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NeoGreen

(4,033 posts)
Sun Nov 12, 2017, 10:43 AM Nov 2017

Got a little nostaligic this past Veterans Day and wanted to share some 30-year old memories...

Last edited Wed May 2, 2018, 07:42 AM - Edit history (2)

30-years ago in 1987 a group of USAF Red Horse (kind of like the Navy SeaBees, but better) personnel took a C-130 from Osan AFB Korea to Misawa AFB, Japan on a TDY to build a 75-ft x 300-ft Stress Tension Shelter (STS) in support of a FIG.

The Crew:


Long Days and Nights:




The STS was completed in 57 days, start to finish.


And it is kind of gratifying to know it is still there:




Korea: Bicyclist, Mountain and Mist


Ahhh, memories...

17 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Got a little nostaligic this past Veterans Day and wanted to share some 30-year old memories... (Original Post) NeoGreen Nov 2017 OP
My father flew C-131's during the VN war, from Naha and Kadena AFBs to Da Nang. Irish_Dem Nov 2017 #1
Everyone says a 130 is big until they take a ride in a... NeoGreen Nov 2017 #2
Were these used in Viet Nam? I don't remember the guys flying these. Irish_Dem Nov 2017 #3
In service starting around 1970... NeoGreen Nov 2017 #4
That's what I thought, some sort of boat. Maybe it is a Navy Galaxy. Irish_Dem Nov 2017 #5
Here is a C5 unloading a C-130... NeoGreen Nov 2017 #7
Holy Crap. You have to be kidding. Irish_Dem Nov 2017 #8
Thank you NeoGreen DashOneBravo Nov 2017 #6
Happy to share... NeoGreen Nov 2017 #9
Enjoyed your photos and learned a thing or two. democrank Nov 2017 #10
Awesome friend thanks for sharing TEB Nov 2017 #11
very impressive KT2000 Nov 2017 #12
It doesn't not seem very respectful of your sister service members to start your memory with Nitram Nov 2017 #13
I did 2 tours in Misawa, it might be my favorite place on earth The Polack MSgt Nov 2017 #14
totally cool! Skittles Nov 2017 #15
At the risk of seeing comments of "hoarder" and 'packrat' I exclaim...Eureka!...I found them... NeoGreen Mar 2019 #16
Lol DashOneBravo Mar 2019 #17

Irish_Dem

(59,696 posts)
1. My father flew C-131's during the VN war, from Naha and Kadena AFBs to Da Nang.
Sun Nov 12, 2017, 10:51 AM
Nov 2017

Enjoyed looking at your pics.

The thing I remember most about the C-131 is that it was a big mother of a plane.

Irish_Dem

(59,696 posts)
3. Were these used in Viet Nam? I don't remember the guys flying these.
Sun Nov 12, 2017, 10:57 AM
Nov 2017

But my Dad was flying combat in the early and mid 1960's.

Crap that is a big plane.

What is that thing they are loading into the cargo bay?

NeoGreen

(4,033 posts)
4. In service starting around 1970...
Sun Nov 12, 2017, 11:01 AM
Nov 2017

...so I'd guess not.

Big ain't the word I'd use.

I remember watching them do touch and go's... it was surreal, it made the base and runway look like a toy sized train-board.

Haven't a clue what is being loaded, looks like some squids toy boat.

Irish_Dem

(59,696 posts)
5. That's what I thought, some sort of boat. Maybe it is a Navy Galaxy.
Sun Nov 12, 2017, 11:06 AM
Nov 2017

Don't know why the AF would be hauling Navy craft.
Especially baby boats.

Wow, I would have liked to see the Galaxy do touch and go's and fly bys.

Irish_Dem

(59,696 posts)
8. Holy Crap. You have to be kidding.
Sun Nov 12, 2017, 11:13 AM
Nov 2017

The C-130s were HUGE.
And it can fit into a C-5.
Look how tiny the men look standing next to it.

Why would the AF haul a C-130 around?
Is it non-operational?

In the early to mid 1960's we could not conceive of such planes.
If you had not sent me a pic I wouldn't have believed it.

DashOneBravo

(2,679 posts)
6. Thank you NeoGreen
Sun Nov 12, 2017, 11:07 AM
Nov 2017

Those are great pictures and a very cool story. It's nice that it's still there.

Loved the picture of the guys on the steel beams.

NeoGreen

(4,033 posts)
9. Happy to share...
Sun Nov 12, 2017, 11:14 AM
Nov 2017

...glad you enjoyed them.

Everyone took a turn on the steel.

I was the surveyor, trying to keep the whole thing straight. When not surveying I drove a dump truck, poured concrete, ran an excavator, poured concrete, set forms, poured concrete, bent rebar, poured concrete...did I mention we poured a little concrete too?

Fun fact, after the first day there were no officers, entire field project was completed by an all enlisted crew.

A one-star did stop by when we were done, but I don't remember his name.

Nitram

(24,726 posts)
13. It doesn't not seem very respectful of your sister service members to start your memory with
Sun Nov 12, 2017, 05:21 PM
Nov 2017

a jab: "kind of like the Navy SeaBees, but better." Does it bother Red Horse that the SeaBees are better known?

NeoGreen

(4,033 posts)
16. At the risk of seeing comments of "hoarder" and 'packrat' I exclaim...Eureka!...I found them...
Mon Mar 11, 2019, 02:13 PM
Mar 2019

...




I was searching through my archives in the basement and found my copy of the working drawings of the 1987 project noted above.

They still have a slight whiff of ammonia.

Ahhh...memories.

DashOneBravo

(2,679 posts)
17. Lol
Mon Mar 18, 2019, 09:33 PM
Mar 2019

In a later life. I kicked over the bottle next to the machine and cleared out half of the product engineering snobs.

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