Michael A.

1/72 A-26K (New Tool) 1/48 AH-1G 1/48 OH-6A 1/32 AH-1G 1/48 UH-1C/M Gunship (New Tool)

Looking For: Scale Aircraft Modeling Magazine Vol. 40; 1 Mar 18 with IAF Kfir C2 & C7 article Prefer USA & APO return address thanks in advance Michael A.

Michael A. Campbell 7505 Venture Court Raleigh, NC 27615-5572 ma5campbell@hotmail.com Thanks much, is there anything I can look for on your behalf? Michael A.

Yes, still looking for as many as 8 pr. any help would be appreciated. Thanks for the response. Michael A.

In the early 1980's the Air Force was attempting to give all A-10s to the Army, but only the airframes. No pilots, no maintainers or anything else, just take them and go away. Fortunately we still have this weapons system in the US inventory. Michael A.

Armando, Yes, looking for 8 items. Not sure about an international exchange, Your thoughts are welcome. Michael

In the late 1980s the PACAF Public Affairs Office released a photo of an Okinawa based F-15 that showed the bottom of the aircraft. One of the stabilizers actually had the wing-walk markings on the bottom which was interesting to see once you figured out what was actually going on. They are interchangeable as previously stated and not necessarily repainted immediately. Michael A.

I need 6 - 10 1/72 scale BLU-27 Napalm Bombs parts No. 4 and 5 from the Hasegawa Weapons Set No. 1 for an upcoming project. Can trade for other Hasagawa weapons or pay in USPO Money Order. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Michael A.

Disappointing! I purchased but have not used sheet No: 72-019, UH-1 Hueys. Only one Razorback decal is provided for the 120th AHC Gunship, this is for the left pilot’s door. No Razorback is provided for the pilot’s right door and since the Razorback is facing forward purchasing a second sheet is not a solution.

A/C in the Left Seat Some units and A/Cs practiced this in that the left seat had better visibility for an autorotation and the A/C was much more experienced with autorotation’s. An aircraft inadvertently going IFR (Instrument Flying Rules) with the A/C in the left seat presents another set of challenges. Keep in mind that most of the primary navigation instruments are on the right side of the instrument which is now in front of the co-pilot. Have gone through this once from the back seat I can tell you that the situation gets a little ‘sporty’ in a hurry. We inadvertently flew into a rain storm at about 0300 in the morning at an altitude much lower than a big mountain that we were very close to. Our very experienced A/C entered a climbing standard rate turn until we bored our way out the top of the storm. We were well in excess of 10,000 feet AGL when we broke out on top. Meanwhile the co-pilot had developed a pretty good case of special disorientation and can no longer communicate coherently with the rest of the crew or would even let go of the map he was holding. The three of us in the back finally realize the gravity of the situation when the A/C tells us to gather three sets of seat belts and have them ready. “If the co-pilot touches the controls, pop the dead man handles on his seat and strap him to the floor.” An Alpha Sierra moment to say the least! About 45 minutes later we are home safe and sound and called it ‘a night!’ Fortunately the co-pilot did not interfere with the flight controls and we did not have to restrain him.

Vietnam Era Helicopter Names & Nose Art John Brennan has published 4 paperback books on the subject: ‘US Army Helicopter Names in Vietnam’ was the first. The two listed below contain the most photographs and I would highly recommend the entire series to the serious Vietnam historian and modeler. Vietnam War Helicopter Art: U.S. Army Rotor Aircraft (Stackpole Military Photo Series) Paperback – February 1, 2014 Vietnam War Helicopter Art: U.S. Army Rotor Aircraft (Stackpole Military Photo Series) Paperback – September 1, 2012

My guess; It is hot outside! All of the C-123s that I rode on as a PAX in SEA had open windows at about that location to allow for ventilation of the cargo area. The photo above also shows some sort of a wall behind the open window. Another guess is that this wall allows for fresh air to get into the aircraft but blocks all interior lighting from being visible from outside the aircraft at night. Just my thoughts on the subject, your experience may vary. Michael A.

Robert, It is my belief that a 2" wide reflective tap was used to make a stripe along the outer edge / side of the external fuel tanks on B-52s during this period. The last 3 digits of the aircraft's serial number was also crafted using the reflective tape and appeared in the center of the stripe on at least some aircraft as well. The reflective tape helps prevent flight line accidents such as driving into an aircraft at night and the abbreviated serial number helps locate a particular aircraft, again at night. Good luck on your project and keep us posted with your progress. Michael A.

MAG-13 and the Marines were long gone by the time I got to Chu Lai. Army aviation had moved to the airfield and into the 7 large modern hangers all of which were destroyed by Typhoon Hester in Oct of 71 along with 35 aircraft. We worked a number of incidents west of Duc Pho and as far west of Chu Lai as Mary Ann. I worked Mary Ann both before and after they got hit in March of 71 but was in Pleiku with an On-Site team at the time of the attack. Thien Phouc: We refuel their several times in the fall of 71. Most memorable was the day that the pilot kept complaining about a vibration in the rudder pedals and the fact that the vibration kept changing in intensity from time to time. We had shut down a couple of times trying to ID the problem with no luck. He finally shut down and said we were not going anywhere until we figured out what was going on. The crew started another ‘Daily’ inspection and after a short time found the problem. About two feet of hippie beads were wrapped around the tail rotor drive shaft at one of the hanger barring. Problem solved? No, it gets better. As a result of calling for and completing a second ‘Daily’ inspection it was discovered that a nut had come off of a bolt on the swash plate portion of the rotor system. A critical fault! DaNang: My first assignment. The EOD unit in DaNang was one of two metropolitan units in Vietnam, the other being in Saigon. We occupied a two story villa on Quang Trong Street. I was the numerical replacement for a SSG that had been killed in the fall of 70. We had both served in the same organization in the states. I also became the replacement for an EOD school classmate that was injured the night after I arrived in country and was still sitting at 90th Replacement. Did some work in Arizona Country and the hills west and south of DaNang after the last of the Marines departed country. First Helicopter Ride: Vandergrift to Kae Sahn for Lam Son 719. A rude awakening to the ‘big-league’ and the learning curve was going to be steep! I would not swap my tour in Vietnam for anything that I have done since.

Nothing Special! I was an EOD team member and occasionally team leader in various parts of I Corps. If you flew out to a line unit in the field for an EOD incident you might be gone for a couple of hours or a couple of days. If you did not take ‘it’ with you, you did without. My last unit stood down along with the Americal at Chu Lai in late 1971. We were located on the airfield next to the parking ramp. No matter what came or went, it went by our front door. Michael A.