I arrived at Utapao May 68 went PCS to Ubon Jan 69. Utapao rocked with the thunder of BUFF's and KC-135s. Never forget the day the tanker crashed and burned on takeoff or the night the bomb dump exploded.
Great video! Man this really takes me back. I was at Utapao from July 1970-71. Worked in Aircraft Radio communications repair. I worked on Buffs, KC-135 tankers, and anything else that landed that needed the radio fixed.
My most interesting repair was to fix the UHF Radio on a C-135 used by Henry Kissinger in the peace talks, but he wasn't on board.
I worked as a VFR control tower operator at U-Tapao from Nov67-Nov68,and the BUFF launches were always a spectacular sight..I laugh at the drama the FAA is going through now,because we did so much more with less.
Thanks for posting the films as they do indeed bring back many memories. Loaded BUFFS with their bombs (Mickey Mouse/MMS SQ) and turned them over to OMS/FMS.
Watched them pull the chocks and soon they were leaving to take off.
Brings back alot of memories. I was there from Jan 72 to Jan 73 as a bomber crew chief on aircraft 599 (which got shot down during the christmas bombing line backer II campaign). Didn't enjoy being there at that time, because I was only married a couple of years and had a four month old son when I left for U-Tapao. Worked 12 hour shifts, sometimes 7 days a week with no shirt.
Thank you. Dude I'm sitting here crying like a baby. I remember standing on the hill outside the AGE shop on bomber side watching the launch. Seeing that start cart and MD-3 was like it was yesterday. Talk about a flash back.
Spent many 12 hour days 7 days a week working on that flight line as an assistant crewchief and then as crewchief on KC135A tankers ship numbers 526 and then 549 based out of Griffiss. Best flight crew: Capt Bob Ray and Lt. Ed Dingavin.
Gawd we were all so young then. Williams 70-71 Korat 71-72 Lockbourne 73-74 with a 181 day TDY to Anderson in the middle. (Break in Service for edumicathun) 77-79 Bergstrom 79-81 Anderson 81-82 Laughlin 82-84 GaANG 165th TAG 84-86 Chanute 86-89 RAF Upper Heyford (BEST Assignment of all) 89-92 The suckiest and worst attitude base in the AF, Holloman. With a long tdy at Jeddha with the 1701st BW(P)
My hat is off to all you guys who went to that place. Thanks a bunch for doing that. I wonder though--do any of you get melanoma these days? No one wore shirts it seems, and one would think skin cancer would be a problem later for you guys.
Thanks for bringing this to us Bill. It brought back a flood of good memories of long twelve hour all nighters spent on the bomber side during my tour '71-'72. Ed C. Loring and U-T.
I arrived at Utapao May 68 went PCS to Ubon Jan 69. Utapao rocked with the thunder of BUFF's and KC-135s. Never forget the day the tanker crashed and burned on takeoff or the night the bomb dump exploded.
60vanbaker 1 week ago
Great video! Man this really takes me back. I was at Utapao from July 1970-71. Worked in Aircraft Radio communications repair. I worked on Buffs, KC-135 tankers, and anything else that landed that needed the radio fixed.
My most interesting repair was to fix the UHF Radio on a C-135 used by Henry Kissinger in the peace talks, but he wasn't on board.
Here's some pics I took at Utapao.
picasaweb.google.com/nfatoys/UtapaoAFBThailand19701971
NFAtoys 6 months ago
Gary - Thanks for the comment. Also thinks for the link to your photos as it brought back some memories also.
wmiller685 6 months ago
Gary - Thanks for the comment. Also thanks for the link to your photos as it brought back some memories also.
wmiller685 6 months ago
Gary, we have a group on yahoo called U-Tapao Alumni Association if you would be interested. I checked your photos out and they are outstanding.
wmiller685 6 months ago
Thank you for your service.
mongosafariadventure 9 months ago
I worked as a VFR control tower operator at U-Tapao from Nov67-Nov68,and the BUFF launches were always a spectacular sight..I laugh at the drama the FAA is going through now,because we did so much more with less.
tangmo947 10 months ago
It was great being a controller back then - you could see the smoke from these mothers for miles...
DT1521 11 months ago
Thanks for posting the films as they do indeed bring back many memories. Loaded BUFFS with their bombs (Mickey Mouse/MMS SQ) and turned them over to OMS/FMS.
Watched them pull the chocks and soon they were leaving to take off.
css903 1 year ago
Brings back alot of memories. I was there from Jan 72 to Jan 73 as a bomber crew chief on aircraft 599 (which got shot down during the christmas bombing line backer II campaign). Didn't enjoy being there at that time, because I was only married a couple of years and had a four month old son when I left for U-Tapao. Worked 12 hour shifts, sometimes 7 days a week with no shirt.
abxdc9mech 1 year ago
quels sont les titres et interprètes des musiques de cette vidéo.
auyanteppuy 1 year ago
Thank you. Dude I'm sitting here crying like a baby. I remember standing on the hill outside the AGE shop on bomber side watching the launch. Seeing that start cart and MD-3 was like it was yesterday. Talk about a flash back.
AcebassII 2 years ago
Sure someone already asked this,but what base is this and what time period are we looking at?
cdubois13 2 years ago
Brings back memories....18 years old and full of piss and vinegar....
416 OMS Griffiss AFB Rome New York 1972 - 1977
TDY Young Tiger U-Tapao Thailand1972/73/74/75/76
Delta Air Lines 1977 - 2006 - OIA Airport Tower Coordinator
Orlando - Harp and Celt Restaurant and Irish Pub Owner 2006 - Present
Ain't Life Grand!
rajuncajun121 2 years ago
Spent many 12 hour days 7 days a week working on that flight line as an assistant crewchief and then as crewchief on KC135A tankers ship numbers 526 and then 549 based out of Griffiss. Best flight crew: Capt Bob Ray and Lt. Ed Dingavin.
rajuncajun121 2 years ago
man that d model looks great, it at least has all its visible paint still, unlike the h's now...
joukaishou813924 2 years ago
FLHTP07 3 years ago
I don't remember you cholbear1 ...
Loring AFB 1968-1971
Pease AFB 1971-72
Utaphao AB 1972-1973
Loring AFB 1973-1975
Daddario
Glad someone paid tribute to the crews ground and air...
quadcomputers 3 years ago
I'm a BUFF pilot now, and I show these to my Bros' at the SQ - we have not forgotten - cheers!
boss390 3 years ago
My hat is off to all you guys who went to that place. Thanks a bunch for doing that. I wonder though--do any of you get melanoma these days? No one wore shirts it seems, and one would think skin cancer would be a problem later for you guys.
Rhenoism 4 years ago
I have been having skin removed since 1982. I did go to the beach in the late 60's however my back was the first to get skin cut off.
They are right: Too much sun will kill you.
smonken 4 years ago
Thanks for bringing this to us Bill. It brought back a flood of good memories of long twelve hour all nighters spent on the bomber side during my tour '71-'72. Ed C. Loring and U-T.
chlobear1 4 years ago