Tue Jan 27, 2015 3:38 pm
Tue Jan 27, 2015 8:32 pm
Tue Jan 27, 2015 8:38 pm
Tue Jan 27, 2015 9:23 pm
mustangdriver wrote:I believe 664 was converted, and she did fly overseas.
Wed Jan 28, 2015 10:15 am
Wed Jan 28, 2015 5:30 pm
mustangdriver wrote:The Air Heritage website states that it went to Ranch hand modification at Wright Patterson AFB. The story I had been told by Virgil is that she did go over seas, and that there is a block of time that is not accounted for in her history correctly.
Wed Jan 28, 2015 8:56 pm
My records show that all 10 of the ex-USAF C-123B airframes were in USCG service prior to the first AF models arrival in
Viet Nam and therefore never carried the hardware mod as a spray plane. Additionally, all but 2 of the 123Bs continued in
CG service after the U.S. withdrew the spray planes from the theater - - - 1972 time frame with the last one returned to the
AF in September 1973 Two CG machines went back to the USAF in June 1969 and eventually wound up with the Royal
Thai AF and operated a transports. Only one airframe, 55-4541, was not returned to the AF as it crashed at Guam on a
training flight and was relegated to the base fire pit as a training aid for the base crash crew.
As a side note, in the 3/66 through 4/67 time frame while I was at Da Nang, we ATC types were operationally under the
C.O. of the 1st Marine Air Wing and this fine gentleman, BGEN XXXXXXXX, spread us all over the place so we would not
be in a concentrated single billeting area that could have left the 1st MAW a controller-less operation should Charlie get
lucky with his mortars and rockets. I had the good fortune to draw a 12 man squad tent for my crew that were assigned
to the radar van (Approach/Departure/GCA). The good General even threw in 24-hour armed Marines for our security.
He also did not want a bunch of USAF weenies running around with guns and not knowing which end the bullets came
out of.
Since anything that hit the ground would grow to 3 feet very quickly in the warm and moist environment, we collected used cargo
pallets from the flight line and had a beautiful wood floor - - - but weeds still grew at a rapid speed in their attempt to take
over the entire livable tent area. Hence, we would beg the folks at the 311th TCS, better known as RANCH HAND, for
some "weed killer" (aka: AGENT ORANGE) that they normally sprayed over indian country - - - about 10 gallons every
2-3 weeks and poured same over our fancy wooden floor. It sure stopped the wild weed growth, snakes, and other
critters that tried to take over our tent.
To best of my knowledge, none of my guys suffered any ill effects. Lucky, I guess, but also weed free.
Thu Jan 29, 2015 10:57 am
Thu Jan 29, 2015 11:27 am
Thu Jan 29, 2015 2:44 pm
mustangdriver wrote:The Air Heritage C-123 went to Wright Pat for conversion to UC-123 sprayer, and then drops off any records for 3 years.
Thu Jan 29, 2015 3:00 pm
Thu Jan 29, 2015 4:10 pm
mustangdriver wrote:From the Air Heritage web site
January 1966: To Aeronautical Systems Division (AFSC) Wright-Patterson AFB (To designation UC-123B, defoliant configuration)
April 1969: To Hayes Aircraft, Napier Field Dothan, AL
Thu Jan 29, 2015 5:46 pm
mustangdriver wrote:From the Air Heritage web site
January 1966: To Aeronautical Systems Division (AFSC) Wright-Patterson AFB (To designation UC-123B, defoliant configuration)
April 1969: To Hayes Aircraft, Napier Field Dothan, AL