Vietnamese Recoveries

[jmkendall]

I was reading a '93 issue of "Warbirds Worldwide" and it had an article on a man who was recovering aircraft from Vietnam. He had already exported two A-37s, and had already arranged for the transport of a number of A-1s, F8Fs, and P-63s. As well as a number of canned engines.

Whatever came of this? Anyone know?

Oh, yes the man was an Austrialian; Craig Nicols.

Joe

[6trn4brn]

Sounds interesting enough...anybody heard anything?

[P51Mstg]

P-63s - Probably not, I don't recall any in SE Asia. The F8Fs, Thailand used to use them, there were a few left, I think 2 or 3 as gate guards. seems like I read one got out and got restored. T-37s several got out, as the A-1s.

What happened to them? I really don't know.

Mark H

[shoki]

The French Air Force used kingcobra's in Vietnam in the late 40's early 50's.

[PeterA]

The French Air Force used kingcobra's in Vietnam in the late 40's early 50's.

...and Spitfires and Seafires.

I wonder.

PeterA

[airnutz]

There were at least 3 F8F-1's at Tan Son Nhut..one of them was recovered by Jean Salis
and flys here in the states as N58204, Buno 95255 according to Scott's registry.

Also in the registry is a listing for another at Bien Hoa and one at Nha Trang.
In the past few years some folks or folk were passing some rumours on several forums
including WIX, that some F8F's were coming out of 'Nam..thru the back door in Thailand..IIRC..but it was BS..
You might PM Warbirdnerd as I believe he is more "up" on the details than I.

As to the engines in cans..I have talked to or read accounts of folks who've witnessed them or knew the people who did,
and as I understand it, when the NVA took over they opened the sealed containers to see what was inside.
Now the engines have spent 30 some odd years in wet environs and are now junk.

I hope this helps or at least steers someone in the right direction..
EDIT...! details...details...

Last edited by airnutz on Mon Jan 14, 2008 5:45 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Bill Greenwood]

Back about the late 60s I saw a propaganda film which I believe had been made by the French, could have also been S. Vietnamese or even US. I remember it as having English subtitiles. Anyway the theme was how the French as a modern power were going to defeat the primitive Vietnamese. Three points were given in regard to the Battle of Dien Ben Phu. I. Although the natives had the high ground they had no artillery, and they could not get it up the mountain slopes if they did, and even if they did, the French dive bombers, F8Fs would destroy the artillery. The next newsreel showed the Vietnamese digging up long hidden artillery, then hauling it by hand up steep jungle slopes overlooking the French fort, then shooting down the French planes trying to bomb them at low level. It has been a long time, and I wasn't a pilot then, but the planes looked like Bearcats.
If anybody has an interest in the battle, there is a book HELL IN A VERY SMALL PLACE. I doesn't deal much in aircraft though.

[Bill Greenwood]

Back about the late 60s I saw a propaganda film which I believe had been made by the French, could have also been S. Vietnamese or even US. I remember it as having English subtitiles. Anyway the theme was how the French as a modern power were going to defeat the primitive Vietnamese. Three points were given in regard to the Battle of Dien Ben Phu. I. Although the natives had the high ground they had no artillery, and they could not get it up the mountain slopes if they did, and even if they did, the French dive bombers, F8Fs would destroy the artillery. The next newsreel showed the Vietnamese digging up long hidden artillery, then hauling it by hand up steep jungle slopes overlooking the French fort, then shooting down the French planes trying to bomb them at low level. It has been a long time, and I wasn't a pilot then, but the planes looked like Bearcats.
If anybody has an interest in the battle, there is a book HELLL IN A VERY SMALL PLACE. I doesn't deal much in aircraft though.

[RickH]

There were pictures and an article in Air C. that showed fresh 3350s in cans. The aurthor and photographer of the piece saw the cans opened in front of him, he heard the hiss as the cans depressurized. The pictures showed pristine 3350s. This article was published within the last 5 years. There were also pictures of A-1s still in revetments, one in a hangar that had sunlight streaming through frag holes in the sides. He even spoke of a C-130 still loaded and the cargo was tagged and dated to the day the south was overrun.

[Obergrafeter]

Back before it was legal to have equipment from Viet Nam we saw several engines and other equipment when we were looking for warbirds in Mexico. Not worth going to Levenworth over they tried there best to get us to buy it. Some of it found its way into the country. (Whats the statue of limitations on this?) I do know that some of the shipment was confiscated in Florida and some people went to jail. Glad I didn't bite and get any of it.