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ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€XþJXXXÔÔ€XPzXXXþJÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôà@µµµìàÔ‡XþJXXXPzÔPage€Ú  Ú1Ú  Ú€of€Ú  Ú31Ú  ÚÔ#†XPzXXXþJ¯#Ô(Ž3ƒ $©©Ý ƒK!ÝÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€XþJXXXÔÔ€XPzXXXþJÔÝ  Ý Ý ƒK!ÝÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€XþJXXXÔÔ€XPzXXXþJÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÓ  ÓÓ0°ìpÈ xÐ (#°œX0ÓÓÈÓÔ#bbddÔÔ€XþJXXXPzÔÖ€(ÿÿÖà@bbìàÔ‡¼š+»XXþJÔò òBatcat€„€Ô_ÔKoratÔ_Ô€Storiesó óÔ#†XþJX»¼š+O#ԈР° Ðà@¡¡#ìàby€J.€J.€SmithˆÐ ¼  Ðà@..#ìàJanuary€1,€2008ˆÐ ¢ò ÐÌ€€€€€What€follows€is€a€series€of€stories€written€by€J.€J.€Smith.€€While€at€Ô_ÔKoratÔ_Ô€J.€J.€Smith€wasÐ n¾ Ða€pilot€and€aircraft€commander.€€The€stories€were€written€by€Ô_ÔJ.J.Ô_Ô€to€give€his€daughters€andÐ T ¤ Ðgrand€children€an€idea€of€his€experiences€while€in€Southeast€Asia.Ð : Š ÐÌ€€€€These€stories€reflect€a€wide€spread€of€the€situations€which€occurred.€€For€many€of€usÐ  V Ðexperiencing€a€different€culture€was€new.€€Ð ì <  ÐÌ€€€€€I€want€to€thank€Ô_ÔJ.J.Ô_Ô€Smith€for€sending€these€stories€to€me.€€Hope€you€all€enjoy€theseÐ ¸  Ðstories.Ð žî  ÐÌ€€€€Larry€Westin€„€Batcat€homepage€webmaster€€Ð jº  ÐÌÌÌÌÌÐ  Î ÐàQBB$ìàò òRunaway€Propó óÔB  ÔÔC  ԈР° ÐÓH.°°` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#°ì…X(#HÓÌà  àIn€October,€1967,€we€left€Otis€AFB,€Massachusetts€to€start€the€deployment€of€theÐ |Ì Ð553rd€Reconnaissance€Wing€to€Ô_ÔKoratÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔRTAFBÔ_Ô,€Thailand.€€We€flew€an€Ô_ÔECÔ_Ô-121R,€theÐ b² Ðairplane€we'd€be€using€in€SEA.€Major€Bob€Ô_ÔColoneyÔ_Ô€was€my€aircraft€commander.€€Only€theÐ H˜ Ðflight€crew€plus€a€wing€pilot€and€some€maintenance€personnel€went€with€us.€€The€backÐ . ~ Ðend€crew€would€go€by€MAC.€€There€were€four€airplanes€in€the€first€group.Ð  d Ðà  àThe€airplane€was€loaded€with€much€more€baggage€than€we€would€have€been€ableÐ ú J Ðto€take€if€we€had€gone€by€MAC.€€There€were€motorcycles,€bicycles€and€even€a€couple€ofÐ à 0 Ðused€refrigerators.€€And,€we€had€our€washboards.Ð Æ   Ðà  àWe€flew€from€Otis€AFB€to€McClellan€AFB,€Sacramento,€California€for€our€first€RON.€Ð ¬ ü  ÐMcClellan€was€not€chosen€for€our€RON€on€a€whim.€€They€had€Ô_ÔConniesÔ_Ô€stationed€thereÐ ’â  Ðand€maintenance€would€be€no€problem€if€we€had€any€mechanical€trouble.Ð xÈ  Ðà  àWe€were€to€fly€from€McClellan€to€Ô_ÔHickamÔ_Ô€AFB,€Honolulu,€Hawaii,€RON;€fly€to€WakeÐ ^®  ÐIsland,€refuel,€fly€to€Andersen€AFB,€Guam,€RON€and€then€fly€to€Ô_ÔKoratÔ_Ô.Ð D”  Ðà  àThe€next€evening,€about€dark,€we€were€to€take€off€for€Ô_ÔHickamÔ_Ô.€Bob€Ô_ÔColoneyÔ_Ô€was€aÐ *z  Ðwonderful€AC€to€fly€with.€€He€knew€I€had€been€bumped€from€the€left€seat€to€the€right€seatÐ ` Ðmerely€because€I€didn't€have€enough€rank.€€Consequently,€he€allowed€me€to€fly€everyÐ öF Ðother€mission€from€the€left€seat.€€The€flight€from€McClellan€to€Ô_ÔHickamÔ_Ô€was€to€be€my€leg.Ð Ü, Ðà  àWe€loaded€up€our€people,€shut€the€door€and€started€engines.€€We€taxied€out€to€theÐ Â Ðrunway€and€did€our€runup.€€A€wing€pilot€was€flying€as€copilot€and€Bob€Ô_ÔColoneyÔ_Ô€was€sittingÐ ¨ø Ðin€the€crew€rest€seats€near€the€galley.€€The€copilot€got€our€clearance€and€we€ran€theÐ ŽÞ ÐBEFORE€TAKEOFF€checklist.€€We€taxied€onto€the€runway€and€started€our€takeoff€roll.Ð tÄ Ðà  àAs€the€copilot€called€"Ô_ÔVRÔ_Ô"€and€I€rotated€the€aircraft€for€takeoff,€I€heard€a€propellerÐ Zª Ðgo€to€full€low€pitch€and€Ô_ÔoverspeedÔ_Ô.€€This€was€the€first€time€this€had€ever€happened€to€me.€Ð @ ÐI€had€heard€the€sound€of€a€runaway€prop€described€and€I€recognized€it€immediately.Ð &v Ðà  àThere€is€a€piston€inside€a€prop€hub€that€is€moved€by€oil€pressure.€€There€is€oilÐ  \ Ðpressure€on€each€side€of€the€piston€and€this€pressure€keeps€the€prop€in€the€pitch€selected.€Ð òB ÐAt€takeoff,€the€props€are€set€at€low€pitch€which€in€turns€allows€the€propeller€to€turn€at€aÐ Ø( Ðhigher€RPM.€€In€this€case,€the€pressure€failed,€for€some€unknown€reason,€and€theÐ ¾ Ðpropeller€went€to€an€almost€flat€pitch.€€When€this€happens,€the€airflow€over€the€propeller€isÐ ¤ô Ðdriving€it€and€the€RPM€increases.€€Thus€the€propeller€is€driving€the€engine€rather€than€viceÐ Š Ú Ðversa.€€The€takeoff€RPM€for€the€Connie€was€2800€RPM.€€This€prop€increased€to€aboutÐ p!À  Ð3200€RPM.€€Since€the€prop€is€not€producing€any€thrust,€it€acts€like€a€brake.€€In€effect,€youÐ V"¦! Ðhave€an€area€about€the€size€of€a€barn€door€acting€as€a€speed€brake.€€At€liftoff,€this€is€notÐ <#Œ" Ðan€ideal€situation.Ð "$r# Ðà  àThe€first€indication€of€the€runaway€was€the€noise€of€its€increasing€RPM.€€This€wasÐ %X $ Ðaccompanied,€almost€simultaneously€by€the€aircraft€yawing€to€the€right€into€theÐ î%>!% ÐÔ_ÔoverspeedingÔ_Ô€number€three€engine.Ð Ô&$"& Ðà  àThe€flight€engineer€shouted,€"Ô_ÔOverspeedÔ_Ô€on€number€three!€€I€can't€control€it!"Ð º' #' Ðà  à"Roger,"€I€called€to€him,€"reduce€the€throttle€on€three€and€feather€it!"€€I€had€to€use€aÐ  (ð#( Ðlot€of€left€rudder€to€maintain€the€takeoff€heading€during€the€climb€and€maintaining€145Ð †)Ö$) ÐÔ_ÔKIASÔ_Ô€to€gain€traffic€pattern€attitude€of€1,000€feet€Ô_ÔAGLÔ_Ô.Ð l*¼%* Ðà  àThe€copilot€advised€the€tower€of€our€problem.€€The€tower€wanted€to€know€ourÐ R+¢&+ Ðintentions.Ð 8,ˆ', Ðà  àI€heard€all€of€this€and€said€to€the€copilot,€"We'll€level€at€1,000€feet.€€Have€themÐ ° Ðdirect€us€to€area€to€dump€fuel€and€we€want€a€GCA€for€landing."Ð –æ Ðà  àHe€told€the€tower€as€I€had€directed.€€In€the€meantime,€number€three€engine€was€stillÐ |Ì ÐÔ_ÔwindmillingÔ_Ô.€€The€flight€engineer€had€run€his€ENGINE€FAILURE€AND/OR€FIRE€DURINGÐ b² ÐFLIGHT€CHECKLIST.€€This€included€feathering€and€shutting€off€the€hydraulic€fluid,€fuel,Ð H˜ Ðblast€air€and€engine€oil€on€number€three€engine.Ð . ~ Ðà  à"It€didn't€feather!"€the€engineer€called€to€me.Ð  d Ðà  à'Hell,€this€ain't€the€way€things€are€supposed€to€happen,'€I€thought.Ð ú J Ðà  à"Alright,"€I€shouted,€"monitor€it€and€let€me€know€the€RPM€on€it."Ð à 0 Ðà  àMeanwhile,€we€had€been€handed€over€to€approach€control€and€had€been€given€aÐ Æ   Ðheading€to€a€fuel€dump€area.€€To€the€copilot€I€said,€"Tell€approach€we're€dumping€fuel."€Ð ¬ ü  ÐWe€had€to€get€this€airplane€on€the€ground.€€Although€we€could€land€at€the€weight€we€hadÐ ’â  Ðtaken€off€at,€it€would€be€easier€if€we€could€dump€some€fuel.€€An€engine€Ô_ÔwindmillingÔ_Ô€withoutÐ xÈ  Ðfuel€and€oil€will€not€last€long.€€The€possibility€that€the€engine€would€seize€and€twist€off€itsÐ ^®  Ðmounts€crossed€my€mind.Ð D”  Ðà  à"Dump€fuel,"€I€called€to€the€engineer.Ð *z  Ðà  à"Roger,"€was€the€response.Ð ` Ðà  àIf€you€dump€fuel€from€an€altitude€of€500€feet€or€more,€it€will€evaporate€before€itÐ öF Ðreaches€the€ground.€€I€had€no€worries€of€houses,€lawns€or€kids€and€dogs€being€coveredÐ Ü, Ðwith€a€fine€mist€of€aviation€gasoline.Ð Â Ðà  àAbout€this€time,€number€three€engine€began€to€vibrate€and€shudder€in€30€secondsÐ ¨ø Ðcycles.Ð ŽÞ Ðà  à"Tell€the€tower€we€want€a€straight€in€approach.€€Forget€about€the€GCA,"€I€directedÐ tÄ Ðthe€copilot.Ð Zª Ðà  àHe€told€the€tower€what€I€had€said€and€we€were€given€clearance€for€an€immediateÐ @ Ðapproach.€€During€the€last€several€minutes,€I€had€sensed€Bob€Ô_ÔColoneyÔ_Ô€was€standing€in€theÐ &v Ðdoorway€to€the€cockpit,€but€he€never€ordered€me€out€of€the€seat€so€he€could€take€over.€Ð  \ ÐHe€left€it€up€to€me.Ð òB Ðà  àI€turned€back€towards€the€runway.€€We€were€about€five€miles€out€on€final.€€I€lined€upÐ Ø( Ðwith€the€runway€and€picked€up€the€Ô_ÔVASIÔ_Ô.€The€Ô_ÔVASIÔ_Ô€consists€of€four€sets€of€lights,€two,€oneÐ ¾ Ðbehind€the€other,€on€either€side€of€the€approach€end€of€the€runway.€€When€you're€aboveÐ ¤ô Ðthe€glide€path,€both€sets€of€lights€are€white.€€If€you're€on€the€glide€path,€the€front€set€ofÐ Š Ú Ðlights€is€white€and€the€rear€set€is€red.€€If€you're€below€the€glide€path,€both€sets€of€lights€areÐ p!À  Ðred.Ð V"¦! Ðà  àBeing€at€1,000€feet€and€this€far€out€from€the€runway,€both€sets€of€lights€were€red.€€IÐ <#Œ" Ðwould€maintain€1,000€feet€and€continue€the€approach€until€the€front€set€of€lights€turnedÐ "$r# Ðwhite.€€The€copilot€reminded€me€of€the€BEFORE€LANDING€checklist.€€I€called€for€it€andÐ %X $ Ðthe€copilot€and€flight€engineer€accomplished€it.Ð î%>!% Ðà  àAbout€three€miles€out,€number€three€engine€began€to€shudder€with€more€intensity.€Ð Ô&$"& ÐI€didn't€dare€increase€the€airspeed€to€shorten€the€time€we€were€on€final€for€fear€that€wouldÐ º' #' Ðmake€number€three's€propeller€windmill€faster.€€About€this€time€I€told€the€flight€engineer€toÐ  (ð#( Ðstop€dumping€fuel€and€to€give€me€the€landing€weight€and€approach€speeds.€€We€wouldÐ †)Ö$) Ðâ âstill€be€heavy€for€landing,€but€not€as€heavy€as€we€had€been€at€takeoff.Ð l*¼%* Ðà  àAt€a€mile€and€a€half,€the€front€Ô_ÔVASIÔ_Ô€lights€were€white€and€the€back€ones€were€red.€Ð ° ÐWe€had€the€checklist€completed€and€I€started€the€descent.€€Number€three€continued€toÐ –æ Ðshudder€more€frequently€and€with€greater€severity.Ð |Ì Ðâ âà  àWe€landed€without€incident€and€taxied€from€the€runway€to€our€parking€spot.€€DuringÐ b² Ðthe€landing€roll,€number€three€RPM€had€finally€gone€to€zero,€meaning€the€engine€hadÐ H˜ Ðstopped.€€When€we€had€the€engines€shut€down,€we€got€out€and€walked€around€to€look€atÐ . ~ Ðnumber€three€engine.