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Richard Calmes | all galleries >> Galleries >> VIETNAM WAR 1968-1969 > The hook!
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The hook!


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Vernon R. (Bob) Wilson 16-Jan-2023 08:18
Sgt. Ralph Childs, I remember you. I remember the first time I met you. We had just come back from a mission and my flight engineer Spc.4 Rollins was in the tug parking 67-18418 in the revetment while I (Spc.5 Vern Wilson, crew chief) was riding the pedals. You were standing there in the middle of the PSP with your hands on your hips watching. After we were parked you asked me why Spc.4 Rollins was the flight engineer while I as a spc.5 was the crew chief. That was Freedom Hill, before we moved to Marble Mtn. LOL, you and I didn't always get along well. Glad to see you here. (Vern Wilson, crew chief and flight engineer 18418, Nov. 1970-Jan. 1972, nazgulvrw@Lycos.com). Up Tight Hurricanes!
Guest 16-Jan-2023 07:51
Sgt. Ralph Childs, I remember you. I remember the first time I met you. My flight engineer Spc.4 Rollins was operating the tug parking 67-18418 into the revetment after a mission while I (Spc.5 Vern Wilson) road the pedals. You were standing there on the PSP with your hands on your hips watching. I hadn't been in country, in company or flying very long. You asked why I as a Spc. 5 was a crew chief, while Spc.4 Rollins was my flight engineer. LOL, we didn't really get off to a good start. Glad to see you here. (Vern Wilson, crew chief and flight engineer, 18418. Nov. 1970 -Jan. 1972. nazgulvrw@Lycos.com)
Guest 30-Mar-2022 02:34
In '69... we had a group of Cobra gunships near-by.... that was nice. Phu Bai.
Guest 08-Jan-2022 02:47
To Robert Smith I know you're flight engineer Curtis Shumate mickeyclinard48@gmail.com
Mickey Clinard 08-Jan-2022 02:45
I know you're flight engineer Curtis Shumate
michael kelley 05-Jul-2021 01:10
hello everyone,
I was a witness to the CH-54 crash off of hwy 19 east on jan 5,1966. i also saw the wreckage laid out in a open field where the inspectors had tried to put all the broken pieces together to analyze the aircraft crash. I was in a UH-1B huey gunship of troop c, 1-9 cav returning from pleiku after a convoy security mission. about 10 miles or so out of pleiku, the ch-54 was hauling ass and flew right by our huey. about 300 meters ahead, we saw a big fireball explosion and then the ac fell to earth in the jungle about 200 meters into the woods. our pilot reported the crash to the an khe tower and they told him to go check for survivors. we flew over to the crash site and hovered around looking for survivors. we only saw one body near the rear cabin area. what i recall the most is the white pages of the ac tech manual were scattered all over the place hanging from the trees and all over the ground.it looked like it was snowing. it was very sad. we later were told there was an extra passenger on board that flight. was that sp5 english? I wonder if the cav div named lz dog in bong son lz english after him. I was the crew chief-door gunner on my gunship, no. 063. anyone who remembers this crash incident please contact me with any info. thank you. mike kelley 978-851-3792 or my e-mail michaelkelley67 at yahoo.com
DAVID 21-Jan-2021 18:11
Gail Martin. Did you happen to know an engine mechanic named Fred Gaza. I would sure like to get in touch with him. David Hackford E-mail "dwhackford@gmail.com"
Guest 18-Jan-2021 22:00
I was 478th 68-69 flight engineer 18416 a/c name Big Mother . My name is Mickey . mickeyclinard48@gmail.com
Patrick Lundquist 17-May-2020 21:11
I was in charge of the sheetmetal shop from around January to April of 1972. Being in charge didn't mean much since I only had two repairs. I glued a panel back in place and added a dzus fastener to the window they tossed smokes out, so it could be fastened open or closed. Other than that, inventoried the trailer and spent my last couple months in country hitting the bars and living off base. My DD214 does not reflect my final duty assignment as the 478th. I wonder if that's why?...
Cliff McDonald 29-Jan-2020 16:45
Please email me for information about CH-54 Skycrane Association, or look for us on Facebook clifmcdon@comcast.net
Gail Martin 12-Oct-2019 20:43
I worked in the 382nd Engine Shop in 68-69 along with Larry Young, Jay Reed and Harold Spaulding.
Was wondering if this is the same Bill Campbell that worked in the motor pool and once took a tire split ring off his forehead? I have pics posted on the Skycrane reunion site for those who may know some of the people.
Robert Smith 18-Dec-2018 17:32
I was with the 478th August 1968 to October 1969 i was on
Was on18418 crewmen
Billy campbell 01-Jun-2018 16:49
what was the name of the man killed in that crash in sept 1968
ralphchilds @atf.net 04-May-2018 15:58
I was with the 478th 68–69 and 70-71 1st fly ply and tech inspector Great people
Great folks (pilots and enlisted) I was setting center
Seat when 67-18414 went down. Worked Sikorsky
1962 til 1978 . CH 37 & 54 A & B up tight.
