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Post by canberra on Jun 14, 2009 19:20:34 GMT 12
In January 1970 a party of RNZAF technical staff was sent to South Vietnam to experience Skyhawk maintenance in a combat environment. Led by Flt Lt Gary Cameron, the party included two airframe fitters, John Marshal and Barry Thurston and two armament fitters, Roy Turner and Snow(?) Jenkins. The RNZAF party spent almost six weeks attached to US Marine Corps squadron VMA-311, the "Tomcats", equipped with A-4E Skyhawks. The USMC squadron was based at Chu Lai, about 50 miles (81 km) south-east of Da Nang. A second group went later in 1970. The photo below shows (I think) the second group. Can anyone name any of the guys in the photo? And even better know where they are now??  |
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Post by canberra on Jun 14, 2009 19:50:52 GMT 12
There were six on the detachment including two officers Flt Lts Sudlow And Robinson . Shaun Robinson was 75 Sqn Eng Off. Suds was from avionics Ohakea. The marine corps uniforms were issued on arrival at Danang. The detachment was attached to VMA311 , Mag 11 1st Marine Air Wing.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 14, 2009 20:19:45 GMT 12
Welcome to the forum Canberra.
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Post by skyhawkdon on Jun 18, 2009 20:09:56 GMT 12
Thanks Canberra. Don't suppose you know when in 1970 the second group went? Were you on 75 Sqn at the time?
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Post by canberra on Jun 18, 2009 22:01:43 GMT 12
Thanks Canberra. Don't suppose you know when in 1970 the second group went? Were you on 75 Sqn at the time? |
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Post by canberra on Jun 18, 2009 22:10:24 GMT 12
Don, the group went in October 1970. I was on 75 at the time, i am in the photo bottom left. Joe Keegan and Curly Hodges were Airframes i was a sumpy.
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Post by skyhawkdon on Jun 19, 2009 7:45:48 GMT 12
Thanks so much for the info Geoff.
Wow even better now that I am in contact with someone actually IN the photo! One of you guys gave me that photo at Ohakea in Feb 1995 during the Skyhawk Silver Jubilee, but I can't remember who it was!
Do you have any other photos or stories of your time there you could share with us? I have the transcript of an interview done with Barry Thurston in 1995 about their time there (done for a book on the Skyhawk Silver Jubilee that was never published). Did you hear Barry died a couple of months ago?
Cheers
Don
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Post by canberra on Jun 19, 2009 16:21:09 GMT 12
Don ,i gave you the photo at the 25th. There is also another of us taken with a group of marine groundies in front of an OV10 Bronco from marine squadron VMO2. i will attempt to post it later.The plaque that is in your photo is from VMO2 and was presented to 75 on our return. It was placed in the aircrew crew room .
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Post by shorty on Jun 19, 2009 20:20:24 GMT 12
Hi Geoff
Shorty
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Post by skyhawkdon on Jun 19, 2009 20:52:22 GMT 12
Don ,i gave you the photo at the 25th. Doh! But I'm very pleased to make the connection again 14 years later! This web site is great for that. PM message coming your way. |
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Post by skyhawkdon on Jul 2, 2009 12:47:49 GMT 12
Geoff did you get the PM message I sent you? Check for messages top right of screen after you log in.
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Post by kiwirico on Jul 21, 2009 4:47:37 GMT 12
Very interesting story..... are there more pictures available from this deployment? Did the crew also flew any missions in A-4's, or just as observers there???
Cheers,
KiwiRico
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Post by skyhawkdon on Jul 21, 2009 7:41:19 GMT 12
I doubt the 75 Sqn groundcrew did any combat flying, but there were several RNZAF Strike pilots who flew as Forward Air Controllers with the USAF in Vietnam. Unfortunately I don't have any more photos for the groundcrew, but hopefully Canberra will post some.
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