€€Not€that€we€could€do€it€any€good€nor€diagnose€what€had€caused€itÐ  d Ðto€Ô_ÔoverspeedÔ_Ô;€we€just€wanted€to€look€at€the€source€of€our€concern€for€the€last€ten€minutes.€Ð ú J ÐMaybe€that€would€give€us€some€comfort.Ð à 0 Ðà  àNumber€three€engine's€cowling€was€covered€with€black€oil.€€The€whole€right€side€ofÐ Æ   Ðthe€fuselage€from€the€wing€to€the€tail€section€was€coated€with€black€oil.€€I€walked€over,Ð ¬ ü  Ðgrasped€the€number€three€propeller€and€tried€to€turn€it.€€I€could€not€turn€the€prop.€€TheÐ ’â  Ðengine€was€frozen€solid.€€Several€of€us,€together,€tried€to€turn€the€prop.€€No€luck.€€AnÐ xÈ  Ðengine€change€was€required.Ð ^®  Ðà  àWe€wrote€the€incident€up€in€the€Form€781€and€turned€the€airplane€over€toÐ D”  Ðmaintenance.€€It€would€be€at€least€12€hours€before€we€could€take€off.€€By€regulation,€weÐ *z  Ðwould€have€to€have€at€least€12€hours€of€crew€rest€before€the€next€takeoff.€€MaintenanceÐ ` Ðcould€probably€do€the€engine€change€in€6€hours€and€€the€McClellan€Connie€Wing€wouldÐ öF Ðtake€care€of€the€flight€check.€€Our€next€takeoff€was€set€for€1400€the€next€afternoon.Ð Ü, Ðà  àWe€went€back€to€the€BOQ,€had€a€few€beers€(of€which€I€bought€most)€and€went€toÐ Â Ðbed.Ð ¨ø Ðà  àThe€next€day€Bob€Ô_ÔColoneyÔ_Ô€and€I€walked€down€to€maintenance€to€see€how€theÐ ŽÞ Ðengine€change€was€coming.€€They€had€changed€the€engine€and€it€was€to€be€flight€tested€aÐ tÄ Ðcouple€of€hours€later.Ð Zª Ðà  àI€asked€the€Chief€Master€Sergeant,€Ô_ÔNCOICÔ_Ô€of€Maintenance,€if€they€had€found€whyÐ @ Ðthe€prop€had€Ô_ÔoverspedÔ_Ô€and€why€we€couldn't€feather€it.€€He€gave€me€a€long€explanation€ofÐ &v Ðwhich€I€understood€about€10%.Ð  \ Ðà  à"The€crux€of€it,€Captain,€is€a€part€was€installed€backwards€at€Ontario€when€theyÐ òB Ðwere€rehabilitating€the€airplanes€after€coming€out€of€the€bone€yard.€€This€old€airplane€is€soÐ Ø( Ðgood€that€even€installed€backwards,€the€part€worked€okay€for€several€months.€It€justÐ ¾ Ðhappened€to€fail€on€your€takeoff.€€When€the€part€failed,€there€was€no€way€you€could€haveÐ ¤ô Ðfeathered€that€prop."Ð Š Ú Ðà  àBob€and€I€didn't€say€anything.€€What€was€there€to€say?€€We€thanked€the€Sergeant,Ð p!À  Ðleft€and€went€back€to€the€Officers'€Club€for€lunch.€€We€talked€about€the€incident€over€lunchÐ V"¦! Ðand€tried€to€figure€out€why€we€had€been€so€fortunate.€€We€were€lucky€in€that€the€weatherÐ <#Œ" Ðhad€been€good€and€we€were€able€to€make€a€VFR€approach€when€number€three€hadÐ "$r# Ðstarted€to€vibrate€badly.€€If€the€weather€had€been€Ô_ÔIFRÔ_Ô€and€we€had€Ô_ÔhadÔ_Ô€to€make€a€GCA,€itÐ %X $ Ðwould€have€added€about€ten€minutes€to€the€approach.€€Would€the€engine€have€lastedÐ î%>!% Ðanother€ten€minutes?€€Who€knows?€€Or€suppose€it€had€happened€out€over€the€PacificÐ Ô&$"& ÐOcean,€hours€away€from€a€landing€field.€€We€had€made€it€and€that's€all€that€mattered.Ð º' #' Ðà  àAt€1300,€we€were€back€on€the€airplane.€€Again,€the€wing€pilot€was€my€copilot€and€IÐ  (ð#( Ðwas€in€the€left€seat.€€Bob€hadn't€counted€the€previous€evening's€20€minute€flight€as€a€fullÐ †)Ö$) Ðleg.€€Some€route€changes€had€been€made.€€We€would€now€fly€to€Ô_ÔHickamÔ_Ô,€refuel,€fly€toÐ l*¼%* ÐWake€Island€and€RON.€€The€next€day€we€would€fly€to€Andersen€AFB,€Guam,€refuel€and€flyÐ R+¢&+ Ðto€Ô_ÔKoratÔ_Ô.€€No€Ô_ÔMaiÔ_Ô€Tais€in€Hawaii€nor€no€RON€at€Andersen€AFB.€€Wake€wasn't€a€bad€RONÐ 8,ˆ', Ðif€it€were€only€for€one€night.€€There€was€the€Drifter's€Reef,€a€small€open€air€bar,€withÐ ° ÐDaiquiris,€on€the€rocks,€made€with€fresh€lime€juice€and€served€on€the€rocks.Ð –æ Ðà  àThe€rest€of€the€deployment€continued€to€Ô_ÔKoratÔ_Ô€without€incident.Ð |Ì ÐÌÓ3°ìpÈ xÐ (#°°ŒX(#3ÓÐ  H˜ ÐàQšš"ìàò òThe€Ô_ÔKoratÔ_Ô€Missionó óÔB  ÔÔC  ԈР° ÐÓH.°°` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#°ì…X(#HÓÌà  àBack€in€the€mid„sixties€Lyndon€Johnson€was€President€and€Robert€McNamara,Ð |Ì Ðformer€whiz€kid€at€the€Ford€Motor€Company,€was€Secretary€of€Defense.€€The€VietnamÐ b² ÐWar€was€just€starting€to€heat€up.€€The€North€Vietnamese€were€infiltrating€supplies€andÐ H˜ Ðtroops€into€South€Vietnam€down€the€Ho€Chi€Minh€Trail.€€The€Trail€started€in€North€VietnamÐ . ~ Ðand€crossed€into€Laos€before€reaching€the€DMZ€between€North€and€South€Vietnam.€€ItÐ  d Ðcontinued€on€down€through€Laos€and€branched€off€at€many€points€to€South€Vietnam.Ð ú J Ðà  àIt€was€hard€to€detect€travel€on€the€Trail€because€of€the€thick€jungle€canopy.€Ð à 0 ÐMcNamara€turned€the€task€of€detecting€traffic€on€the€Trail€to€one€of€his€Pentagon€thinkÐ Æ   Ðtanks.€€The€think€tank€seized€on€this€idea€and€ran€with€it.€€The€result€of€it€was€an€operationÐ ¬ ü  Ðcalled€Igloo€White.Ð ’â  Ðà  àIgloo€White,€in€its€simplest€form,€was€this.€€Plant€acoustic€sensors€along€the€Trail,Ð xÈ  Ðhave€aircraft€monitor€the€sensors€and€relay€the€information€to€a€Combat€InformationÐ ^®  ÐCenter€(Ô_ÔCICÔ_Ô).€€The€Ô_ÔCICÔ_Ô€would€in€turn€call€in€air€strikes€to€interdict€the€Trail€and€its€traffic.€Ð D”  ÐNice€theory,€but€expensive€as€hell€at€the€time.€€I€don't€recall€the€cost€but€it€was€in€theÐ *z  Ðbillions.Ð ` Ðà  àFirst€a€sensor€had€to€be€developed.€€Then€a€sensor€delivery€system€had€to€beÐ öF Ðdeveloped.€€Then€a€monitor€system€had€to€be€developed.€€Then€a€Ô_ÔCICÔ_Ô€system€had€to€beÐ Ü, Ðdeveloped.€€Money€was€no€object.€€Igloo€White€had€one€of€the€highest€funding€priorities€inÐ Â Ðthe€Pentagon€budget.Ð ¨ø Ðà  àI€don't€know€if€any€of€this€is€still€classified€so€I€won't€go€into€detail€on€what€theÐ ŽÞ Ðsensor€looked€like€or€how€it€worked.€€Suffice€it€to€say€it€did.€€The€Navy€came€up€with€aÐ tÄ Ðdelivery€system€using€aircraft€already€in€their€inventory.€€The€USAF€developed€aÐ Zª Ðmonitoring€system€and€used€the€old€Super€Constellation€C„121€to€carry€it.€€The€militaryÐ @ Ðintelligence€community€developed€a€Ô_ÔCICÔ_Ô.Ð &v Ðà  àThe€Ô_ÔCICÔ_Ô€was€located€at€Ô_ÔNakomÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔPhanomÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔRTAFBÔ_Ô,€in€northeast€Thailand€just€acrossÐ  \ Ðthe€Mekong€River€from€Laos.€€The€Super€Ô_ÔConniesÔ_Ô,€designated€Ô_ÔECÔ_Ô„121R€with€the€553rdÐ òB ÐReconnaissance€Wing,€were€stationed€at€Ô_ÔKoratÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔRTAFBÔ_Ô.€€I€don't€know€where€the€NavyÐ Ø( Ðworked€out€of.€€They€may€have€been€in€country€South€Vietnam.€€Ð ¾ Ðà  àThe€plan€was€to€build€the€Ô_ÔCICÔ_Ô€and€get€it€operational,€drop€the€sensors€by€air,€thenÐ ¤ô Ðthe€Ô_ÔECÔ_Ô„121Rs€(call€sign,€Batcat)€would€fly€a€racetrack€pattern€to€monitor€the€sensors€andÐ Š Ú Ðdata€link€the€raw€information€to€the€Ô_ÔCICÔ_Ô€where€it€would€be€computer€enhanced.€Ð p!À  ÐAdditionally,€the€Ô_ÔBatcatsÔ_Ô€would€tape€record€and€manually€log€the€sensor€information.€€TheÐ V"¦! Ðlogs€and€tapes€would€be€flown€the€next€day€to€the€Ô_ÔCICÔ_Ô€to€be€compared€with€the€computerÐ <#Œ" Ðenhanced€data€received€from€the€Ô_ÔBatcatsÔ_Ô.Ð "$r# Ðà  àWe€originally€had€three€orbits;€green,€yellow€and€blue.€€One€was€around€the€DMZÐ %X $ Ðnear€Ô_ÔKesahnÔ_Ô,€another€in€the€Ô_ÔAshauÔ_Ô€Valley€area€of€South€Vietnam€and€another€was€in€theÐ î%>!% ÐSouth€Vietnam€Delta€area.Ð Ô&$"& Ðà  àAs€the€year€went€by,€these€were€more€or€less€our€major€missions.€€Occasionally,Ð º' #' Ðanother€area€would€heat€up,€sensors€would€be€sown€and€we€would€shift€aircraft€over€toÐ  (ð#( Ðmonitor€the€new€area.Ð †)Ö$) Ðà  àWe€had€the€three€orbits€covered€twenty€four€hours€a€day.€€Each€orbit€required€threeÐ l*¼%* Ðâ âaircraft€per€day,€eight€hours€of€on€station€time€per€mission.€€This€meant€maintenance€hadÐ R+¢&+ Ðto€really€work€to€have€nine€aircraft€each€day€ready€to€fly,€plus€generate€a€spare€for€eachÐ ° Ðtakeoff.Ð –æ Ðâ âà  àDid€it€work?€€Yes€and€no.€€Yes,€the€Navy€could€deliver€the€sensors€along€a€trail€andÐ |Ì Ðthe€sensors€broadcast€the€sounds€of€movement€on€the€trails,€Ô_ÔiÔ_Ô.€e.,€trucks,€elephants,Ð b² Ðbicycles,€water€buffaloes.€€Yes,€the€Ô_ÔBatcatsÔ_Ô€monitored€the€sensors€and€down€linked€theÐ H˜ Ðdata€to€the€Ô_ÔCICÔ_Ô€computers.€€But,€there€the€system€tended€to€break€down.Ð . ~ Ðà  àThe€Ô_ÔCICÔ_Ô€personnel€marked€the€hot€spots€on€their€computer€printouts€and€sent€theÐ  d Ðinformation€to€the€tactical€mission€planners.€€By€the€time€the€planners€got€the€informationÐ ú J Ðand€Ô_ÔfraggedÔ_Ô€a€mission€for€the€area,€the€information€was€one€to€two€days€old.€€When€theÐ à 0 Ðstrike€aircraft€got€there€all€the€activity€had€moved€somewhere€else.Ð Æ   Ðà  àI€heard€after€I€rotated€to€my€next€assignment,€the€Batcat€Ô_ÔCICOÔ_Ô€was€allowed€muchÐ ¬ ü  Ðwider€latitude.€€If€he€had€something€really€good€and€there€was€a€Ô_ÔFACÔ_Ô€in€the€area,€he€couldÐ ’â  Ðcall€the€airborne€Ô_ÔTACCÔ_Ô.€The€Ô_ÔTACCÔ_Ô€would€have€the€Ô_ÔFACÔ_Ô€check€out€the€area,€and,€if€it€wasÐ xÈ  Ðhot,€the€Ô_ÔTACCÔ_Ô€would€call€in€a€fighter€strike€within€minutes.Ð ^®  Ðà  àBut,€in€a€nutshell,€that€was€the€mission€I€flew€at€Ô_ÔKoratÔ_Ô.€€I€flew€Ô_ÔECÔ_Ô„121Rs,€call€signÐ D”  ÐBatcat,€in€support€of€Operation€Igloo€White.Ð *z  ÐÌÐ  öF ÐÓ  ÓÓ3°ìpÈ xÐ (#°°ŒX(#3Óò òFirst€Mission€Out€of€Ô_ÔKoratÔ_ÔÔB  ÔÔC  ÔÐ ° ÐÓNYÓàQYY'ìàÔ_ÔECÔ_Ô„121Ró óˆÐ –æ ÐÓH.°°` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#°ì…X(#HÓÌà  àWe€got€to€Ô_ÔKoratÔ_Ô€and€waited€for€almost€six€weeks€before€we€flew€the€first€mission.€Ð b² ÐWe€flew€local€"familiarization€missions€over€to€Ô_ÔTakhliÔ_Ô,€Ô_ÔUbonÔ_Ô,€Ô_ÔUdornÔ_Ô,€Ô_ÔNakomÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔPhanomÔ_Ô€andÐ H˜ ÐDon€Muang.