JWilsonphoto wrote:
Anyone notice that we are a hiccup away from nine million views? Kind of amazing, we should throw a party!
Jim,
I had not been paying attention. That is an awesome milestone! We should be meeting in an Airplane hanger for cocktails, Texas BBQ, and a reunion. McKinney, Texas sounds like a nice location .
DanNehmer wrote:
Jim,
I had not been paying attention. That is an awesome milestone! We should be meeting in an Airplane hanger for cocktails, Texas BBQ, and a reunion. McKinney, Texas sounds like a nice location .
All have a good day,
Dan
Indeed! And Fred should be buying the BBQ..............
JWilsonphoto wrote:
Thanks Dan! It's easy to see God's work everywhere that one looks, but in the sky I've always found it to be a real no brainer!
That may be a subliminal thought when I decided to go airborne in the Army Jim! Alone, falling thru the clouds/sky...the silence, the wind whispering thru the chutes cords...the humidity of the clouds hitting your face...magical!
Danpbphoto wrote:
That may be a subliminal thought when I decided to go airborne in the Army Jim! Alone, falling thru the clouds/sky...the silence, the wind whispering thru the chutes cords...the humidity of the clouds hitting your face...magical!
Sorry Dan . . . . not while the airplane is still working OK . . . :-D
JWilsonphoto wrote:
Exactly Dan!
I have never jumped into a combat situation thank heavens! I am sure the above thoughts were the furthest thing from the green tracers headed for me and my men! God please help us!!!
I have repelled into situations but luckily there was no incoming fire!
Jan-Arie wrote:
Oldie from 2013 can't remember posting this.
Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 Super Hercules USAF 02-1434
Rhode Island ANG
EHEH Eindhoven Market Garden 2013
This particular aircraft model saved many lives with re-supply on an airstrip with no corregated reinforcement and heavy NVA artillery holes...Khe Sanh 1968 The pilots were ruthless in their un loading!!!
Dan
Danpbphoto wrote:
This particular aircraft model saved many lives with re-supply on an airstrip with no corregated reinforcement and heavy NVA artillery holes...Khe Sanh 1968 The pilots were ruthless in their un loading!!!
Dan
Hi Dan, I think I did see some film footage of that unloading on the go and low drop extraction with chute.
Scary time's.
May I ask Dan was the battle of Khe Sanh in the same timeframe as the start of the Tet offensive ?
Sad news, the A-10 Demo Team just announced 2024 is their final season. I will get to see them only once this year, on Long Island, if they show up on the rehearsal day (Friday). I have other commitment on that weekend.
If I were POTUS, I would mandate an extended tour by those people with the grunts on the ground who depend upon the type of close air support that A-10s can so admirably do.
I did that as well as I could within the limits of my L-19D and her limited armaments, and with the beautiful work the A-1 SPAD's did in concert to all the Shotguns' efforts, our 3-hour station time, and the helicopters we had occasionally available.
IMHO, and IIRC, the Battle for Khe San was the result of the Tet offensive. I had DEROSed by then, but I ached for them.
One can easily see from the grunt's perspective that close air support cannot be done from 20,000 ft. by a nearly sonic dive, release and swoop back up. No offense meant to the guys doing airstrikes by the book on the selected targets.
But with a ground battle going on, loitering time and the ability to shift with the tide of battle is so very important a weapon system. And the A-10 is irreplaceable by Mach+ fighters.
I grieve with you the stopping of the A-10 Demo Team.
The Warthog was designed to be one of the Soldier's best friends which I have only gotten "pet" in a couple static displays.
Like I may have mentioned,
I have an old soldier's memory, that wishes I had had an A-10 instead of an L-19.
Rant off.
So well said Ed! Can't imagine doing what you did, in that environment in an L-19, my hat is off to you sir! How many hours did you end up with in your logbook?
IIRC the Warthog reluctantly came into the USAF inventory because they wanted to maintain the separation of missions with the US Army. The USAF had fixed wing AC and they only wanted the Army to have helicopters. The Army told the USAF they needed something like the Warthog and would go ahead with an RFI for such a craft. The USAF has been trying to eliminate the A-10 out of the inventory since, the only thing keeping it alive was the determination of the Army.
I believe if the Marines or the Navy had developed the A-10, it would have been treated more fairly and we could probably see newer variants.
I imagine the USAF is working on an unmanned variant to replace the A-10, if not, the Army is. The USAF is the most risk adverse department in our military. Having a pilot fly low and slow above active enemy units scares the crap out of the ladies running the USAF. (Just the opinion of a retired USAF crew chief.)
JWilsonphoto wrote:
So well said Ed! Can't imagine doing what you did, in that environment in an L-19, my hat is off to you sir! How many hours did you end up with in your logbook?
