The Vietnam Center and Archive: Finding Aid

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Association Collection (C-7A Caribou Association)
Location: D101.6; Slide Collection; Map Collection; Cold Storage Vault, Periodical Collection

Documents, slides, maps, and films document Ralph Erchinger's experiences as a C-7A Caribou pilot in Vietnam (1967 - 1968), as well as his military training and home life.

Colonel Ralph Erchinger was born in Hammond, Indiana, on December 14, 1930. He joined the Air Force in 1954 and served in a number of capacities while stationed in Mississippi, Libya, Missouri, Oklahoma, Florida, the Philippines, Greece, and Vietnam before his final posting at Bergstrom AFB in Abilene, Texas. While at Bergstrom, he served as the Director of Disaster Preparedness for the Tenth Air Force Reserve. In addition to the C7-A Caribous he flew in Vietnam, he flew B-25s, SA-16s, and C-47s. Throughout his career, Erchinger was awarded many military decorations including the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Air Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters.

Location	Box	Folder	Contents
D101.6		01	Photocopy of a United States Air Force Biography of Colonel Ralph C. Erchinger
			Photocopy of the Citation to Accompany the Award of the Bronze Star to Erchinger
			Photocopy of the Citation to Accompany the Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Erchinger
			Photocopy of the certificate indicating that Erchinger attended Pacific Air Force Jungle Survival School (November 8 - 11, 1966)
			Printed image of the certificate indicating that Erchinger completed the Aircrew Transition Course given by the USAF Combat Crew Training School at Ft. Benning, Georgia
			Article from Airman (December 1985): Norman's Story by MSgt. Dan Allsup
			Descriptions of the contents of the 16mm films in this collection
		02	Photocopy of orders releasing Erchinger from active duty in the Air Force (23 April 1982)
			Chronolgy of Active Duty, Ralph C. Erchinger, Col. USAF, Ret.
		03	Copies of the About the draft, Son... and a letter explaining the articles
		04	Erchinger's research for About the draft, Son... article
		05	Erchinger's research for About the draft, Son... article

Slides:	VAS028475 - VAS028510 - 36 images of training at Clark AFB and service in Vietnam.
Maps:	Lap Map (Erchinger carried this map with him on every mission during his first six months in Vietnam) (D101.5 0versized box #1).
	Survival map of Southeast Asia (Section 12 Drawer 12).
Moving Images:	2 VHS tapes of old home movies and slides (transferred to VHS in 1982).
	16mm film (3 reels).
Periodicals:	The Lutheran. September, November (1980).

Portions of this collection have been digitized. Use the links below to view these items.

Please note that all items may be available through these searches. Additionally, only up to 500 items will be displayed.

To search for items within this collection, or within all of the holdings of the Vietnam Archive, go to the Virtual Vietnam Archive

An Oral History Interview has been conducted with this individual. Use the link below to view a record for this interview.

Although the interview has been conducted, the audio and/or the transcript may not yet be available.