€€But,€nothing€remotely€associated€with€the€mission€we€had€come€here€toÐ . ~ Ðperform.Ð  d Ðà  àAnd€then€the€time€for€the€first€mission€came.€€Which€crew€would€fly€it?€€Colonel€GusÐ ú J ÐÔ_ÔWieserÔ_Ô,€the€553rd€Ô_ÔReconÔ_Ô€Wing€Commander,€flew€the€first€Batcat€mission€out€of€Ô_ÔKoratÔ_Ô.€€IÐ à 0 Ðwas€the€copilot€on€Major€Bob€Ô_ÔColoneyÔ_Ô's€crew.€€We€flew€a€mission€the€next€night.Ð Æ   Ðà  àBefore€we€left€Otis€AFB,€MA,€the€rumor€mill€was€working€overtime,€twenty€fourÐ ¬ ü  Ðhours€a€day.€€When€we€first€got€to€Otis€we€didn't€know€what€our€mission€was€going€to€be.€Ð ’â  ÐAll€we€knew€was€that€we'd€be€flying€Super€Ô_ÔConniesÔ_Ô.€€Then€we€heard€we'd€be€flying€radarÐ xÈ  Ðmissions€in€the€Gulf€of€Tonkin€near€Hanoi,€North€Vietnam.€€Then€we€got€the€Igloo€WhiteÐ ^®  Ðbriefing.€€We€came€out€of€that€shaking€out€heads.€€Did€MacNamara€seriously€think€the€badÐ D”  Ðguys€would€allow€aircraft€to€orbit€one€area€monitoring€their€activity€for€twenty€four€hours€aÐ *z  Ðday€and€make€no€effort€to€shoot€them€down?€€The€people€at€the€Pentagon€were€crazy.€Ð ` ÐStark€raving€stir€crazy€mad.€€A€lot€of€us€rechecked€wills€and€life€insurance€policyÐ öF Ðbeneficiaries.€€We€heard€there€were€MIG€airfields€just€north€of€the€DMZ,€well€within€rangeÐ Ü, Ðof€one€of€the€orbits€we€were€scheduled€to€fly.€€Sitting€around€waiting€at€Ô_ÔKoratÔ_Ô€did€nothingÐ Â Ðto€ease€any€of€the€kept„in€fears€we€had.€€And,€we€had€fears.€€The€kind€of€fears€you€don'tÐ ¨ø Ðwant€to€talk€to€anyone€else€about€in€case€they€might€laugh€at€you€or,€worse,€in€case€theyÐ ŽÞ Ðmight€have€the€same€fears.€€If€you're€in€a€bomber€or€fighter€you€have€some€degree€of€selfÐ tÄ Ðcarried€protection.€€We€had€nothing.€€Some€wag€came€up€with€the€idea€we€could€carryÐ Zª Ðmissiles€on€pylons€under€our€wings.€€I€was€against€it.€€When€you€become€capable€ofÐ @ Ðinflicting€damage,€people,€who€were€not€interested€in€you€before,€suddenly€becomeÐ &v Ðinterested€in€you.Ð  \ Ðà  àWe€flight€planned€the€mission€the€day€before.€€But,€what€do€you€flight€plan€otherÐ òB Ðthan€heading,€altitude€and€fuel?€€You€can't€plan€for€the€unknown€and€we€had€plenty€ofÐ Ø( Ðunknowns.€€Was€there€flak€in€the€area?€€Intelligence€said€no,€but€they€knew€the€bad€guysÐ ¾ Ðhad€a€mobile€flak€capability.€€The€only€emergency€airfields€were€back€in€Thailand€or€inÐ ¤ô ÐSouth€Vietnam.€€Nothing€in€Laos€over€which€we€would€be€orbiting.Ð Š Ú Ðà  àI€don't€remember€not€sleeping€good€the€night€before€the€crew's€first€mission€so€IÐ p!À  Ðmust€have€slept€alright.€€The€next€day€I€slept€late,€had€breakfast€and€began€getting€readyÐ V"¦! Ðfor€the€1500€briefing.€€Wear€your€dog€tags,€carry€only€your€military€ID€card,€no€familyÐ <#Œ" Ðpictures€nor€anything€else€such€as€letters€or€anything€that€might€tell€the€enemy€anythingÐ "$r# Ðabout€you€other€than€your€name€rank€and€serial€number,€no€squadron€insignia€on€yourÐ %X $ Ðflight€suit,€only€your€military€rank€which€was€black.Ð î%>!% Ðà  àThe€officers€met€in€front€of€the€Ô_ÔKABOOMÔ_Ô€at€1430€and€waited€for€the€bus.€€We€wentÐ Ô&$"& Ðto€the€Wing€operations€building€to€the€briefing€room.€€There€we€got€the€weather€briefingÐ º' #' Ð(Ô_ÔcumuloÔ_Ô€buildups€to€thirty€thousand€feet€plus€with€thunderstorms€likely),€the€route€briefingÐ  (ð#( Ðby€the€crew€senior€navigator,€the€emergency€briefing€by€the€aircraft€commander€and€theÐ †)Ö$) Ðâ âintelligence€briefing€by€the€wing€staff€intelligence€officer.€€Ð l*¼%* Ðà  à"The€crew€from€last€night€just€landed€a€few€hours€ago.€€They€saw€lots€of€vehicleÐ ° Ðactivity€on€the€Laotian€roads.€€There€were€a€few€sightings€of€flak€up€to€about€12€or€15Ð –æ Ðthousand€feet,€but€it€was€only€sporadic,"€he€said.Ð |Ì Ðâ âà  àAt€the€word,€"FLAK,"€Ô_ÔeverybodiesÔ_Ô'€ears€perked€up.€€We€tried€to€be€cool€andÐ b² Ðnonchalant,€but€I€think€we€failed.€€Everyone€wanted€to€ask€questions€about€the€flak,€but€weÐ H˜ Ðwere€so€inexperienced€we€didn't€know€what€to€ask.Ð . ~ Ðà  àWe€left€the€briefing€room,€went€out€to€the€bus€and€rode€to€the€parachute€building.€Ð  d ÐWe€drew€our€parachute€harnesses€(the€packs€were€Ô_ÔprepositionedÔ_Ô€on€the€airplane),€ourÐ ú J Ðsurvival€vests,€our€knife€and€gun€belt€and€other€assorted€equipment.€€We€Ô_ÔreboardedÔ_Ô€theÐ à 0 Ðbus€and€went€to€the€aircraft.Ð Æ   Ðà  àI€remember€little€of€the€Ô_ÔpreflightÔ_Ô.€€I€went€through€the€motions.€€I€took€special€pains€toÐ ¬ ü  Ðposition€my€parachute€pack€where€I€could€get€to€it.Ð ’â  Ðà  àStart€engine€time€came€and€we€started€engines.€€We€taxied€out€and€took€off.€€WeÐ xÈ  Ðclimbed€to€the€east€towards€the€Mekong€River€and€Laos.€€We€crossed€Thailand€at€10,000Ð ^®  Ðfeet.€€Approaching€the€Mekong€River,€the€border€between€Laos€and€Thailand,€weÐ D”  Ðcontinued€our€climb€to€22,000€feet.€€We€arrived€on€station€and€activated€our€missionÐ *z  Ðequipment.€€When€Igloo€White€reported€they€had€our€signal,€we€relieved€the€aircraft€thatÐ ` Ðwas€on€station.Ð öF Ðà  àWe€were€to€fly€a€race€track€pattern€defined€by€radials€and€Ô_ÔDMEÔ_Ô€off€a€Ô_ÔTacanÔ_ÔÐ Ü, Ðmaintained€by€the€CIA€in€Laos.€€Each€of€the€four€corners€of€the€racetrack€pattern€wereÐ Â Ðdefined€by€a€radial/Ô_ÔDMEÔ_Ô.€€Each€leg€was€four€minutes€long,€each€turn€took€four€minutes,Ð ¨ø Ðthus€it€took€16€minutes€to€fly€a€complete€racetrack.€€In€eight€hours€we€would€fly€30Ð ŽÞ Ðracetrack€patterns.Ð tÄ Ðà  àBy€this€time€it€was€dark.€€Bob€and€I€turned€the€cockpit€lights€down€as€low€asÐ Zª Ðpossible€so€we€could€better€see€outside.€€We€pulled€the€curtains€immediately€behind€theÐ @ Ðtwo€pilots'€seats€to€shut€out€the€light€from€the€flight€engineer's€position.€€We€turned€ourÐ &v Ðinstrument€lights€down€further.Ð  \ Ðà  àWe€could€see€random€lights€moving€on€the€few€roads€below€us.€€All€of€a€sudden,€asÐ òB Ðwe€approached€the€northeast€corner€of€our€orbit,€there€was€a€sudden€string€of€red€lightsÐ Ø( Ðmoving€up€towards€us.€€We€were€at€22,000€feet€and€they€seemed€to€top€out€at€aboutÐ ¾ Ð12,000€to€15,000€feet€so€it€must€be€15€millimeter€shells€we€were€watching.€€It€looked€like€aÐ ¤ô Ðfireworks€display.€€Since€none€of€us€had€ever€seen€flak€before,€we€guessed€that's€what€itÐ Š Ú Ðwas.€€We€had€also€heard€that€every€eighth€shell€of€flak€was€a€tracer€and€that€was€what€weÐ p!À  Ðwere€seeing.€€For€every€red€light€we€saw,€there€were€seven€shells€we€didn't€see.€€SoberingÐ V"¦! Ðthought.Ð <#Œ" Ðà  àThe€night€wore€on.€€We€saw€vehicle€movement,€called€it€to€our€Combat€InformationÐ "$r# ÐControl€Officer€(Ô_ÔCICOÔ_Ô)€and€he€in€turn€called€it€to€Igloo€White€at€Ô_ÔNakomÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔPhanomÔ_Ô.€€But,€weÐ %X $ Ðnever€saw€any€action€being€taken€on€our€calls,€so€we€started€to€just€watch€it€and€notÐ î%>!% Ðbother€to€call€it.€€And,€sometimes€when€we€passed€the€northeast€corner€of€our€orbit,€theÐ Ô&$"& Ðflak€shells€would€spout€up.Ð º' #' Ðà  àTowards€the€end€of€the€mission,€we€were€almost€becoming€blase,€but€not€quite.€Ð  (ð#( ÐWe€still€had€to€dodge€thunderstorm€buildups€and€try€to€remain€near€the€orbit.€€If€weÐ †)Ö$) Ðbanked€too€steeply€Igloo€White€would€lose€our€signal€because€our€transmission€antennae,Ð l*¼%* Ðâ âon€the€bottom€of€the€airplane,€would€be€pointing€out€into€space.Ð R+¢&+ Ðà  àFinally,€we€heard€our€relief€checking€in€with€Igloo€White.€€They€established€theirÐ ° Ðâ âdata€link€and€relieved€us.€€We€turned€and€headed€for€Ô_ÔKoratÔ_Ô,€about€an€hour€and€a€halfÐ –æ Ðaway.€€A€half€hour€out€of€Ô_ÔKoratÔ_Ô,€we€started€our€descent€and€soon€were€on€the€ground.€€WeÐ |Ì Ðhad€taken€off€at€1800€and€were€back,€eleven€hours€later,€at€0500€the€next€morning.Ð b² Ðà  àWe€parked€in€our€parking€slot,€off€loaded€the€aircraft€and€got€on€the€bus.€€WeÐ H˜ Ðstopped€by€the€parachute€building€and€turned€in€our€survival€gear€and€parachuteÐ . ~ Ðharnesses.€€We€went€to€maintenance€and€intelligence€debriefing.€€Intelligence€used€ourÐ  d Ðinformation€on€flak€to€confirm€the€earlier€missions'€reports.Ð ú J Ðà  àDebriefing€done,€we€rode€the€bus€to€the€airmen's€area€and€they€got€off.€€The€busÐ à 0 Ðstopped€at€the€Ô_ÔKABOOMÔ_Ô€and€the€five€officers€went€into€the€mess€bar.€€The€bar€was€openÐ Æ   Ð24€hours€a€day.€€€We€got€a€table€for€ourselves€and€Bob€Ô_ÔColoneyÔ_Ô€bought€the€first€round.€Ð ¬ ü  ÐBob€made€a€toast€to€our€having€completed€our€first€mission.€€"Only€about€a€hundred€toÐ ’â  Ðgo,"€he€said.Ð xÈ  Ðà  àI€couldn't€bear€to€think€of€having€to€do€another€hundred€missions.€€And,€I€didn't.€Ð ^®  ÐRemember€I€was€at€Ô_ÔKoratÔ_Ô€for€almost€two€months€before€I€flew€the€first€mission.€€ThenÐ D”  Ðwhen€the€new€crews€starting€filtering€in€before€the€old€crews€could€rotate,€there€wereÐ *z  Ðfewer€missions€per€crew€to€fly.€€I€wound€up€with€seventy„four€missions,€I€think.€€I€flewÐ ` Ðevery€mission€I€was€scheduled€for€plus€some€extra€ones.Ð öF Ðà  àWhen€we€started€on€the€mission€yesterday,€it€was€inconceivable€to€any€of€us€that€itÐ Ü, Ðwould€be€refined€down€to€a€boring,€uneventful€eleven€hours.€€But,€that's€what€it€became.Ð Â Ðà  àThank€goodness.Ð ¨ø ÐÌÓ3°ìpÈ xÐ (#°°ŒX(#3ÓÐ  tÄ ÐàQ››$ìàò òMilton€Ô_ÔCaniffó óÔ_ÔÔB  ÔÔC  ԈР° ÐÓH.°°` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#°ì…X(#HÓÌà  àMilton€Ô_ÔCaniffÔ_Ô€died€in€1988.€€He€was€famous€for€his€comic€strips,€"Terry€and€theÐ |Ì ÐPirates"€and€"Steve€Canyon."€€I€had€read€his€comics€since€I€was€I€was€a€little€kid€justÐ b² Ðlearning€how€to€read.