Tom 21-Mar-2018 20:17
Make that 68-69
Tom 21-Mar-2018 20:16
I had hurricane 401 out of freedom hill oct 68 ,60
Loyd Dinneen 31-Dec-2017 07:03
The picture here is of Freedom Hill complex before the 382nd Maint Detachment had their base built there. Just a note we were only 85 personel strong there when our base was built in 1969 and we were moved there. The people over at Red Beach called us The Animals.I was with the unit when we were with the 1st Cav. and stayed for almost two years with the 101st and the unit. We only lost one person in that time and accidental gunshot. Great unit and we were all like a big family. For those who knew Harry Manning I'm sorry to have to let you know that he has passed last year.
David W. Hackford 17-Nov-2017 21:55
To John Bond. I was there with you. I was also with you at Fort Eustis. I owe you a quart of whiskey. E-mail me. dwhackford@gmail.com.
Guest 26-Mar-2017 13:16
hi my name is John Bond I was with the 478th from November 68 thru December 69
Guest 21-Jan-2017 19:13
Roger Merryfied crashed in Crane June 22 1967 if anyone has pic's would like some. Thanks Roger can email me merryfields@hotmail.com
Guest 17-Nov-2015 02:31
Patrick l Davis I have pictures of the crash sight and the accident report.You can get me at bjstephens2@gmail.com
bill stephens 17-Nov-2015 01:42
was with the 478 in 1968 motor pool.Went down on a ch54a coming back from ankey.Crashed on takeoff golf coarse runway.We were over weight.
Guest 31-Aug-2015 15:15
I was at red beach camp vicking 1971,your picture look like freedom hill to me too. I was the vicking cwich board opt,and line man .
Bob Fellows 30-Jul-2014 01:11
I was aircraft electrician for the 478th Jun of 1971 to Jan 1972. My name is Bob Fellows. E-5. Awesome aircraft. I flew on many missions. Stationed at Marble Mountain Da Nang.
Patrick McCarty 03-May-2014 17:24
I was in the 382nd TC. I remember some of the people on this sight. I was still at Red Beach when the crash happened and took some of the personal effects up to what became Camp Eagle. We had some very fine people there. I was just a clerk. I have tried to locate Major Paul Lovgren, who I thought very highly of, as I think most of us did. I met someone 37 years after the FLC Marine base blew up. They used flame throwers to clear brush around the ammo dump!
Loyd Dinneen 14-Apr-2014 04:51
I was with the 382nd maintance detachment that worked with the 478th aviation company sky cranes at the freedom hill base that is in the picture. We later built hotches there and move over from red beach and was with the 101st airborne. I spent 23months 15 days in the unit 1968-1970) and was the longest old timer there. I was in charge of the sheetmetal shop. Had some great friends one was Kyle Price would sure like to get in touch with him some day.
Charles Jackson 21-Sep-2013 18:35
To SFC Davis, there were 5 people killed in that crash and 1 died later. I was supposed to be on that aircraft but was called on a mission earlier that day. I have pictures of the pieces but none of the crash sight.
Bill Campbell 25-May-2013 13:23
my name is Bill Campbell I was in 478th from nov 67 thru june 69
my e-mail whatjasay101@yahoo.com
Guest 30-Mar-2013 21:09
To "guest" that posted on 2-6-2012 my father was in 478th Aviation Co same place same time. He was a crane operator on a Skycrane. If you would like to contact me my email address is nascarfreak082003@yahoo.com.
Patrick L Davis SFC Army 30-Jun-2012 16:35
Would like to see a picture of the skycrane that crashed in An Khe in South Vietnam Around the 1st of September 1968. I was in that crash, There was one man killed and Several injured at the time.
Guest 06-Feb-2012 19:02
ATC,478th Aviation Company,Red Beach/Freedom Hill, Da Nang, '69-'70, "Up Tight"
rervin 11-Sep-2011 15:18
Great photo. I was a Seabee in MCB 133 Delta Co. I helped built many of those revetments around Phu Bai in 1968. Thanks for posting your pictures..
FDR 28-Oct-2010 14:39
Awesome pic
poet/photographer 02-May-2009 14:07
The mountains, the sky beyond the mountains, the nearer vegetation, the up-close wire & enclosure where in another time and place a wild horse might be tamed, and there you were! and there we are, even now, there we are--thru your gift of photographs. thank you
WJW 31-Dec-2008 21:04
Fantastic piece of machinery of its day, still used today in firefighting rolls.
Guest 04-Dec-2005 04:31
"Flying Crane"
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