NMUSAF C-123 "Patches," looking for a certain repair...

[BattleRabbit]

So, I haven't been posting much lately, but a conversation with a coworker today inspired a visit back.

One of my coworkers is a Vietnam Veteran, and a former USAF sheetmetal-man (as he describes himself). He was an instructor in Illinois before being shipped off to Da'Nang, where he worked mostly on F-4 Phantoms.

Bill was telling me today that there is a C-123K in the NMUSAF named "Patches" because of how many hits it had sustained, and apparently he had the chance to contribute some of those patches. His patches though, are a little notable.

He did his work on the plane on February 14th, 1971. Bill has a great sense of humor, so he thought it would be a great idea to put heart shaped patches on the aircraft over the bullet holes. He told me the patches should be under the right rear door. Now since I don't think the C-123 has a split door under the tail, I am pretty sure he means the rearmost door you can see in this picture:



If anyone here who has either photographed the aircraft extensively, or works at the NMUSAF can confirm for me that his heart shaped patches are still there, it would be greatly appreciated, and I am sure it would make Bill very happy to know whether or not they are there(as the aircraft wasn't on display when he visited the NMUSAF). Pictures would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

[mustangdriver]

I will check it out it out for you. There are a ton of patches on that thing. It is one impressive aircraft.

[BattleRabbit]

Awesome, thank you!

You know, I have spent the last two hours scouring for up close pictures of that plane up close all over the internet... No one has closeups! I can't find any pictures of its restoration either. I'm either exceptionally stupid tonight, or the worst college history major in the universe...

[Avn-Tech]

Battlerabbit,

The first time I was in the Air Force (Res), I was in a CLSS Unit. Our primary mission was Battle Dammage repair. One of the planes we used for training was an F-101 from the Texas ANG.

On this airplane there was damage to the verticle stab, that we needed to repair. So we made a patch the shape of texas (there was already a texas ANG decal on the verticle).

Years later, when I was in the Army (Active Duty, Stationed at Edwards AFB), I visited a local aircraft wrecking yard. And low and behold, there was the F-101 that I had worked on. I told the owner (Bob Kilby) that I had worked on the airplane and he did not belive me. I told him to flip the veticle stab (it was laying on the ground) over and he would find the patch I made in the shape of texas. I also told him if he removed the patch, and he would find where I had signed under the patch(all three of us making the repair signed).

I have not checked recently to see if Bob still has the aircraft. Maybe next week I need to drive by his yard and see if he still has the aircraft (it also has two F-111's that I worked on).

Laterrrrrrr
Avn-Tech

[Misterg97]

Battlerabbit,

I volunteer every Friday in the Gallery where Patches is on display so I'll take a lot this coming Friday and get back to you.

[mustangdriver]

Sweet Jerry!! She is really looking nice. Is Jack Meecham still involved with the restoration?The interior really looked great, and now the exterior being polished up is looking good. I saw that they uncovered the original nose art and preserved it. That is great.

[6trn4brn]

Jerry...buddy/pal/friend/former Air Force comrade...any chance that you could make it to the restoration area and get some pix of the Belle and Swoose...possibly post them in the thread that I tried to start on the Belle restoration? And if you could talk any of the people working on the restorations into joining WIX to keep us updated...THAT would be too cool for school

For all your efforts buddy, I will buy you a hot cup of coffee next time I am there at the museum...knowing that I can't sneak a bottle of something better in

[Misterg97]

Sorry about your request ... Volunteers are treated the same as visitors. We can only go if we sign up for the Friday tour from Noon to approx 2:30. The only exception is that once a year they have restoration open to volunteers and one guest in the evening from 6 to 10 pm. Otherwise, I would have been glad to have helped.

I'll see if I can find any volunteers who also volunteer at Restoration that might be interested. However, since my time is spent every Friday morning and in the same gallery every week (my choice) my contacts with others are on a somewhat limited basis.

[6trn4brn]

Thanx Jerry for any help. Sorry for getting this thread off track...back to your normal programming


(While I was stationed at Grissom, our squadron was in charge of keeping the Boxcar there looking pretty. 20 years later I met one of the crew chiefs who turned wrenches on her while she was in Air Force service. Small world)

[BattleRabbit]

I really don't want to impose, but if you could please take pictures of the patches if they are still there, it would be awesome. I am only working til Friday, so I'll have to email him the pictures(full time student, I'm on spring break atm). I think it would more than make his day to find his work was in a museum!(no less the NMUSAF!)

[Misterg97]

I'll see what I can do and take my small pocket digital with me. In the meantime, send me a pm with your email address and that way I can send some photos without all the photobucket, etc.

[Holedigger]

Let us all in on "the rest of the story" if you can. It is the cool little stories like this that really make WIX a fun place to hang and pick up little bits of aviation history, cool little bit!

[mustangdriver]

Jerry if you need help posting the pic on WIX let me know and I can help.