Ð H˜ Ðà  àWhen€the€553rd€Reconnaissance€Wing€was€being€formed,€our€Wing€Commander,Ð . ~ ÐColonel€Gus€Ô_ÔWeiserÔ_Ô,€asked€for€suggestions€for€our€wing€emblem.€€Someone€suggestedÐ  d Ðasking€Milton€Ô_ÔCaniffÔ_Ô€to€design€it€for€us.Ð ú J Ðà  àAn€officer€was€selected€to€head€the€project.€€He€wrote€to€Milton€Ô_ÔCaniffÔ_Ô€and€heÐ à 0 Ðreadily€agreed€to€design€our€new€wing€emblem.Ð Æ   Ðà  àA€few€weeks€before€we€deployed€to€Ô_ÔKoratÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔRTAFBÔ_Ô,€Thailand,€our€wing€had€a€diningÐ ¬ ü  Ðin.€€Mess€kits€were€dug€out€of€mothballs,€dry€cleaned€and€readied€for€the€big€evening.€€OurÐ ’â  Ðguest€of€honor€was€to€be€Milton€Ô_ÔCaniffÔ_Ô.€€He€would€unveil€the€wing€emblem€he€hadÐ xÈ  Ðdesigned€for€us€at€the€dining€in.€€The€wing€sent€a€Connie€down€to€his€home€in€ConnecticutÐ ^®  Ðand€flew€him€back€to€Otis€AFB€for€the€evening.Ð D”  Ðà  àAfter€the€dinner,€Mr.€Ô_ÔCaniffÔ_Ô€was€given€the€floor.€€An€easel€was€set€up€beside€himÐ *z  Ðwith€the€covered€emblem€on€it.€€He€made€a€few€remarks€about€how€he€had€been€briefedÐ ` Ðon€the€wing's€mission,€as€much€as€security€would€allow,€and€how€he€had€used€this€toÐ öF Ðdesign€our€emblem.€€He€reached€over€to€the€easel€and€took€the€covering€cloth€off€our€newÐ Ü, Ðemblem.Ð Â Ðà  àIt€was€a€Batcat.€€Against€a€yellow€background€was€a€Ð ¨ø Ðblue„black€cat€with€the€wings€of€a€bat.€€The€Batcat's€eyes€glowed€yellow€symbolizing€itsÐ ŽÞ Ðcapability€to€see€in€all€weather€conditions.€€At€the€bottom€of€the€emblem€was€a€globe€of€theÐ tÄ Ðearth€with€the€Batcat's€paw€touching€the€North€Pole.€€This€signified€the€earth's€beingÐ Zª Ðcovered€by€the€Batcat's€mission.€€Beneath€the€globe€of€the€earth€were€the€Latin€words,Ð @ Ð"Ô_ÔCaveteÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔCattamÔ_Ô."€€Translated€it€means,€"Beware€the€Cat."Ð &v Ðà  àAfter€he€finished€his€brief€remarks,€he€sat€down€to€thunderous€applause€from€theÐ  \ Ðwing€personnel€at€the€dining€in.€€The€emblem€and€the€call€sign€were€enthusiasticallyÐ òB Ðreceived.Ð Ø( Ðà  àAnd,€that's€how€the€553rd€Reconnaissance€Wing€got€its€emblem€and€its€airborneÐ ¾ Ðcall€sign.Ð ¤ô ÐÌÓ3°ìpÈ xÐ (#°°ŒX(#3ÓÐ  p!À  ÐàQ>>!ìàò òCross€Wind€at€Ô_ÔKoratÔ_ÔÔB  ÔÔC  ԈР° ÐàQŠŠ)ìàorˆÐ –æ ÐàQzzìàJake€and€the€Cowl€Flapsó óˆÐ |Ì ÐÓH.°°` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#°ì…X(#HÓÌà  àThere€are€two€main€methods€used€to€land€in€a€crosswind.Ð H˜ Ðà  àOne€is€to€turn€the€nose€into€the€wind€and€crab€enough€to€keep€the€aircraftÐ . ~ Ðmovement€over€the€ground€aligned€with€the€center€line€of€the€runway.€€Just€beforeÐ  d Ðtouchdown€you're€supposed€to€kick€out€the€crab€and€align€the€nose€with€the€runway€so€asÐ ú J Ðnot€to€land€in€a€crab.€€Landing€in€a€crab€is€very€hard€on€the€landing€gear.Ð à 0 Ðà  àAnother€way€is€to€lower€the€upwind€wing€into€the€wind€and€use€the€rudder€to€keepÐ Æ   Ðthe€longitudinal€axis€of€the€aircraft€aligned€with€the€center€line€of€the€runway.€€You€hold€thisÐ ¬ ü  Ðattitude€all€the€way€to€touch€down,€touching€down€on€the€upwind€gear€first,€then€theÐ ’â  Ðdownwind€gear,€using€the€rudder€to€keep€the€aircraft€rolling€down€the€center€line€of€theÐ xÈ  Ðrunway.Ð ^®  Ðà  àReturning€from€a€mission€to€Ô_ÔKoratÔ_Ô€one€afternoon,€we€had€a€pretty€stiff€crosswindÐ D”  Ðfrom€the€left.€€On€short€final,€I€lowered€the€left€wing€into€the€wind€and€used€the€rudder€toÐ *z  Ðkeep€the€longitudinal€axis€of€the€aircraft€aligned€with€the€center€line€of€the€runway.€€I€had€itÐ ` Ðcold.€€I€kept€the€upwind€wing€lowered€slightly€and€used€just€enough€rudder€to€stay€on€theÐ öF Ðcenter€line.€€As€I€was€rounding€out€to€touch€down€on€the€left€gear€first,€it€seemed€the€windÐ Ü, Ðsuddenly€switched€from€the€left€and€was€now€coming€from€the€right.€€The€aircraft€veered€toÐ Â Ðthe€left€and€I€really€planted€the€aircraft€on€the€runway€in€a€crab.€€It€was€more€like€aÐ ¨ø Ðcontrolled€crash€than€one€of€my€usual€smooth€landings.€€I€couldn't€understand€why€theÐ ŽÞ Ðwind€had€suddenly€shifted.Ð tÄ Ðà  àFeeling€really€embarrassed€as€I€reversed€the€props,€I€looked€over€my€right€shoulderÐ Zª Ðat€the€engineer's€panel€as€I€often€did€on€the€roll€out.€€What€I€saw€explained€the€suddenÐ @ Ðcrosswind€from€the€right.Ð &v Ðà  àOn€the€landing€roll,€one€of€the€items€on€the€flight€engineer's€checklist€is€OPENÐ  \ ÐCOWL€FLAPS.€€This€keeps€the€engines€from€overheating€on€the€ground.€€Ô_ÔInflightÔ_Ô,€the€cowlÐ òB Ðflaps€are€kept€almost€fully€closed€to€keep€the€engine€from€being€cooled€too€much€by€theÐ Ø( Ðair€flow€passing€over€the€cylinders.€€If€the€cowl€flaps€are€opened€on€one€side,€Ô_ÔinflightÔ_Ô,€thisÐ ¾ Ðwill€cause€the€aircraft€to€yaw€in€that€direction.Ð ¤ô Ðà  àWhat€I€saw€was€that€the€cowl€flaps€on€engines€one€and€two€were€fully€open€whileÐ Š Ú Ðthe€cowl€flaps€on€three€and€four€engines€were€moving€from€partially€closed€to€fully€open.€Ð p!À  ÐWhat€my€beloved€engineer,€Jake,€had€done€was€open€the€cowl€flaps€on€the€left€twoÐ V"¦! Ðengines€just€as€I€was€rounding€out.€€This€caused€the€aircraft€to€drift€to€the€left€as€thoughÐ <#Œ" Ðthere€were€a€crosswind€from€the€right.Ð "$r# Ðà  à"Jake,€you€sorry€son€of€a€bitch,€you€opened€the€cowl€flaps€on€the€left€side,€didn'tÐ %X $ Ðyou?"€I€bellowed€at€him.Ð î%>!% Ðà  àHe€assumed€the€innocent€look€of€one€who€has€been€falsely€accused.€€I€might€haveÐ Ô&$"& Ðbelieved€it€if€I€hadn't€seen€the€smile€starting€at€the€corners€of€his€mouth.Ð º' #' Ðà  à"Ô_ÔCapt'nÔ_Ô,€it€looked€like€number€one€and€two€were€starting€to€get€a€little€hot€and€I€justÐ  (ð#( Ðcracked€the€cowl€flaps€a€little€to€keep€'em€cool,"€he€answered€with€his€grin€getting€bigger.€Ð †)Ö$) Ðâ â"And,€I€couldn't€let€you€get€away€with€another€grease€job€on€the€landing,€could€I?"Ð l*¼%* Ðà  àHow€could€you€get€mad€at€someone€who€paid€you€a€left€handed€compliment€likeÐ ° Ðthat.€€And,€he€more€than€made€up€for€opening€the€cowl€flaps€by€inviting€me€over€for€hisÐ –æ Ðcornbread€and€pinto€beans.Ð |Ì Ðâ âÌÓ3°ìpÈ xÐ (#°°ŒX(#3ÓÐ  H˜ ÐàQìàò òDetroit€City,€the€Songó óÔB  ÔÔC  ԈР° ÐÓH.°°` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#°ì…X(#HÓÌà  àIn€the€Korat€RTAFB€Officers'€Club€bar,€one€of€the€most€popular€songs€on€theÐ |Ì Ðjukebox€was,€"Detroit€City."€€In€case€you€don't€remember€it,€here€are€the€words€to€the€firstÐ b² Ðtwo€verses.€€I€don't€recall€the€third€verse,€if€I€ever€knew€it.Ð H˜ ÐÌÓ3°ìpÈ xÐ (#°°ŒX(#3ÓàQ  $ìàDetroit€CityˆÐ  d ÐÓH.°°` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#°ì…X(#HÓÌÓ ¨ýÓÓ XÓÓH1X°` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#°°ŒX(#HÓLast€night,€I€went€to€sleep€in€Detroit€city,Ð à 0 ÐÓ ¨ýÓÓ XÓÓE.°°` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#XX(#EÓà  àAnd,€I€dreamed€about€the€cotton€fields€back€home.Ð Æ   Ðà  àI€dreamed€about€my€mama,€dear€old€daddy,€sister€and€brother,Ð ¬ ü  Ðà  àI€dreamed€about€the€girl€who's€been€waiting€for€so€long.Ð ’â  ÐÌà  àChorusÐ ^®  ÐÌà  àI€wanna€go€home,Ð *z  Ðà  àI€wanna€go€home,Ð ` Ðà  àOh,€how€I€wanna€go€home.Ð öF ÐÌà  àMy€folks€think€I'm€big€in€Detroit€city,Ð Â Ðà  àFrom€the€letters€that€I€write,€they€think€I'm€just€fine.Ð ¨ø Ðà  àBut,€by€days€I€make€the€cars,€at€night€I€make€the€bars.Ð ŽÞ Ðà  àIf€only€they€could€read€between€the€lines.Ð tÄ ÐÌà  àI€wanna€go€home,Ð @ Ðà  àI€wanna€go€home,Ð &v Ðà  àOh,€how€I€wanna€go€home.Ð  \ ÐÌà  àImagine€a€bar€full€of€F„105€Thud€pilots,€Connie€crew€members€and€the€otherÐ Ø( Ðpersonnel€singing€this€after€they're€about€half€tanked.€€At€times€it€was€very€heartÐ ¾ Ðwrenching€to€watch€and€hear€grown€men€sing€this€song€with€tears€running€down€theirÐ ¤ô Ðfaces.€€There€were€a€lot€of€homesick€men€at€Korat.Ð Š Ú ÐÌÓ3°ìpÈ xÐ (#°°ŒX(#3ÓÐ  V"¦! ÐàQRR$ìàò òThai€Drummeró óÔB  ÔÔC  ԈР° ÐÓH.°°` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#°ì…X(#HÓÌà  àWe€got€a€lot€of€USO€singers,€dancers€and€other€performers€through€Ô_ÔKoratÔ_Ô€as€theyÐ |Ì Ðmade€their€tour€of€Southeast€Asia.€€When€they€came€into€Thailand,€they'd€usually€pick€upÐ b² Ða€combo€in€Bangkok.€€They'd€probably€have€a€couple€hours€of€rehearsal€and€then€headÐ H˜ Ðout€to€tour€the€Thailand€bases.Ð . ~ Ðà  àOne€of€these€groups€was€playing€in€the€Officers'€Club€one€evening.€€It€was€one€ofÐ  d Ðthose€groups€that€featured€the€cute€little€female€singer€in€her€mini€skirt€with€her€ThaiÐ ú J Ðcombo.€€The€singer€was€no€one€you'd€ever€heard€of€and€would€never€hear€of€again.€€SheÐ à 0 Ðhad€an€electric€guitar€player,€an€electric€bass€player,€a€saxophone€player€and€a€drummer.€Ð Æ   ÐEveryone€of€the€musicians€had€a€music€stand€and€sheet€music€sitting€on€the€stand.Ð ¬ ü  Ðà  àBut,€it€was€the€drummer€that€fascinated€me.€€He€had€the€music€set€up€on€his€leftÐ ’â  Ðand€he€followed€it€religiously€as€he€looked€at€it€as€he€drummed€away.€€The€thing,€however,Ð xÈ  Ðthat€amused€me€so€much€was€when€he€came€to€the€end€of€a€sheet€of€music,€he€wouldÐ ^®  Ðstop€playing,€lick€his€finger,€turn€the€page€and€start€drumming€again.€€And,€it€went€on.€€Rat„Ð D”  Ða„tat„rat„a„tat,€pause,€lick€the€finger,€turn€the€page,€then€rat„a„tat„rat„a„tat,€pause,€lick€theÐ *z  Ðfinger,€turn€the€page,€then€rat„a„tat„rat„a„tat,€etc.Ð ` Ðà  àIt's€the€only€time€I've€ever€seen€a€combo€drummer€playing€from€sheet€music.Ð öF ÐÌÓ3°ìpÈ xÐ (#°°ŒX(#3ÓÐ   ÐàQhh"ìàò òGod€Ô_ÔBressÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔAmelicaó óÔ_ÔÔB  ÔÔC  ԈР° ÐÓH.