Some of Terry Carlson's Photos

Terry has sent me some photos over the last months, and I thought it was about time that I put them on the Observer so you guys could see them. (Sorry to take so long Terry!) I'll be posting some more in the next few days, so check back frequently.

These particular pictures, except for the ones that are of airplanes in revetments and formation, were all taken at Tuy Hoa AFB. Here's what Terry wrote me when he sent them: "These slides are tagged May 71. They were taken at Tuy Hoa. I think I was at the east end of the runway, just up from the beach. I'm not sure, but I think all the Mohawk pictures are Phantomhawk 17, making "touch and goes".

St. Paddy's Day 2010

(Be sure to look at the slide show at the bottom of this article also.)

Last Sunday morning my alarm went off at “oh-dark-thirty,” rousing me out of bed to run in another St. Paddy’s Day Dash in Seattle. I had mentally, and somewhat physically, prepared myself for the 3.8 mile (6.1 km) jaunt that my son Pete and I were to begin at 8:40am. I had to get going early, however, because I was picking him up at the Fauntleroy ferry dock in West Seattle at 7:40. While I was waiting for the ferry to dock, the Olympic Mountains in the background to the west were absolutely spectacular, as was Mount Rainier to the south!

We arrived near the starting point on this beautiful, clear, sunny Seattle day in plenty of time to join 15,225 of our closest friends to begin our jaunt at 8:40am. With the beautiful strains of some local bag pipers playing somewhere in the crowd we were off!

It was more difficult that two years ago (click here to see the blog article I wrote then) because the route had changed…about half of the nearly 4 miles was up hill! Ugh! Two years ago it was all virtually level (or downhill). What a sneaky Irish trick to play on two guys named Darragh (which means “oak” in Irish)!

We both made it, though! Pete’s official time was 48:36, and his old man’s was 51:42. Not too bad considering I am twenty-nine years his senior!

I must admit that I was sore for the next two days, but I am excited to run this again next year. It’s just way too much fun to pass up!

F-16 vs C-130

John Ferguson sent this to me a little while ago. You may have seen this already, but I thought it was great enough that it's worth reading again!

A C-130 was lumbering along when a cocky F-16 flashed by. The jet jockey decided to show off.

The fighter jock told the C-130 pilot, 'watch this!' and promptly went into a barrel roll followed by a steep climb. He then finished with a sonic boom as he broke the sound barrier. The F-16 pilot asked the C-130 pilot what he thought of that?

The C-130 pilot said, 'That was impressive, but watch this!' The C-130 droned along for about 5 minutes and then the C-130 pilot came back on and said: 'What did you think of that?' Puzzled, the F-16 pilot asked, 'What the heck did you do?' The C-130 pilot chuckled. 'I stood up, stretched my legs, walked to the back, took a leak, then got a cup of coffee and a cinnamon roll.'

The moral of the story is...

When you are young and foolish -

speed and flash may seem a good thing!

When you get older and smarter -

comfort and dull are not such a bad things.

Flying High in a U-2!

Our friend Roger “Superman” Kent sent this link to me, so I thought you’d all like to take the ride too!

Fasten your seat belt for a fantastic ride in a spy plane.

See the world at 30,000, 40,000, 50,000, 60,000 and finally at 70,000 feet. From 70,000 feet you look down 35,000 feet at a jetliner passing below at its normal cruising altitude of 35,000 ft. The views are spectacular as the U-2 flies at altitudes that constitute "SPACE." Only the International Space Station is higher!

This video is a once in a lifetime experience of a British civilian, James May, getting a flight at over 70,000 ft. in a U-2 spy plane. (He is one of the hosts of the popular and somewhat whacky car show “Top Gear” on BBC, shown in the US on BBCA.) Please note at take-off the assist wheels on the outer edges of the wings drop away. The wings are so long that they need temporary support until lift-off. What is not shown is at the landing the plane actually slows to a slow enough speed that two guys are actually able to grab the wing tips and put those assist wheels back on.

(I saw one of these take off from Andersen Air Force Base on Guam on my way to R&R in 1969. It was on the runway, and then like a shot it went up at a 45 degree angle and was gone!)

Use your full screen and turn up the sound as this is a high-quality film clip, only 10 minutes long.

Click the link to take the ride! http://www.wimp.com/breathtakingfootage/

223rd Combat Aviation Battalion - 1969

Terry Carlson sent me these wonderful scans of the 223rd CAB's 1969 Yearbook. Take a look and see how many faces you recognize. You might be surprised!

Another 84G20 Has Been Found!

For many years I've wondered whatever happened to Dennis Wert, who was part of the Photo Lab for a very long time. After I DEROSed in June 1970 I lost track of him. Yet almost 40 years later on New Years Day I got this email from Chuck Gallagher:

Jan 1, 2010
Gordy
We have found another old friend from the photo labs of the 225th. I could not wait to send you this picture [above] that Dennis Wert sent to me. I am going to make him a DVD of the photos he sent and then a CD of the images to send you to share on the 225th Observer web site.
Happy New Year
Chuck Galloway

I talked with Dennis a couple of weeks ago, and it was wonderful! He and Chuck sent some pictures which I have put into a slideshow below. The picture above is one I brought back with me from Phu Hiep...I didn't know that Dennis had one also. We are looking forward to seeing each other in Las Vegas on Veterans' Day 2011 at the 22nd Mohawk Reunion!

Jerry Murphy's Photos

It's been a while since I've posted anything on the 225th Observer, so I though I'd better get Jerry's photos up for all to see. Jerry was in Nashville last fall at the Mohawk Reunion, and it was great to see him! He sent his slides to Chuck Galloway who digitally transfered them so he could share them with you. He also had some movies of the company area transfered, but I haven't figured out how to get them on the web. As soon as I do I'll get them on the Observer.

Lots of memories came flooding back when I saw these pictures. Thanks, Jerry, for sharing these with us!