatever reason). His first assignment in Nam in 67 was an artillery observer in a Bird Dog, and I understand he died sometime in the late 70’s or early 80’s from cancer! The smaller photo at the bottom includes someone that looks like George Kennedy, who is getting a copy of this message. I remember a lot of folks from the Detachment as well as the move to Long Thanh North when it was brand spanking new, and pretty crude living arrangements too! I do not stay in touch with any of the flight detachment members and suspect they are getting on in years, as I was one of the early WO’s sent to the Detachment after General Williams made the observation that the Detachment looked like a retirement home for field grade officers and ordered someone to get some WO and Lt grade officers in. The group photo seems to show that this worked too! I looked on Google Earth and see that Long Thanh North is now an international Airport!?
Mike Hatchell is the one that came up with your Leroy name, and that was long before Rigger was applied to me.
Will Morris
Don: Just found web site. I’ve been trying to get info on our unit for a long time. I was stationed with CAC from Aug 3rd, 1970, to Mar 7th, 1972. Don’t know if you remember the Flight Operations Specialist SP/5 Groves. You may have deros out before I got there.
Myself and SP/4 Tibadaux ran flight ops for you guys. Any way I would like to send some old pics as I find them. LTC Bayne was quite good at getting Tibadaux and me to extend our tours (twice), but I sure would like to contact him if he’s still able. When we lost Long Trip 041, with WO Perry and CPT Perkins, Tibadaux and I stayed in flight operations for 5 days straight (24/7), manning the radios and field phones, and communicating with the Jolly Greens doing the air search for 041. I was the last person they spoke to in flight ops as they departed for that mission. I have never forgotten that day, and my prayers have been for there families ever since.
Sincerely,
SP/5 Kenneth E, Groves
John D. Jones (14 October 2019):
I was assigned to the Command Aircraft Company at Long Thanh North, Vietnam, from January 1970 until January 1971. At the time our mission in CAC was to support MACV and USARV with aviation support. The headquarters for both of these organizations was in Saigon. We provided ten airplanes, with crew, each day to each of these headquarters.
One day I was at our base with a rare day off when operations called me with a mission. They had a mission to fly to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, pick up the British Ambassador to Cambodia, and bring him to Saigon. We changed to civilian clothes because we weren’t supposed to be in Cambodia and we couldn’t wear our uniforms. We flew directly to Phnom Penh, which sits on the Mekong River, about a 30–minute flight from Saigon. There was one runway with the Cambodian Air Force on one end and a civilian terminal midway down the runway. We landed and taxied to the military end of the airfield. There were old Russian airplanes parked there with some American T—28s.
We picked up the ambassador and taxied back out to the runway for take off. The tower had us hold short of the active runway until a Cambodian T–28 landed. We were then directed to taxi into position for takeoff, hold there until the T-28 turned around and taxed back. There were no taxiways. The T–28 had to taxi back and turn off the runway just in front of us. As he was taxiing back, my co–pilot said that he seemed to be taxiing a little fast. He was taxiing too fast and couldn’t make the turn off. His left wing tip hit my left wing and bent the wing of my airplane back about 45 degrees outside the left engine. I shut down the left engine because of the possibility of fire and taxied back to the ramp.
I called Saigon on the high frequency radio and told them what happened. They sent another plane for the ambassador, another plane for my crew, and the next day the Air Force flew a U–21 wing to Phnom Penh, with maintenance personnel, put the good wing on and flew the plane back to Long Thanh North.
The Cambodian base commander called for the T–28 pilot but couldn’t find him. It seems he landed and took off. I suppose he was afraid he would have been shot for causing an incident.
No one ever asked me anything about this accident. I suppose it was because we weren’t supposed to be in Cambodia. Years later, when I arrived in Heidelberg, Germany, there were some U–21s parked on the ramp. One of the tail numbers looked familiar. I looked in the historical record in the logbook and it had an entry “left wing replaced in Saigon.” After Vietnam some of the planes were flown to Singapore for overhaul and then on to Germany. I had flown this very same airplane to Phnom Penh that day.
I enjoy your news letters,
John D. Jones