°°` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#°ì…X(#HÓÌà  àOne€of€the€USO€shows€that€came€through€Ô_ÔKoratÔ_Ô€was€an€all€female€group€fromÐ |Ì ÐKorea.€€They€were€pretty€good€musically€definitely€good€to€look€at€with€their€long,€jet„blackÐ b² Ðhair,€dark€brown€eyes€and€dressed€in€short€white€mini€skirts€with€knee€length€whit€patentÐ H˜ Ðleather€boots.€€Their€show€lasted€about€an€hour.Ð . ~ Ðà  àWhen€they€finished€the€show€at€the€Ô_ÔKABOOMÔ_Ô,€they€packed€up€their€gear€andÐ  d Ðmoved€over€to€the€NCO€Club€for€a€show.€€When€they€finished€there,€they€moved€over€toÐ ú J Ðthe€Airmen's€Club€for€their€final€show€of€the€night.€€It€would€be€a€busy€night€for€them.Ð à 0 Ðà  àThe€group€consisted€of€a€drummer,€an€electric€bass€player,€a€rhythm€guitar€playerÐ Æ   Ðand€a€lead€guitar€player.€€They€all€sang.€€They€played€all€the€popular€rock€and€roll€hits€ofÐ ¬ ü  Ðthe€time€and€received€a€good€reception€at€the€Ô_ÔKABOOMÔ_Ô.Ð ’â  Ðà  àTheir€closing€number€was€Irving€Berlin's€"God€Bless€America:.€€But,€being€Oriental,Ð xÈ  Ðthey€had€trouble€pronouncing€Ls€and€Ô_ÔRsÔ_Ô.€€They€generally€got€them€reversed.€€Thus€whenÐ ^®  Ðsang,€"God€Bless€America",€it€came€out€more€like"Ð D”  ÐÌÓ ¨ýÓÓ XÓÓH1X°` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#°°ŒX(#HÓ"God€Ô_ÔBressÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔAmelicaÔ_Ô,€rand€that€I€Ô_ÔruveÔ_Ô,€stand€beside€her€and€Ô_ÔgrideÔ_Ô€her,€with€the€right€of€theÐ ` Ðramp€Ô_ÔflomÔ_Ô€above.€€Flom€the€mountains,€to€the€Ô_ÔplaliesÔ_Ô,€to€the€oceans€white€withÐ öF Ðfoam,€God€Ô_ÔBressÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔAmelicaÔ_Ô,€my€home€sweet€home."Ð Ü, ÐÓ ¨ýÓÓ XÓÓE.°°` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#XX(#EÓÌà  àNo€matter.€€The€crowd€loved€them€and€sang€along,€many€with€tears€streamingÐ ¨ø Ðdown€their€faces.€€Yes,€by€God,€we€did€love€America.Ð ŽÞ ÐÌÓ3°ìpÈ xÐ (#°°ŒX(#3ÓÐ  Zª ÐàQááìàò òPinto€Beans€and€Cornbreadó óÔB  ÔÔC  ԈР° ÐÓH.°°` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#°ì…X(#HÓÌà  àÔ_ÔKoratÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔRTAFBÔ_Ô,€Thailand,€1968.€€Master€Sergeant€Jake€Jacobs,€my€flight€engineerÐ |Ì Ðwould€call€me€at€my€BOQ€room.Ð b² Ðà  à"Captain,€I€got€a€pot€of€beans€on,"€he'd€say.Ð H˜ Ðà  à"What€time€do€you€want€me€there?"€I'd€ask.Ð . ~ Ðà  à"About€five€o'clock,€okay?"€he'd€answer.Ð  d Ðà  à"Right.€€I'll€stop€by€the€Club€and€pick€up€a€case€of€beer.€€See€you€at€five,"€I'd€say€asÐ ú J ÐI€hung€up.Ð à 0 Ðà  àAbout€1640€I'd€leave€my€room€and€go€to€the€Officers'€Club€package€store.€€I'd€get€aÐ Æ   Ðcase€of€Falstaff€or€Busch€Bavarian€beer.€€Probably€cost€$2€or€$3.€€With€the€case€of€beerÐ ¬ ü  Ðon€my€shoulder,€I'd€walk€over€to€Jake's€hootch.€€There€were€usually€two€or€three€otherÐ ’â  Ðguys€there.€€Jake's€pinto€beans€and€cornbread€were€famous.Ð xÈ  Ðà  àAs€a€Senior€NCO,€Jake€lived€in€one€of€the€better€enlisted€Ô_ÔhootchesÔ_Ô.€€I€don't€recallÐ ^®  Ðhow€many€shared€a€hootch,€but€he€had€a€screened„in€porch.€€He'd€have€a€hot€plateÐ D”  Ðplugged€in€and€setting€on€the€table.€€On€the€hot€plate€was€a€simmering€pot€of€pinto€beansÐ *z  Ðcooking€with€a€big€chunk€of€salt€pork.€€Ð ` Ðà  àHe€had€an€ice€chest€he'd€taken€over€to€the€NCO€Club€and€filled€with€ice.€€We'dÐ öF Ðtransfer€the€beer€to€the€ice€chest.€€He€generally€had€an€iced„down€six€pack€for€us€to€drinkÐ Ü, Ðwhile€the€case€of€beer€chilled.€€We'd€have€a€few€beers,€shoot€the€breeze€and€wait€for€theÐ Â Ðevening€to€start€to€cool€off.Ð ¨ø Ðà  àAfter€a€while,€Jake€would€say,€"Excuse€me,€I've€got€to€get€my€cornbread€on."€€He'dÐ ŽÞ Ðgo€back€into€his€room€and€emerge€with€a€mixing€bowl€and€spoon€and€cornbread€mix.€€HisÐ tÄ Ðwife€mailed€the€beans€and€cornbread€mix.€€He'd€mix€up€the€cornbread€while€we€continuedÐ Zª Ðto€drink€beer€and€talk.€€He'd€get€his€large€electric€frying€pan€with€a€lid.€€He'd€dump€theÐ @ Ðcornbread€mixture€into€the€frying€pan,€put€the€lid€on€it€and€set€its€temperature€control.Ð &v Ðà  àAbout€twenty€minutes€later,€he'd€take€the€lid€off€the€frying€pan€and,€with€a€spatula,Ð  \ Ðlift€up€the€edge€of€the€cornbread€to€see€if€it€was€brown€on€the€bottom.€€If€it€was,€he'd€useÐ òB Ðtwo€spatulas€and€turn€the€cornbread€over€to€brown€on€the€other€side.Ð Ø( Ðà  àMeanwhile,€the€smells€of€the€beans€and€the€cornbread€would€almost€drive€youÐ ¾ Ðmad.€€With€the€lid€back€on€the€frying€pan,€Jake€would€again€disappear€into€his€hootch.€€HeÐ ¤ô Ðwould€reemerge€with€plates,€spoons,€knives€and€forks,€a€bowl€of€grated€cheddar€cheese,Ð Š Ú Ða€bowl€of€chopped€onions€and€butter€for€the€cornbread.€€Tabasco€was€already€on€theÐ p!À  Ðtable.€€He'd€check€the€pinto€beans€and€give€them€a€final€stir.€€Jake€had€a€good€contact€inÐ V"¦! Ðthe€NCO€Club€kitchen€to€get€all€these€staples€and€supplies.Ð <#Œ" Ðà  àAbout€ten€minutes€later€the€cornbread€would€be€ready.€€€He'd€unplug€the€frying€panÐ "$r# Ðand€push€it€to€one€side€of€table.€€With€the€pinto€bean€pot€beside€the€cornbread,€JakeÐ %X $ Ðwould€call,€"Come€and€get€it."Ð î%>!% Ðà  àJake€would€fill€a€plate€with€beans€and€hand€it€to€one€of€his€guests.€€No€formalityÐ Ô&$"& Ðhere.€€With€the€plate€of€beans€in€your€hand,€you€gave€them€several€hefty€shots€of€TabascoÐ º' #' Ðand€added€chopped€onions€and€grated€cheese€over€the€top€of€the€beans.€€Jake€would€cutÐ  (ð#( Ðthe€cornbread€into€squares€and€lift€a€square€directly€from€the€pan€to€your€plate.€€You'd€getÐ †)Ö$) Ða€knife€and€fork,€put€a€big€glob€of€butter€on€your€cornbread€to€melt,€find€a€place€to€sit,Ð l*¼%* Ðâ âspread€the€butter,€make€sure€you€had€a€fresh€beer€within€reach€and€dig€into€your€dinner.€Ð R+¢&+ ÐIt€was€heavenly.€€Although€home€was€10,000€miles€away,€it€was€just€a€little€closer€with€aÐ ° Ðplate€of€Jake's€beans€and€cornbread.Ð –æ Ðâ âà  àTwenty€years€later,€I€can€recall,€as€if€it€were€yesterday,€how€great€those€pintoÐ |Ì Ðbeans,€cornbread€and€cold€beer€tasted.€€I€don't€know€if€I€ever€really€told€Jake€how€much€IÐ b² Ðappreciated€his€kindness.Ð H˜ ÐÌÓ3°ìpÈ xÐ (#°°ŒX(#3ÓÐ   d ÐàQííìàò òPresident€Johnson€at€Ô_ÔKorató óÔ_ÔÔB  ÔÔC  ԈР° ÐÓH.°°` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#°ì…X(#HÓÌà  àOne€night,€between€Christmas€and€New€Year€of€1967,€a€group€of€us€were€standingÐ |Ì Ðat€the€bar€in€the€Officers'€Club.€€It€was€about€2230€and€the€place€was€crowded.€€A€localÐ b² ÐThai€combo€was€performing€and€the€booze€was€flowing€freely.Ð H˜ Ðà  àThe€Base€Commander€walked€in€and€went€straight€to€the€small€stage€in€the€bar.€Ð . ~ ÐHe€stopped€the€combo€and€announced€into€the€microphone,€"The€bar€is€closed.€€No€moreÐ  d Ðdrinks€will€be€served€until€I€say€so.€€All€Thai€nationals€will€leave€the€bar€at€once."Ð ú J Ðà  àThis€announcement€was€greeted€with€a€chorus€of€boos,€but€it€was€complied€with.€Ð à 0 ÐWe€nursed€our€drinks€as€long€as€we€could,€but€soon€all€the€drinks€were€finished€and€theÐ Æ   Ðglasses€were€put€down€behind€the€bar.€€All€of€the€local€Thai€staff€and€the€combo€had€leftÐ ¬ ü  Ðthe€building.Ð ’â  Ðà  àAbout€thirty€minutes€after€the€Base€Commander€had€made€his€announcement,€heÐ xÈ  Ðwent€to€the€bar's€outside€entrance.€€He€stood€there€looking€out€occasionally€for€the€nextÐ ^®  Ðfive€or€ten€minutes.€€After€he€looked€out€one€time,€he€turned€back€to€the€crowd€in€the€barÐ D”  Ðand€shouted,€"Room,€Ô_ÔteenhutÔ_Ô!!!"Ð *z  Ðà  àWe€all€jumped€to€our€feet€wondering€who€was€the€important€visitor€who€wasÐ ` Ðcoming€to€see€us€so€late€at€night.€€The€Base€Commander€held€the€door€open€and€a€groupÐ öF Ðof€Secret€Service€men€preceded€President€Johnson€into€the€bar.Ð Ü, Ðà  àThe€President€was€tall€and€dressed€in€a€light€khaki€safari€type€suit€with€the€shirtÐ Â Ðworn€on€the€outside€of€the€trousers.€€His€black€cowboy€boots€were€shined€to€a€glisteningÐ ¨ø Ðsheen.€€His€graying€dark€hair€was€combed€straight€back€as€we€had€all€seen€in€the€newsÐ ŽÞ Ðphotos€of€the€man.€€He€looked€tired€and€drained.€€You€knew€from€looking€at€this€man€heÐ tÄ Ðhad€the€most€exhausting€and€demanding€job€in€the€world.Ð Zª Ðà  àThe€Base€Commander€escorted€the€President€to€the€small€stage€where€severalÐ @ Ðchairs€had€been€set€up.€€As€the€President€came€into€the€bar,€the€crowd€burst€intoÐ &v Ðapplause.€€In€spite€of€what€you€might€have€been€reading€at€home€in€the€newspapers€andÐ  \ Ðhearing€on€radio€and€tv,€President€Johnson€was€very€popular€with€the€military.€€He€wasÐ òB Ðsupporting€us€as€much€as€Congress€and€the€Ô_ÔpeaceniksÔ_Ô€would€allow.Ð Ø( Ðà  àHe€acknowledged€our€applause€and€motioned€for€us€to€sit€down.€€He€read€from€aÐ ¾ Ðshort€prepared€statement€reaffirming€his€support€for€the€Americans€fighting€in€SoutheastÐ ¤ô ÐAsia.€€After€the€statement,€he€opened€the€floor€to€questions€and€comments.€€The€personÐ Š Ú Ðwho€had€the€question€went€up€to€the€small€stage€and€sat€down€beside€the€President.Ð p!À  Ðà  àWhile€the€person€with€the€question€or€comment€was€talking€with€the€President,€theÐ V"¦! ÐPresident's€private€photographer€was€taking€picture€after€picture.€€I€marveled€at€the€filmÐ <#Œ" Ðspeed€he€must€be€using€for€he€had€no€flash€and€the€room€was€dimly€lighted.€€I€guessedÐ "$r# Ðthe€film€was€black€and€white€and€must€have€a€speed€of€at€least€ASA€1000.Ð %X $ Ðà  àThe€main€gist€of€the€questions€and€comments€seemed€to€be,€"...why€can't€we€bombÐ î%>!% Ðthe€shit€out€of€North€Vietnam€instead€of€just€bombing€targets€selected€by€the€politiciansÐ Ô&$"& Ðback€in€Washington?"