US Air Force Birthday
United States Air Force!!
On September 18, 1947 the US Air Force was officially created, and today the Air Force turns 65. The Vietnam Center & Archive would like to wish the Air Force a very Happy Birthday, and to thank all the service men and women past and present for their service and sacrifice.
In honor of the Air Force's 63rd birthday, please enjoy a few Air Force items from the Vietnam Archive's collections.
Oral Histories
U.S. Air Force CPU 26A/P Computer Air Navigation with case.
(Marshall Harrison Collection (Forward Air Controller Association) [1518museum1536])
OH0602 - Frederick Pumroy
Fredrick Pumroy discusses his experiences as a Forward Air Controller, 23rd TASS, in Southeast Asia. Pumroy served in Vietnam and in Thailand, flying Heavy Hook and Prairie Fire missions. Pumroy also participated in the Son Tay Raid in November 1970.
OH0189 - Virginia Griffith
(USAF) Virginia Griffith served with the United States Air Force in South Vietnam from April 1972-March 1973. She served as NCOIC for the Airmen Manning Unit in the 277th Air Base Wing at Tan Son Nhut AB. She served in that capacity during the Easter Offensive of 1972. Interview conducted by Stephen Maxner.
Moving Images
1190VI1391 - Massive Air Strike over Water, Nha Trang Air Base (VNAF Armed Forces Day, May 1969) - May 1, 1969 [William McCall Collection]
Artifacts
1000 Hours Phantom II patch; 36th Tactical Fighter Wing patch; Ronnie Houston name patch; US Air Forces in Europe patch; Houston name patch; embroidered wings patch; strutting tiger patch all worn while serving with 36th Tactical Fighter Wing in Bitberg, Germany (February 1971 - March 1974).
(Ronnie Lee Houston Collection [1296museum1092])
AAF (Army Air Force) Cloth Map - Asiatic Series. Obverse: French Indochina (No. 32) Reverse: Central China (No. 33). Found at a flea market in Bryan - College Station, Texas, 2001.
(John W. Kniffin Collection [1661museum2169])
Images
Phu Cat AB (7AF) - Hosing Down - Air Force Captain Eben D. Jones, 26, Spencerport, NY, an F-100 Supersabre forward air controller with the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing's unique Commando sabre Super FAC unit at Phu Cat Air Base, receives the traditional hosing down given to pilots completing their tour with the unique unit. Jones was the first pilot to complete 100 missions over North Vietnam.
(Douglas Pike Photograph Collection [va000956])
Low Altitude Delivery - A US Air Force C-130 Hercules crew drops a bundle of supplies to the US Army 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) at An Khe in South Vietnam. On the paradrop, a 315th Air Division Hercules crew delivered more than two tons of supplies using the Low Altitude Parachute Extraction System (LAPES) and Parachute Low Altitude Delivery System (PLADS) developed by the Air Force's Tactical Air Command. Official US Air Force Photo released by the Department of Defense Washington, DC June 28th, 1966
(Veteran Members of the 109th Quartermaster Company (Air Delivery) Collection [VA007087])
Flying above peaceful-looking South Vietnam countryside at 145 kilometers an hour is a single-engine O-1E Bird Dog spotter aircraft flown by a US Air Force forward air controller (FAC), who detects targets for artillery gunners and tactical pilots. Forty percent of the flying time legged by all Seventh US Air Force pilots in 1966 was flown by FACs.
(Douglas Pike Photograph Collection [VA000960])
- See Previous Exhibits: 2009
Vietnam Center & Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive
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Address
Texas Tech University, Box 41041, Lubbock, TX 79409 -
Phone
(806)742-9010 -
Email
vnca@ttu.edu