July 8th, Jet Aircraft: A-3 Skywarrior, A-4 Skyhawk, A-5 Vigilante, A-6 Intruder, B-57 Canberra, Boeing 707, Boeing 727, C-20 Gulfstream, C-135 Stratolifter, C-140 JetStar, C-141 Starlifter

Last week was a very busy one, with many scheduled appointments as well as a few unscheduled events that delayed this update.

Judging from the very low number of visitors so far, though, I seriously doubt that there are very many disappointed followers of this blog. 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.


So, this post consists entirely of some of the jet-powered aircraft that participated in the Vietnam War. It definitely is not all inclusive, due to the fact that not all aircraft were assigned to or ever landed at Da Nang Air Base, while I was there. For example, even though the B-52 was used extensively, I never saw one at Da Nang.

A-3 Skywarrior with speed brakes deployed.

Ground crewman staying cool under folded wing of an A-3 Skywarrior.

A-3 Skywarrior parked near the revetment area.

A-4 Skyhawk from the USS Hancock.

Unit crest on an A-4 Skyhawk that appears to have completed 54 missions!

Tail of an A-4 Skyhawk.

Firing up an A-4 Skyhawk from the USS Independence.

Fire-breathing bomber, the unit crest of an A-4 Skyhawk.

A USMC version of the rugged and versatile A-4 Skyhawk.

An A-4 Skyhawk from the USS Enterprise.

An A-5 Vigilante with folded wing-tips.

A-6 Intruder from the USS Independence, VA-75 "Sunday Punchers".

An A-6 Intruder from AKTRON 85, bedded down for the night.

A-6 Intruders parked on the Da Nang flight line.

A-6 Intruders on the Da Nang flight line.

A B-57 Canberra, shortly after take-off.

Rocket pods under wing of B-57 Canberra.

B-57 Canberra.

Night maintenance on a B-57 Canberra.

A B-57 Canberra in camouflage, just before landing.

Pre-camouflaged B-57 Canberras parked in the revetment area.

B-57 Canberra in the main USAF hangar, Da Nang Air Base.

A MAC contracted TWA Boeing 707 departing Da Nang Air Base.

MAC contracted, Pan Am Boeing 727 receiving night-time service.

Tail of the Boeing 727 at sunset.

Boeing 727, with Hill 327 in the background.

A USAF C-20 Gulfstream at dusk. (Don't look too closely at my feeble restoration of a partially destroyed original photo, which I've included at the end of this post.)

A MAC C-135 Stratolifter.

C-140 JetStar on take-off.

Landing gear retraction on C-140 JetStar.

C-140 JetStar of the USAF Communications Service.

C-140 JetStar.

C-141 Starlifter.

C-141 Starlifter on the Da Nang AB tarmac. 

Original, unrestored photo of C-20 Gulfstream. 

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.

Jun 26th, VIP and USO Visitors

My next batch of photos includes shots that I took of General Westmoreland, Senator Ted Kennedy, Johnny Unitas, Frank Gifford and Sam Huff.

I had absolutely no prior knowledge that any of these individuals were going to be on the base, so I was not prepared. As I accidentally stumbled onto them, fortunately, I either had my camera on me, or I had quick access to one.

I understand that Senator Kennedy had flown in on General Westmoreland's specially appointed C-123 "White Whale" to visit South Vietnamese refugee centers in Da Nang. I happened to have my Minolta 16 mm camera in my pocket, that day, and I was able to snap off a few shots of him while he was on the tarmac. I apologize for their horrible quality. That camera took half-way decent photos, but the film apparently was very difficult for the photo finishers in Da Nang city to handle. Even the negatives were all scratched and dirty.

I don't have much recollection of General Westmoreland's visit or how I happened to spot him heading out for departure on the flight line. I think I read somewhere that he was an avid fitness buff and was extremely competitive in tennis. The rumor was that he had injured his left wrist while playing tennis, thus the cast.

One evening, I decided to go over to the Base Theater to watch something or other and have a bag of popcorn. After a steady diet of C-rations, the popcorn was actually the greatest incentive for going to the theater. C-rations in the Chow Hall, grilled cheese sandwiches at the Airmen's Club and popcorn at the theater were the menu choices during those days.

Sorry, I digressed...

When I got to the theater I noticed a crowd of  guys surrounding 3 men dressed in khakis just hanging out outside the theater.  Being an avid NY Giants fan, naturally I recognized Sam Huff and Frank Gifford. But there wasn't a football fan anywhere in those days who did not know who Johnny Unitas was! I found out later that they were on a USO sponsored tour of various bases in South Vietnam. I ran back to my barracks, retrieved my camera and took the photos of them shown below.

Sam Huff with Frank Gifford (only his eyes are showing)

Frank Gifford and an unidentified aviator.

Johnny Unitas looking straight into my camera.

Johnny Unitas having a laugh with unidentified Airman. 

Sam Huff and Frank Gifford chatting with Airmen.

Frank Gifford provides his autograph.

Senator Ted Kennedy draws a crowd on the flight line.

Senator Kennedy speaking to an unidentified civilian.

Senator Kennedy's "ride" - Gen. Westmoreland's White Whale. 

Senator Kennedy being greeted by unidentified civilian and possibly a USAF officer (The Base Commander, perhaps?)

General Westmoreland and entourage preparing to depart Da Nang Air Base.

General Westmoreland with left wrist in cast.

General Westmoreland en-route to his C-123 "White Whale" aircraft.

General Westmoreland having a few final words before boarding.