Ð º' #' Ðà  àThe€President€listened€patiently€to€all€the€questions€and€comments€and€said€littleÐ  (ð#( Ðabout€them.€€This€went€on€for€about€twenty€minutes€and€the€President€stood€up€(as€didÐ †)Ö$) Ðeveryone€in€the€bar)€and€said€words€to€the€effect,€"...thank€you€for€all€your€comments€andÐ l*¼%* Ðyour€support.€€I€will€go€over€your€comments€with€my€advisors€back€in€Washington.€€And,€IÐ R+¢&+ Ðwill€report€to€the€nation€they€can€be€proud€of€their€American€fighting€men."€€Starting€for€theÐ 8,ˆ', Ðdoor,€he€walked€through€the€crowd€shaking€as€many€hands€as€he€could€before€he€left€forÐ ° Ðthe€NCO€Club.Ð –æ Ðà  àI€got€to€shake€his€hand.€€It€was€not€a€handshake€like€you€and€I€are€accustomed€to.€Ð |Ì ÐWhen€I€extended€my€hand,€the€President€gripped€my€extended€hand€by€its€fingers€andÐ b² Ðshook€them.€€I€guess€when€you€shake€as€many€hands€as€he€had€to,€you€learn€theÐ H˜ Ðtechnique€of€controlling€the€pressure€on€the€handshake.Ð . ~ Ðà  àAfter€the€President€left,€the€Thai€bartenders,€bar€maids€and€the€Thai€combo€cameÐ  d Ðback€in.€€We€picked€up€where€we€had€left€off€when€the€Base€Commander€closed€the€barÐ ú J Ðbefore€the€President€came.€€A€group€of€us€talked€about€how€tired€and€exhausted€theÐ à 0 ÐPresident€had€looked.€€He€had€been€in€South€Vietnam€talking€and€visiting€with€the€troopsÐ Æ   Ðthere€and€had€stopped€in€at€Ô_ÔKoratÔ_Ô€on€his€way€back€to€the€States.Ð ¬ ü  Ðà  àAll€of€us€were€touched,€however,€by€the€fact€the€most€powerful€man€in€the€worldÐ ’â  Ðhad€taken€time€to€stop€by€and€visit€with€us.Ð xÈ  ÐÌÓ3°ìpÈ xÐ (#°°ŒX(#3ÓÐ  D”  ÐàQ……'ìàÔ_Ôò òKoolaidÔ_ÔÔB  ÔÔC  Ôó óˆÐ ° ÐÓH.°°` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#°ì…X(#HÓÌà  àThe€long€missions€we€flew€out€of€Ô_ÔKoratÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔRTAFBÔ_Ô,€Thailand€dehydrated€us.€€We€drankÐ |Ì Ðlots€of€water€and€coffee€on€these€missions.€€We€carried€4€five€gallon€jugs€of€water.€€With€aÐ b² Ðtwenty€man€crew,€this€was€not€too€much€water€for€the€standard€eleven€hour€mission.Ð H˜ Ðà  àPlain€water,€however,€tended€to€get€a€little€old.€€One€of€the€guys€on€the€crew€hadÐ . ~ Ðhis€mother€send€him€some€Ô_ÔKoolaidÔ_Ô,€the€regular€kids'€drink€from€your€childhood.€€We€wouldÐ  d Ðthen€put€Ô_ÔKoolaidÔ_Ô€in€at€least€two€of€the€water€jugs.€€This€helped€break€the€monotony€of€plainÐ ú J Ðwater.€€After€that,€all€the€crew€asked€their€families€to€send€them€Ô_ÔKoolaidÔ_Ô.€€Eventually,€theÐ à 0 ÐÔ_ÔBXÔ_Ô€stocked€it€and€we€could€buy€it€locally€rather€than€having€to€rely€on€the€mail€for€ourÐ Æ   ÐÔ_ÔKoolaidÔ_Ô€fix.Ð ¬ ü  Ðà  àBut,€it€was€funny€to€hear€grown€men€get€on€the€airplane€and€ask,€"What€kind€ofÐ ’â  ÐÔ_ÔKoolaidÔ_Ô€do€we€have€today?€€I€hope€it's€something€besides€grape."€€We€were€worse€thanÐ xÈ  Ðlittle€kids.Ð ^®  Ðà  àEven€now€I€still€like€Ô_ÔKoolaidÔ_Ô.Ð D”  ÐÌÓ3°ìpÈ xÐ (#°°ŒX(#3ÓÌÌÓ6°ìpÈ xÐ (#°ì…X(#6ÓÐ  Ü, ÐàQXX$ìàò òBroken€Watchó óÔB  ÔÔC  ԈР° ÐÓH.°°` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#°ì…X(#HÓÌà  àA€couple€of€years€before€I€went€to€Ô_ÔKoratÔ_Ô,€I€bought€a€Zodiac€(brand€name)Ð |Ì Ðwristwatch.€€The€special€feature€of€this€watch€was€it€had€a€24€hour€dial.€€I€didn't€really€needÐ b² Ðthe€watch,€I€just€wanted€it€because€it€had€the€24€hour€dial.€€I€think€it€cost€$45€at€the€Ô_ÔBXÔ_Ô.€€AÐ H˜ ÐRolex€Oyster€was€only€$200€in€those€days.Ð . ~ Ðà  àI€went€into€the€Officers'€Club€bar€one€evening€after€getting€down€from€a€flight.€€AÐ  d Ðguy€I€knew€well€at€the€time€(I€can't€even€remember€his€name€now)€was€sitting€at€the€bar€byÐ ú J Ðhimself€drinking.€€He€flew€F„105s€and€had€flown€that€day.€€I€think€we€became€friendsÐ à 0 Ðinitially€because€we€both€had€red€hair€and€freckles.€€He€was€a€Major€and€I€was€a€Captain,Ð Æ   Ðbut€we€were€both€pilots.€€We€got€along€fine.Ð ¬ ü  Ðà  àI€guess€it€had€been€a€pretty€rough€mission€with€one€of€his€wing€men€having€beenÐ ’â  Ðshot€down€over€Hanoi.€€He€was€pretty€well€into€his€cups€by€the€time€I€got€to€the€bar.Ð xÈ  Ðà  àI€sat€down€on€a€stool€beside€him€and€ordered€a€gin€and€tonic.€€He€turned€andÐ ^®  Ðlooked€at€me€and€said,€"How€the€hell€you€doing,€J.€J.?"Ð D”  Ðà  à"Fine,"€I€answered.€€"Just€got€down€from€a€flight."Ð *z  Ðà  à"Bet€you€really€had€it€tough€up€there.€€Did€you€run€out€of€peanut€butterÐ ` Ðsandwiches?"€he€asked€almost€jeeringly.Ð öF Ðà  à"No,€it€was€just€a€routine€boring€eleven€hour€mission,"€I€answered.Ð Ü, Ðà  àWe€often€got€a€lot€of€verbal€flak€from€the€Thud€jocks,€but€it€was€nothing€personal.€Ð  ÐWhile€they€were€on€a€two€to€three€hour€mission€getting€their€Ô_ÔassesÔ_Ô€shot€off,€we€wereÐ ¨ø Ðdroning€around€in€circles€fighting€nothing€more€threatening€than€severe€boredom.€€WeÐ ŽÞ ÐÔ_ÔBatcatsÔ_Ô€knew€they€had€a€tough€mission€and€none€of€us€envied€them€for€it.Ð tÄ Ðà  àMy€drink€came€and€he€changed€the€subject.Ð Zª Ðà  à"What€the€hell€kind€of€watch€is€that€you're€wearing?"€he€asked.Ð @ Ðà  à"It's€a€24€hour€Zodiac,"€I€answered.€€I€took€it€off€and€handed€it€to€him.Ð &v Ðà  à"Is€it€shock€proof?"€he€asked€banging€it€against€the€bar.Ð  \ Ðà  à"Supposed€to€be,"€I€replied€a€bit€apprehensive.Ð òB Ðà  à"Is€it€water€proof?"€he€asked€dropping€it€into€his€drink.Ð Ø( Ðà  à"Supposed€to€be,"€I€again€replied€now€starting€to€worry.€€The€guy€was€drunker€thanÐ ¾ ÐI€realized.Ð ¤ô Ðà  àHe€pulled€it€out€of€his€drink€and€looked€at€it.€€The€second€hand€had€stopped.€€HeÐ Š Ú Ðshook€it€and€held€it€to€his€ear€and€then€wound€it.€€The€second€hand€still€remained€still.Ð p!À  Ðà  à"God,€I'm€sorry,€J.€J.,"€he€said€seeming€to€sober€up.€€"I'll€have€it€repaired€for€you."Ð V"¦! Ðà  à"Okay,"€I€said€and€finished€my€drink.€€What€the€hell€else€was€I€going€to€say?Ð <#Œ" Ðà  àI€walked€to€the€Package€Store€at€the€rear€of€the€Club,€bought€a€bottle€of€gin€andÐ "$r# Ðseveral€bottles€of€tonic€and€left€the€club.€€I€would€do€the€rest€of€my€drinking,€for€that€night,Ð %X $ Ðin€my€room.Ð î%>!% Ðà  àSeveral€days€went€by€and€I€ran€into€the€redheaded€Major€again.€€I€asked€if€he€hadÐ Ô&$"& Ðgot€my€watch€fixed.€€He€said€he€hadn't€taken€it€to€the€Ô_ÔBXÔ_Ô€Watch€Repair€Shop€yet€but€wouldÐ º' #' Ðdo€it€tomorrow.€€Over€the€next€couple€of€weeks€I€asked€about€my€watch€a€few€more€timesÐ  (ð#( Ðand€got€the€same€answer.Ð †)Ö$) Ðà  àOne€night€on€the€way€to€my€room€from€the€club,€I€stopped€by€the€Major's€room.€€IÐ l*¼%* Ðknocked€on€the€door€and€when€he€said,€"Come€in,"€I€did.€€I€walked€straight€to€his€bedsideÐ R+¢&+ Ðtable,€unplugged€his€clock€radio,€tucked€it€under€my€arm€and€headed€for€the€door.Ð 8,ˆ', Ðà  à"What€the€hell€do€you€think€you're€doing?"€he€asked.Ð ° Ðà  àBefore€I€closed€the€door,€I€said,€"I'll€keep€your€clock€radio€until€you€get€my€watchÐ –æ Ðrepaired."Ð |Ì Ðà  àWithout€another€word€being€said€by€either€of€us,€I€closed€the€door€and€went€on€toÐ b² Ðmy€room.Ð H˜ Ðà  àA€few€weeks€later,€I€was€in€the€club€for€breakfast€about€0400€before€going€to€fly.€Ð . ~ ÐThe€Major€came€over€to€my€table€and€said,€"I€picked€up€your€watch€from€the€repair€shop.€Ð  d ÐIt's€in€my€room.€€I've€got€to€fly€today,€but€I'll€bring€it€over€to€the€club€tonight.€€What€time€willÐ ú J Ðyou€be€down?"Ð à 0 Ðà  à"We€should€land€about€2000€and€I'll€be€here€about€2100,"€I€answered.Ð Æ   Ðà  à"Okay,€I'll€see€you€then,"€he€said.€€"Have€a€good€mission."Ð ¬ ü  Ðà  à"Yeah,€you€too,"€I€replied,€as€I€went€back€to€my€breakfast.Ð ’â  Ðà  àMy€crew€took€off€at€0900.€€I€knew€the€Major€had€been€airborne€by€0700€and€wouldÐ xÈ  Ðbe€back€no€later€0930.€€I€envied€him€the€brevity€of€his€mission€but€not€its€severity.€€We€hadÐ ^®  Ðan€uneventful€day.€€It€took€us€one€and€a€half€hours€to€get€to€our€orbit€area,€eight€hours€onÐ D”  Ðstation,€one€and€a€half€hours€to€get€back€and€we€landed€at€2000.€€We€turned€in€ourÐ *z  Ðsurvival€gear,€debriefed€maintenance€and€intelligence€and€were€dropped€off€at€theÐ ` ÐOfficers'€Club€by€the€crew€bus.Ð öF Ðà  àThe€seven€officers€on€the€crew€got€a€table€and€ordered€a€round€of€drinks.€€WhileÐ Ü, Ðwe€were€waiting€for€the€drinks,€I€looked€around€the€bar€for€the€redheaded€Major.€€I€didn'tÐ Â Ðsee€him€anywhere.€€I€got€my€drink€and€went€over€to€another€Thud€pilot€I€knew€and€askedÐ ¨ø Ðhim€about€the€red€headed€Major.Ð ŽÞ Ðà  à"Did€you€just€get€down?"€he€asked.Ð tÄ Ðà  à"Yeah,€we€landed€at€2000€and€just€got€through€with€debriefing.€€This€is€my€firstÐ Zª Ðdrink,"€I€responded€holding€up€my€glass€as€though€it€had€a€number€1€on€it.Ð @ Ðà  à"Well,€I€guess€you€don't€know€then,"€he€said€waving€to€one€of€the€Thai€barÐ &v Ðwaitresses€for€another€drink.Ð  \ Ðà  à"Know€what?"€I€asked.Ð òB Ðà  à"He€(meaning€the€redheaded€Major)€got€hit€by€a€SAM€today.€€The€airplane€wentÐ Ø( Ðstraight€in€and€nobody€saw€a€chute,"€he€answered€paying€the€waitress€for€his€drink.Ð ¾ Ðà  à"Oh,"€I€said,€"I€didn't€know."Ð ¤ô Ðà  à"We€lost€five€guys€today.€€It€was€a€rough€mission,"€he€said€downing€about€half€hisÐ Š Ú Ðdrink.Ð p!À  Ðà  àI€could€see€his€prime€aim€for€the€evening€was€to€get€blind€ass€drunk.€€I€didn't€wantÐ V"¦! Ðto€interfere€with€his€plans€and€went€back€to€rejoin€my€crew€at€our€table€wondering€aboutÐ <#Œ" Ðthe€hand€of€fate€that€takes€some€and€leaves€others.Ð "$r# Ðà  àA€few€days€later€there€was€the€usual€notice€in€the€Base€Daily€Bulletin€that€wasÐ %X $ Ðalways€included€when€someone€had€been€killed€or€was€missing€in€action.€€It€readÐ î%>!