Black Hawk 09 and The Wrong Turn

Helmut Haberl, who was a Line Chief in 1967-68, sent me this photo of Blackhawk 09 (#3247) after it took a wrong turn at Phu Hiep sometime in the summer of ’68. The man on the port engine was a T.I. with reddish blond hair. Helmut said he doesn’t remember his name. (If someone reading this recalls who he might me, let us know!)

Thanks Helmut for sharing this with us!

(PS: I have photos 09 from a November 1968 mortar attack, which made it into a $3 million sieve while it was parked in its revetment. I’ll put them on the blog sometime soon.)

Happy Valentine's Day!

February 14 marks an amazing milestone for me this year.  On Valentine's Day 40 years ago a scared twenty-year-old GI looked out the right side of a Military Airlift Command chartered Eastern Airlines stretch DC-8, with two hundred or so other young men, and saw his first glimpse of the Republic of Vietnam from 30,000 feet! 

As we landed at Tan Son Nhut Air Base a little while later, little did I know what a remarkable adventure the Lord had in store for me over the rest of my life.  The friendships I would make, and those that would be rekindled.  The careers and hobbies I would pursue.  And the family that would be the Darraghs!

It has, indeed, been extraordinary!

And the adventure continues!

Pictures of Our Aircraft Wanted!

Jim Thomas writes:
"Gordy, do you think we could get the guys to send us the tail shots of the Mohawks? I have been trying for some years to convert the two digit tail numbers to the factory 6 and 7 digit tail numbers. I have 8 or so numbers out of about 35 to 40 that were in the unit. That way we can tell which ones we flew that are still in existence, where they are, etc."

Please send any photos to Jim directly at mohawkov1@aol.com or to me at darraghsplace@gmail.com. Thanks!

By the Sea, By the Sea, by the Beautiful Sea...

These are some photos Jim Thomas sent...


This was taken at the lagoon behind the Korean compound about June of 70. I believe these to be the SLAR Rep on the left and the II Tech CW2 Harold Nolan on the right. Note the boat in the background with a water skier. We were all waiting for our turn. Then we went sailing on the two man Sunfish.


This is at the Tuy Hoa flight line. We were waiting for an Otter to take us to the Special Forces camp in Pleiku. CW2 Frank Warren on the left and CW2 Jim Thomas on the right. CW2 Bucky Buchannan took the picture. About November 70.