Happy Anniversary: 100 Years of Marine Corps Aviation

Weasel Zippers ^

[NFHale]

Happy Anniversary: 100 Years of Marine Corps Aviation…

[yellowhorse]

I was at Chu Lai in ‘66 & ‘67 with VMFA 314, The Black Knights. I seem to remember VMFA 232 being there at thhhat time. There were no F4’ in Da Nang, only Chu Lai if my memory is correct.

[yellowhorse]

I was at Chu Lai in ‘66 & ‘67 with VMFA 314, The Black Knights. I seem to remember VMFA 232 being there at thhhat time. There were no F4’ in Da Nang, only Chu Lai if my memory is correct.

[doorgunner69]

Ah, night crew, then the distinct pleasure of trying to sleep through the heat of the day. I'd swipe as many fans as I could in our hootch and have them all blasting away at me as I lay there nekkid. Good for a few hours sleep at least.

I remember the avionics guys cursing the radars and Sparrows for not aligning. Now and then they would call and have us swap out a missile. Dunno if it could be told whether it was a radar problem or the missile. Oh well, one more thing to do

[doorgunner69]

There were VMFA-122 F-4s at Da Nang from August 67 to early 68 whenever it was they rotated to Japan. There was a F-8 and A-6 squadron at Da Nang, and maybe an RF-4 Recce squadron. Many moons ago.

IIRC, VMFA-314 had the center section of revetments at Chu Lai. Memory escapes me who was at the south end. 323 was at the north end. Pilot named Truti I think wrote an outstanding book on his time with 314 if you ever find it.

[yellowhorse]

my time was spent at Chu Lai in 66 & 67, that’s why i remember where the F4 were based. not 66 and 68. was trying to post from my phone. that’s why there were multiple post.

Right after I got there in the fall of 66 an A4 crashed at the south end of the runway. Made this 18yo kid realize that it was for real.

I was at Da Nang visiting my buddy who was with HMH 265, a CH54 squadron based there. Heard my first F8 take off. I thought the world was coming to an end.

I loved the beach at Chu Lai, but the water was treacherous. strongest undercurrent I know of.

[Red_Devil 232]

Both y'all were in Nam before I was. I was in Da Nang in '72 then we bugged out and headed to Nam Phong, Thailand. We were supporting Operation Linebacker. That was one hot dirty and dusty place. No electricity for the tents we were sleeping in. When the Seabees got our Mash type quarters ready we did have power. We made Ice chests using the foam some of the ordnance came in. My father, who was stationed in Laos at the time, made three beer runs to Nam Phong via Air America with cases of beer that was shared with every one. Let me tell you 15 to 20 cases of beer didn't last long. This picture was taken in Nam Phong. It is of my Father delivering beer to us.

A few weeks later he was able to get permission for me to go to Laos to visit at home for a weekend.

Me by my Dodge in Laos. My Dad had it shipped from the U.S. to Laos when I went to Nam.

[NFHale]

To all Vietnam veteran gentlemen...

Welcome home, thank you, and God bless you.