% Ðsomething€like€this:Ð Ô&$"& ÐÌÓ PûÓÓ °ÓÓH1` X°` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#°°ŒX(#HÓ'Anyone€having€any€claims€against€the€estate€of€Major€John€Doe,€Ô_ÔSSANÔ_Ô€123„45„6789Ð  (ð#( Ðcontact€2Lt€James€Jones€who€has€been€appointed€to€handle€any€claims€atÐ †)Ö$) ÐExt€4389.'Ð l*¼%* Ðâ âÓ PûÓÓ °ÓÓE.°°` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#` XX(#EÓÐ R+¢&+ Ðà  àJust€that€brief€notice€was€the€only€official€notification€locally€that€someone€had€beenÐ ° Ðâ âshot€down.Ð –æ Ðà  àI€called€Lt€Jones€and€told€him€about€my€watch€and€that€I€had€the€redheadedÐ |Ì ÐMajor's€clock€radio.€€I€took€the€clock€radio€and€went€to€his€office.€€He€asked€me€to€describeÐ b² Ðmy€watch.€€I€did,€to€his€satisfaction,€and€he€gave€it€to€me€and€I€gave€him€the€redheadedÐ H˜ ÐMajor's€clock€radio.Ð . ~ Ðà  àI€still€have€the€watch,€it€still€runs.€€It's€in€a€small€box€tucked€away€somewhere€in€aÐ  d Ðdrawer.€€Every€year€or€so€I€come€across€it€and€remember€the€redheaded€Major.Ð ú J ÐÌÓ3°ìpÈ xÐ (#°°ŒX(#3ÓÐ  Æ   ÐàQ••ìàò òPitch€Out,€Last€Ô_ÔKoratÔ_Ô€Missionó óÔB  ÔÔC  ԈР° ÐÓH.°°` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#°ì…X(#HÓÌà  àI€flew€my€last€mission€at€Ô_ÔKoratÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔRTAFBÔ_Ô,€Thailand€in€late€September€1968.€€IÐ |Ì Ðremember€nothing€unusual€about€the€mission€so€it€must€have€been€as€boring€as€many€ofÐ b² Ðthe€others€had€been.Ð H˜ Ðà  àFirst€Lieutenant€Ralph€Moore€was€the€copilot,€Master€Sergeants€"Jake"€Jacobs€andÐ . ~ ÐGeorge€Palm€were€the€flight€engineers,€Major€Richard€Hughes€and€First€LieutenantÐ  d ÐGeorge€Ô_ÔRinghofferÔ_Ô€(later€killed€in€an€F„4€accident)€were€the€navigators,€Staff€SergeantÐ ú J ÐComer€was€the€radio€operator€and€Captain€Murray€was€the€Ô_ÔCICOÔ_Ô.€There€were€also€eightÐ à 0 ÐÔ_ÔCIMsÔ_Ô,€two€Ô_ÔETsÔ_Ô€and€two€Ô_ÔEWOsÔ_Ô,€but€I€don't€remember€their€names,€for€a€total€of€twenty.Ð Æ   Ðà  àWe€landed€about€the€middle€of€the€afternoon€so€we€must€have€taken€off€aboutÐ ¬ ü  Ð0300€as€our€missions€were€from€11€to€12€hours.€€Ð ’â  Ðà  àWe€got€set€up€on€a€long€straight€in€visual€approach.€€I€had€talked€it€over€with€theÐ xÈ  Ðcrew€and€told€them€since€this€was€my€last€mission€with€the€crew€we€were€going€to€do€aÐ ^®  Ðhigh€speed€low€approach€and€then€come€back€in€and€do€a€pitch€out€and€landing.€€TheyÐ D”  Ðthought€this€was€great.Ð *z  Ðà  àAbout€a€mile€out€I€had€the€copilot€call€the€tower€and€tell€them€we€would€be€makingÐ ` Ða€low€approach€and€reentering€traffic€on€a€five€mile€initial.€€The€tower€said€it€was€okay€withÐ öF Ðthem.€€Ð Ü, Ðà  àI€called€for€METO€power€and€Jake€set€the€propeller€rpm€and€throttles€to€METO.€€IÐ Â Ðcalled€for€the€gear€and€flaps€up.€€I€continued€the€descent€to€500€feet€Ô_ÔAGLÔ_Ô.€€No€need€to€beÐ ¨ø Ðcrazy€about€this€and€go€below€500€feet.€€The€old€Super€Connie€seemed€to€relish€this€bit€ofÐ ŽÞ Ðinsanity€and€accelerated€smartly€to€250€Ô_ÔKIASÔ_Ô.€€Jake€retarded€the€power€and€maintainedÐ tÄ Ðthe€250€Ô_ÔKIASÔ_Ô€for€me.€€We€roared€down€over€the€runway€at€500€feet.€€At€the€end€of€theÐ Zª Ðrunway€I€rolled€into€a€gentle€30€degree€bank€turn€and€climbed€to€1,000€feet€Ô_ÔAGLÔ_Ô,€JakeÐ @ Ðadjusted€the€power€to€maintain€the€250€Ô_ÔKIASÔ_Ô.€€I€rolled€out€on€downwind€and€Jake€kept€theÐ &v Ð250€Ô_ÔKIASÔ_Ô.Ð  \ Ðà  àAbout€four€and€a€half€miles€downwind,€I€made€a€180€degree€turn€to€initial.€€I€pickedÐ òB Ða€point€90€degrees€abeam€the€threshold€of€the€runway.€€When€we€were€abeam€the€point,€IÐ Ø( Ðrolled€left€into€a€45€degree€bank€and€called,€"Pilot's€throttles."€€That€meant€I€would€beÐ ¾ Ðmaking€the€power€changes€from€now€on€until€I€called€"Engineer's€throttles"€when€weÐ ¤ô Ðturned€off€the€runway€after€landing.€€Ð Š Ú Ðà  àI€left€the€power€setting€where€it€was€at€250€Ô_ÔKIASÔ_Ô€and€the€airspeed€smoothly€bled€offÐ p!À  Ðin€the€turn€to€below€the€flap€and€gear€limitation€speeds.€€Ð V"¦! Ðà  àIn€the€middle€of€all€this,€the€radio€operator,€Comer,€called€and€said,€"AC,€I€justÐ <#Œ" Ðheard€someone€call€the€command€post€and€ask€who€was€the€AC€on€Batcat€5€(our€callÐ "$r# Ðsign).€€(Oh,€shit,€I€thought€to€myself,€somebody's€pissed€off€because€I've€made€a€highÐ %X $ Ðspeed€low€approach€and€pitch€out.€€Oh,€well,€I'll€worry€about€that€later.€€Let's€get€this€oldÐ î%>!% Ðmother€on€the€ground.)Ð Ô&$"& Ðà  àI€called€for€the€gear€and€flaps€down€and€called€for€the€"Before€Landing€Checklist."€Ð º' #' ÐThe€gear€and€flaps€came€down€in€the€base€leg€turn€and€I€retarded€the€throttles€and€keptÐ  (ð#( Ðthe€turn€and€descent€going.Ð †)Ö$) Ðà  àI€rolled€out€on€final€approach€about€a€quarter€of€mile€from€the€runway€threshold€atÐ l*¼%* Ðabout€250€feet€Ô_ÔAGLÔ_Ô€and€125€Ô_ÔKIASÔ_Ô.€€We€passed€over€the€end€of€the€runway€and€I€madeÐ R+¢&+ Ðone€of€the€better€landings€I€had€ever€made.Ð 8,ˆ', Ðà  àI€reversed€the€throttles,€checked€the€brakes€and€turned€off€at€the€first€availableÐ ° Ðtaxiway.€€Off€the€runway€I€called,€"Engineer's€Throttles,€After€Landing€Checklist."€€TheÐ –æ Ðcockpit€crew€completed€the€checklist€and€we€taxied€to€our€parking€spot.€€I€was€fullyÐ |Ì Ðexpecting€to€be€met€by€a€covey€of€bird€colonels.€€But,€nobody€was€there€but€the€airplane'sÐ b² Ðcrew€chief€and€the€regular€maintenance€troops€who€met€all€returning€mission€aircraft.Ð H˜ Ðà  àThe€crew€off€loaded€all€our€gear€and€got€on€the€crew€bus.€€As€I€walked€from€theÐ . ~ Ðairplane€to€the€bus,€I€stopped€and€looked€back€at€the€old€Super€Connie.€€She€was€sittingÐ  d Ðthere€with€her€oil€stained€cowlings€quietly€dripping€oil€on€the€ramp€as€was€her€wont.€Ð ú J ÐUnderneath€one€of€the€wings€I€could€see€a€purple€stain€designating€a€fuel€leak.€€I€wentÐ à 0 Ðback€and€pointed€it€out€to€the€crew€chief.€€It€was€rather€sad€to€think€I€had€just€flown€my€lastÐ Æ   Ðmission€as€an€aircraft€commander€in€her.€€As€much€as€I€had€bad€mouthed€her,€she€was€aÐ ¬ ü  Ðgood€old€airplane.€€She€had€given€me€a€couple€of€anxious€moments€in€our€time€togetherÐ ’â  Ðbut€she€always€brought€me€and€the€crew€home.Ð xÈ  Ðà  àOn€the€bus€I€sat€down€next€to€Sergeant€Comer,€the€radio€operator.€€"Tell€me€aboutÐ ^®  Ðwho€it€was€that€called€the€command€post€wanting€to€know€who€did€the€pitch€out."Ð D”  Ðà  à"Captain,€that's€all€I€know€about€it.€€Someone€called€and€asked€who€Batcat€5€wasÐ *z  Ðand€the€command€post€said€the€Double€J.€€I€heard€nothing€more€about€it."Ð ` Ðà  à"Well,€if€there's€any€problem€I'll€hear€about€it€at€debriefing,"€I€said.Ð öF Ðà  àWe€turned€in€our€survival€gear€and€went€to€maintenance€and€intelligenceÐ Ü, Ðdebriefings.€€All€of€this€took€the€better€part€of€30€minutes€to€an€hour.à  àÐ Â Ðà  àBut,€I€heard€nothing€more€about€it€at€debriefing.€€In€the€bar€a€few€days€later,€MajorÐ ¨ø ÐMajors€(yes,€that€was€his€name)€came€over€to€me.€€He€had€been€on€the€squadron€aboutÐ ŽÞ Ðtwo€months.€€"Nice€pitch€out€the€other€day,€Ô_ÔJ.J.Ô_Ô,"€he€said.€€"I've€never€seen€an€airplane€thatÐ tÄ Ðbig€do€a€pitch€out."Ð Zª Ðà  àHe€went€on€to€say€he€was€sitting€in€the€cockpit€of€his€Connie€waiting€for€takeoff€timeÐ @ Ðwhen€we€roared€down€the€runway€on€our€low€approach€at€a€great€rate€of€knots.€€He€hadÐ &v Ðcalled€the€command€post€because€he€was€simply€curious€who€the€AC€was.Ð  \ Ðà  àSo,€as€usual,€I€was€concerned€for€nothing.Ð òB ÐÌÓ3°ìpÈ xÐ (#°°ŒX(#3ÓÐ  ¾ ÐàQŸ Ÿ ìàò òSleep,€Oh€Sweet€Sleep,€Where€Are€You?ó óÔB  ÔÔC  ԈР° ÐÓH.°°` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#°ì…X(#HÓÌà  àMy€Ô_ÔDEROSÔ_Ô€was€just€a€few€days€away.€€I€would€fly€down€to€Bangkok€from€Ô_ÔKoratÔ_ÔÐ |Ì ÐÔ_ÔRTAFBÔ_Ô,€spend€a€couple€of€nights€and€then€fly€to€the€States.€€I€knew€the€flight€out€ofÐ b² ÐBangkok€would€be€a€commercial€contract€carrier.€€And,€I€knew€the€seating€would€be€3€by€3Ð H˜ Ðthe€length€of€the€airplane.€€And,€I€knew€the€flight€would€be€absolutely€full€to€the€last€seat.Ð . ~ Ðà  àAt€that€time,€I€had€a€hard€sleeping€on€airplanes€when€I€was€flying€as€a€passenger.€€IÐ  d Ðwent€to€the€flight€surgeon€and€told€him€of€my€sleeping€problem€and€asked€for€someÐ ú J Ðsleeping€pills€for€the€flight.Ð à 0 Ðà  àHe€gave€me€a€small€white€envelope€with€three€pills€in€it€and€said,€"Take€one€ofÐ Æ   Ðthese€after€takeoff€and€it€should€knock€you€out€for€seven€or€eight€hours."Ð ¬ ü  Ðà  à"Thanks,€Doc,"€I€said€taking€the€envelope€and€leaving.Ð ’â  Ðà  àThe€big€day€came.€€We€were€herded€like€cattle€through€the€departure€proceduresÐ xÈ  Ðat€the€USAF€passenger€processing€center€at€Bangkok's€Don€Muang€International€Airport.€Ð ^®  ÐBut,€we€were€going€back€to€the€States,€the€land€of€the€big€Ô_ÔBXÔ_Ô.€€Our€flight€was€a€contractÐ D”  ÐContinental€707.Ð *z  Ðà  àFinally,€we€were€boarded€and€the€aircraft€was€packed€from€one€end€to€the€other€asÐ ` ÐI€had€known€it€would€be.€€The€engines€were€started€and€we€taxied€to€the€runway.€€As€weÐ öF Ðstarted€to€taxi,€all€the€Ô_ÔGIsÔ_Ô€on€board€broke€into€applause.€€We€were€really€going€home.Ð Ü, Ðà  àWe€had€about€a€three€hour€flight€to€Ô_ÔKadenaÔ_Ô€AB,€Okinawa.€€There€we€were€herdedÐ Â Ðinto€the€passenger€lounge€while€the€aircraft€was€refueled.€€About€two€hours€later€we€wereÐ ¨ø Ðherded€back€onto€the€airplane.€€It€would€be€an€eleven€hour€flight€to€Travis€AFB,€SanÐ ŽÞ ÐFrancisco,€California.Ð tÄ Ðà  àAfter€we€were€airborne,€the€Continental€stewardesses€started€serving€the€meal.€Ð Zª ÐSince€this€was€a€contract€flight,€no€booze€was€served.€€After€the€meal€was€over€and€theÐ @ Ðtrays€cleared€away,€I€opened€my€briefcase€and€took€out€my€sleeping€pills'€envelope.