Jun 30th, Battle Damage

Da Nang Air Base frequently served as an emergency safe haven for battle damaged aircraft. Occasionally, I happened to be on the flight line with a camera and I was able to capture a few close-up photos of those aircraft.

Also, one morning after we had received a mortar/rocket attack, I went out with my camera to assess the damage. One round had landed in the POL area which was very close to my barracks.  Later, I heard that an AP had been killed in the same attack. I have included photos of some of that damage, in this post.

Another incident occurred out on the flight line, as I was returning to the Electric Shop on my bike. An Air Force flight line pick-up truck approached from the rear and decided at the last moment to make a right hand turn behind me. Unfortunately, the truck's front bumper speared the rear wheel of my bike, sending me somersaulting over the handlebars, landing on the tarmac. Fortunately, I was uninjured except for a few minor cuts and scrapes on my hands and arms. But my bike didn't fare as well. The rear wheel and handlebars were bent beyond repair. The truck's driver was so upset and concerned at what had happened that he paid me, on the spot ($15), for a new bike. I've included photos of that "battle damaged" bike.

I hope that you find these photos to be interesting. Is this a worthwhile project?  Please let me know your thoughts about whether or not I should continue, and/or how I might improve it.

Tail damage to an F-4 Phantom II.

Damage to right wing trailing edge on an F-4 Phantom II. 

Damage to right wing leading edge of an F-4 Phantom II. A miracle the wing did not break off! 

Rear fuselage damage to an F-105 Thunderchief.

Damage to vertical stabilizer on an F-105 Thunderchief.

BBC cameraman setting up to film an A-4 Skyhawk's damage.

BBC cameraman filming an A-4 Skyhawk with damage just behind the cockpit. 

BBC cameraman prepares to begin filming a damaged A-4 Skyhawk. 

BBC cameraman filming an A-4 Skyhawk with damage just behind the cockpit. 

BBC cameraman finishes up filming a damaged A-4 Skyhawk. 

Damage to area behind the A-4 Skyhawk's cockpit.

Close-up view of damage just to the rear of cockpit on an A-4 Skyhawk.

A-4 Skyhawk with severe nose damage, including a flat nose wheel tire.

Close-up of nose damage to an A-4 Skyhawk.

An HU-16 Albatross with most of it's nose destroyed. 

USAF POL pick-up truck with shrapnel damage. Impact crater in the foreground.

Close-up view of shrapnel damaged POL pick-up truck.

Shrapnel damaged Ford F-100 (1962?) POL pick-up truck. 

My first brand new, "made in Vietnam" bicycle, about 1 month after purchase. Cost - $15 

My first bicycle, shortly after an unfortunate encounter with a USAF pick-up truck.