Very Scary Photo

[7point62]

For those who've never seen this pic, it's a C7A Caribou coming into an SF camp near Duc Pho, '67, getting in the way of an outgoing 155 round from the camp battery. All 3 aircrew killed (RIP), and a sad--and chilling--example of lack of coordination/communication.

 

[SgtUSMC8541]

Damn! WTF can you say about that but..... DAMN. Its tough in war but ATD is so damn important.

 

[AssadUSMC]

What a photo... I don't think that's what the photographer expected to capture.

RIP...

 

[HOLLiS]

I was setting next to the shell of the chopper on Mutter's Ridge watching Lima 3/3 retake a position that was over runned the night before and thought about that.

Flying through the air we have 60 mm, 81 mm, 4 deuce, 155, 8 inch, Huey's, Chinooks, fixed wing and sometimes Naval gun fire, not to mention what Charlie was sending air bound. Pretty amazing that more of this did not happen.

Rest In Peace to the crew.

 

[7point62]

I was setting next to the shell of the chopper on Mutter's Ridge watching Lima 3/3 retake a position that was over runned the night before and thought about that.

Flying through the air we have 60 mm, 81 mm, 4 deuce, 155, 8 inch, Huey's, Chinooks, fixed wing and sometimes Naval gun fire, not to mention what Charlie was sending air bound. Pretty amazing that more of this did not happen.

Rest In Peace to the crew.

We lost 105 helicopters (destroyed)* during one operation-- Lam Son 719 --that lasted a few weeks. Can you imagine if we suffered those kinds of losses in OIF/OEF?

(*And 400 more damaged).

 

[arizonaguide]

Wow. Thanks 7point. Just..wow.

Pretty good Caribou link here, with some good history and pictures:
http://www.utdallas.edu/library/collections/speccoll/Leeker/cari.pdf

I'm trying to track down the names of those 3 aircrew kia in the picture.
RIP

 

[AWP]

This is why I have a job. Sobering.

Blue Skies.

 

[HOLLiS]

We lost 105 helicopters (destroyed)* during one operation-- Lam Son 719 --that lasted a few weeks. Can you imagine if we suffered those kinds of losses in OIF/OEF?

(*And 400 more damaged).

I know, July 2nd we had 150 Marines KIA and a whole bunch wounded, a battalion was taken off of the field. Two days later, a repeat, another 150 Marines KIA........ In 68 -69 we were loosing over a thousand Americans KIA each month............. if this was today, the NYTimes would be clammering for the US to surrender so would a bunch of other politicals.

 

[tova]

RIP, Godspeed, PBS....

 

[AWP]

Some more background and pictures regarding this.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=caribou+ha+thahn&aq=o&oq=&aqi=

http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19670803-0

http://www.vhfcn.org/midair.html

Secondly, I spoke to the battery commander of the battery that
shot down the C-7A at Ha Thanh in 1967 while as a gunnery instructor at
Ft Sill Okla in 1969. The Air Force C-7A aircraft commander had been
told twice the battery was in a contact fire mission and was firing
continous fire for an Infantry company in close contact. He flew in
anyway, got the tail shot off and killed everyone on board the ship.

http://www.c-7acaribou.com/album/mlphotos/ml_013.htm

 

[Mac_NZ]

Wow, did he think he would matrix between the bombs?

I think I flew in an Aussie one of those last year, demented looking grasshopper thing that sounds like an old Buick when it starts up?

 

[digrar]

Yeah we have Caribou, they're getting retired by the end of the year, I doubt they'll get many hours on them this year either, they're just about knackered.

 

[QC]

What will replace them?

 

[digrar]

There were a aircraft mentioned, none came close to replicating the capabilities of the old bird. At this stage, nothing is on order, or being trialed. I think they have some hired king airs to cover some of the capability.

http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2009/may/20090527/index.htm

 

[Mac_NZ]

Can you set one of those up to jump?

 

[AWP]

Gone skydiving from them before, you can modify them to have a pretty hefty door on one. The T-tail is nice.

 

[digrar]

Pretty sure they've been jumped out of a fair bit by our mob.

 

[JJOIFVET]

That is some photo. All I have to say is WOW!

 

[arizonaguide]

The Kingair (C-12) is a sweeeeeeet bird! :)

The C-12 doesn't get much publicity, but has been an important part of Alaska military aviation for many successful years...to all the corners of the state.

RWY LCTD ON SLOPE OF 3200' MTN; ARPT SURROUNDED BY MTNS.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF20 KT /RADOME WINDS 25 KT/ MAY PRODUCE SEVER TURBC; RADOME WINDS NOT ALWAYS AVBL.
TKOF RWY 16 ONLY; APCH FM S LND RWY 34 ONLY; SUCCESSFUL GO-AROUND IMPROBABLE; DAYLIGHT OPNS ONLY.
USAF INSTALLATION, ALL CIVIL ACFT OPERS REQ CIVIL ACFT LNDG PERMITS PRIOR TO LANDING AT FACILITY. FINES WILL BE LEVIED AGAINST VIOLATORS & REPORTS WILL BE FWDD TO FAA FSDOS IAW 32CFR855 & USAF OPERG INSTRGS. OPERS MUST HAVE ON BOARD A COPY OF CURRENT PERMIT. CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. OFFICIAL BUSINESS ONLY.
16/34 MKD WITH 4 FOOT SQ ORANGE MKRS-THR MKG RIGHT ON RY ENDS.
VASI GS DOES NOT MEET TERRAIN CLNC CRITERIA EXCEPT WITHIN 1 NM OF RWY. HILL 1413.

http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/C-12_Huron

 

[AssadUSMC]

I fly around in King Airs all the time... solid bird.