€€I€hadÐ &v Ðbeen€stationed€at€Ô_ÔKoratÔ_Ô€with€the€two€guys€who€were€sitting€on€either€side€of€me.€€I€offeredÐ  \ Ðeach€of€them€one€of€my€precious€three€sleeping€pills.€€We€all€took€our€sleeping€pills€andÐ òB Ðsettled€back€to€sleep€away€the€long€flight€to€Travis.Ð Ø( Ðà  àI€opened€a€paperback€book€and€began€to€read.€€I€could€feel€myself€starting€to€nodÐ ¾ Ðoff.€€I€smiled€inwardly€and€patted€myself€on€the€back€for€having€been€so€smart.Ð ¤ô Ðà  àI€woke€up.€€'We€must€be€almost€ready€for€descent€into€Travis,'€I€thought€to€myself.€€IÐ Š Ú Ðlooked€at€my€seat€mates€on€either€side€of€me.€€They€were€both€sound€asleep.€€I€looked€atÐ p!À  Ðmy€watch.€€I€had€been€asleep€for€a€mere€three€hours.€€We€still€had€over€seven€hours€to€fly.Ð V"¦! Ðà  àI€could€not€get€back€to€sleep.€€I€tried€reading€in€the€hope€that€would€lull€me€to€sleep.€Ð <#Œ" ÐI€even€tried€counting€sheep.€€Nothing€worked.€€I€regretted€having€given€away€my€other€twoÐ "$r# Ðpills.€€If€I€had€still€had€them,€I€would€have€taken€at€least€one€if€not€both€of€them€in€an€effortÐ %X $ Ðto€get€back€to€sleep.Ð î%>!% Ðà  àFor€the€next€seven€hours,€I€read,€looked€at€the€seat€back€in€front€of€me€and€enviedÐ Ô&$"& Ðmy€two€seat€mates€who€were€sleeping€like€proverbial€babies.Ð º' #' Ðà  àFinally,€the€nightmare€was€over.€€We€started€our€descent€into€Travis.€€We€landed,Ð  (ð#( Ðcleared€immigrations€and€customs.€€It€was€about€1600.€€My€Delta€Airlines€flight€toÐ †)Ö$) ÐCharlotte,€through€Atlanta€of€course,€wouldn't€be€leaving€until€2330.€€I€wandered€aroundÐ l*¼%* Ðthe€airport€until€flight€time.€€Once€on€the€flight€to€Atlanta,€I€was€finally€able€to€go€to€sleep.Ð R+¢&+ ÐÐ  8,ˆ', ÐÓ  ÓÓE.°` ¸ hÀìpÈ xÐ (#°°ŒX(#EÓò òJake's€Rat€Biteó óÔB  ÔÔC  ÔÐ ° ÐÓ  ÓÓK.°°` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#°…Xì†XKÓÌà  àI€left€Ô_ÔKoratÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔRTAFBÔ_Ô,€Thailand€six€weeks€before€Jake.€€One€evening€after€the€usualÐ |Ì Ðeleven€hour€mission,€Jake€was€unwinding€with€a€few€beers€at€the€NCO€Club.€€He€had€aÐ b² Ðtable€in€the€corner€of€the€bar€to€himself.€€After€his€third€beer,€he€saw€something€move€onÐ H˜ Ðthe€floor€beside€his€table.€€He€looked€closer€and€saw€a€small€gray€mouse.€€He€reachedÐ . ~ Ðdown,€picked€it€up€and€put€it€on€the€table.€€The€mouse€seemed€not€to€be€afraid€of€Jake.€Ð  d ÐHe€poured€out€a€little€beer€on€the€table€for€the€mouse.€€It€lapped€hesitantly€at€the€brew.Ð ú J Ðà  àJake€called€over€one€of€the€local€Thai€bar€waitresses.€€When€he€showed€her€theÐ à 0 Ðmouse€she€yelled€and€fled.€€A€few€minutes€later€she€edged€back€towards€the€table.Ð Æ   Ðà  à"Bring€me€another€beer,"€Jake€called€to€her,€"and€some€cheese€for€my€friend."Ð ¬ ü  Ðà  àShe€disappeared€into€the€kitchen€and€came€back€with€another€beer€and€a€smallÐ ’â  Ðpiece€of€cheese.€€Jake€tried€to€get€the€mouse€to€eat€a€bit€of€the€cheese.€€He€tried€againÐ xÈ  Ðwith€the€beer.€€But,€the€mouse€was€having€none€of€it.€€Finally,€the€mouse€got€tired€of€theÐ ^®  Ðproceedings€and€bit€Jake€on€his€finger.Ð D”  Ðà  àThis€angered€Jake€and€he€hit€the€mouse€over€the€head€with€an€empty€beer€bottleÐ *z  Ðand€left€the€NCO€Club.€€On€the€way€back€to€his€hootch,€he€decided€he'd€better€have€theÐ ` Ðflight€surgeon€look€at€the€bite.€€He€stopped€at€the€hospital€thinking€he'd€get€a€tetanus€shotÐ öF Ðand€that€would€be€the€end€of€it.€€He€was€half€right.€€He€got€the€tetanus€shot,€but€the€doctorÐ Ü, Ðwanted€to€see€the€mouse€to€check€it€for€rabies.Ð Â Ðà  àJake€went€back€to€the€NCO€Club€to€get€the€mouse.€€But,€it€had€been€thrown€outÐ ¨ø Ðwith€the€garbage.€€He€returned€to€the€hospital€and€told€the€doctor€what€had€happen€to€theÐ ŽÞ Ðmouse.Ð tÄ Ðà  à"Well,€that€doesn't€leave€us€much€choice,€does€it,€Sarge?"€the€flight€surgeon€said€toÐ Zª ÐJake.Ð @ Ðà  à"What€do€you€mean€about€much€choice?"€Jake€queried.Ð &v Ðà  à"If€we€can't€find€the€mouse€to€determine€if€it€is€rabid€or€not,€you'll€have€to€take€theÐ  \ Ðseries€of€rabies€serum€shots.€€A€shot€every€day,€at€the€same€time€every€day,€for€ten€daysÐ òB Ðis€what€it€means,"€answered€the€flight€surgeon.Ð Ø( Ðà  àJake€thought€about€this€for€several€minutes€and€then€said,€"Okay,€when€do€we€getÐ ¾ Ðstarted?€€I'm€due€to€rotate€in€a€couple€of€weeks."Ð ¤ô Ðà  à"We'll€start€tomorrow€at€1500,"€the€flight€surgeon€answering€writing€some€notes€inÐ Š Ú ÐJake's€medical€folder.Ð p!À  Ðà  àThe€next€morning,€Jake€briefed€the€Squadron€Commander€on€the€rat€bite€and€theÐ V"¦! Ðseries€of€shots€he€would€have€to€take.€€This€presented€no€problems€since€Jake€was€soÐ <#Œ" Ðclose€to€rotation.€€They€would€just€have€him€pull€squadron€duty€with€no€flying€except€forÐ "$r# Ðlocal€maintenance€test€flights.€€These€flights€only€lasted€an€hour€or€two.Ð %X $ Ðà  àReligiously€for€the€next€week,€Jake€reported€to€the€hospital€every€afternoon€atÐ î%>!% Ð1500.€€He€received€the€shots€in€his€stomach,€a€different€location€for€each€new€shot.€€HeÐ Ô&$"& Ðsaid€they€hurt€like€hell,€but€he€wanted€to€go€home€on€time.Ð º' #' Ðà  àOn€the€eighth€day,€the€squadron€called€Jake€for€a€test€hop.€€It€was€scheduled€toÐ  (ð#( Ðtakeoff€at€noon€for€an€hour's€flying€time.€€Jake€took€the€flight€and€at€noon€the€aircraft€tookÐ †)Ö$) Ðoff€with€two€pilots,€Jake€as€the€flight€engineer€and€a€couple€of€maintenance€troops€to€doÐ l*¼%* Ðthe€Ô_ÔinflightÔ_Ô€checks.€€The€flight€went€without€incident€and€forty€five€minutes€after€takeoff,Ð R+¢&+ Ðthey€were€ready€to€land.Ð 8,ˆ', Ðà  àOn€the€base€leg€to€landing,€the€pilot€called,€"Gear€down."Ð ° Ðà  àThe€copilot€moved€the€gear€handle€to€the€down€position.€€The€main€gear€extendedÐ –æ Ðand€indicated€down€and€locked.€€The€nose€gear€indicator€showed€it€was€not€down€andÐ |Ì Ðlocked.€€The€pilot€made€a€missed€approach€and€held€to€the€south€of€the€field€while€theyÐ b² Ðtried€to€get€the€nose€gear€to€indicate€down€and€locked.€€Ð H˜ Ðà  àTime€passed€and€1500€was€rapidly€approaching.€€If€Jake€missed€one€in€the€seriesÐ . ~ Ðof€ten€shots,€then€the€whole€series€would€have€to€be€repeated.€€Jake€said€he€evenÐ  d Ðconsidered€asking€the€aircraft€commander€to€let€him€bail€out€over€the€field€so€he€couldÐ ú J Ðmake€the€1500€appointment.Ð à 0 Ðà  à"Don't€worry,€Jake,"€the€pilot€said.€€"We'll€all€be€on€the€ground,€one€way€or€theÐ Æ   Ðother,€to€get€you€to€the€hospital€by€1500."Ð ¬ ü  Ðà  àAbout€1415,€they€got€a€down€and€locked€indication€on€the€nose€gear.€€They€re„Ð ’â  Ðentered€the€traffic€pattern€and€landed€safely€at€1430.€€Jake€hurried€through€theÐ xÈ  Ðmaintenance€debriefing€and€got€to€the€hospital€in€time€for€his€shot.Ð ^®  Ðà  àJake€completed€the€rest€of€his€rabies€serum€shots€and€rotated€back€to€the€StatesÐ D”  Ðon€schedule.Ð *z  Ðà  àAfter€he€got€to€McClelland€AFB,€Sacramento,€California,€he€wrote€and€told€me€ofÐ ` Ðthe€mouse€bite€episode.€€It€was€really€no€surprise€to€me.€€Jake€was€always€one€with€aÐ öF Ðgood€story€and€I€figured€he'd€done€it€just€to€have€another€story€to€tell.Ð Ü, ÐÌÐ  ¨ø ÐÓ3°ìpÈ xÐ (#°°ŒX(#3ÓàQ† † ìàò ò"I€Know€You€From€Somewhere,€Don't€I?"ó óÔB  ÔÔC  ԈР° ÐÓH.°°` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#°ì…X(#HÓÌà  àWhile€stationed€at€Headquarters€TAC,€Langley€AFB,€Hampton,€Virginia,€I€flew€theÐ |Ì ÐT„29€to€get€my€flying€time.€€The€flights€were€usually€just€up€and€down€the€east€coast.€Ð b² ÐThese€were€primarily€passenger€carrying€missions.€€One€of€the€more€or€less€scheduledÐ H˜ Ðmissions€we€flew€was€the€Andrews€Courier.€€From€Langley,€we€fly€to€Andrews€AFB,Ð . ~ ÐMaryland,€just€outside€Washington,€DC.€€We'd€spend€a€couple€of€hours€on€the€ground€andÐ  d Ðthen€fly€back€to€Langley.€€Another€mission€was€called€the€TAC€Courier.€€We'd€fly€fromÐ ú J ÐLangley€to€Shaw€AFB,€South€Carolina€and€then€to€Ô_ÔHurlburtÔ_Ô€AFB,€Florida.€€We'd€spend€anÐ à 0 Ðhour€on€the€ground€at€each€place€and€then€fly€back€to€Langley€with€a€stop€at€Shaw.Ð Æ   Ðà  àOne€morning€I€was€to€fly€the€Andrews€Courier.€€I€went€to€Base€Ops€and€met€theÐ ¬ ü  Ðaircraft€commander.€€We€filed€our€flight€plan€and€then€went€over€to€the€snack€bar€to€getÐ ’â  Ðbreakfast€before€we€took€off.€€As€we€walked€into€the€snack€bar,€I€thought€I€recognized€aÐ xÈ  ÐUSAF€major€who€sitting€at€one€of€the€tables.Ð ^®  Ðà  àAfter€I€got€my€breakfast,€I€was€carrying€my€tray€to€the€table€the€aircraft€commanderÐ D”  Ðhad€picked€out.€€I€went€by€the€table€where€the€major€who€looked€familiar€was€sitting.Ð *z  Ðà  à"Pardon€me,€I€think€I€know€you€from€somewhere.€€I'm€€Ô_ÔJ.J.Ô_Ô€Smith,"€I€said€resting€myÐ ` Ðbreakfast€tray€on€his€table€and€extending€my€hand.Ð öF Ðà  àThe€major€stood€up,€and€as€he€shook€my€hand€my€hand€replied,€"Yes,€Ô_ÔJ.J.Ô_Ô,€I€wasÐ Ü, Ðan€Ô_ÔEWOÔ_Ô€on€your€crew€at€Ô_ÔKoratÔ_Ô."€€And,€he€told€me€his€name.Ð Â Ðà  àI€was€embarrassed€almost€to€tears.€€Here€was€a€guy€who€had€flown€with€me€on€myÐ ¨ø Ðcrew€at€Ô_ÔKoratÔ_Ô€and€I€hadn't€remembered€him.€€I€mumbled€some€sort€of€apology€for€notÐ ŽÞ Ðhaving€recognized€him.Ð tÄ Ðà  àHe€saw€my€obvious€mortification€and€attempted€to€ease€it.€€"Don't€worry€about€it,€IÐ Zª Ðwas€only€on€your€crew€for€a€couple€of€months€before€you€rotated."Ð @ Ðà  àI€said€it€was€nice€seeing€him€again€and€excused€myself€to€go€eat€breakfast.€€TheÐ &v Ðaircraft€commander€I€was€flying€with€that€day€thought€the€incident€was€funny.€€It€was€aÐ  \ Ðlong€time€before€I€could€laugh€about€it.Ð òB ÐÌ