Page Updated 11/15/10
Photo's of VW-1 deployed or R and R. page 3
Photo's courtesy of Thomas Dawson AE2 VW-1 67-69 TE-9, unless noted otherwise
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- 1st picture from left: TE-4 at Chu Lai shows TE-4 on the ramp at Chu Lai. circa 7/69
2nd picture from left: TE-4 on the tarmack at Chu Lai circa 7/68
3rd picture from left: The first crew members at the aircraft waiting for the rest of the crew. Chu Lai circa
6/69.
4th picture from left: TE-3 #1 engine is fired up. The R3350 engine always looked like this when ignition was
switched on. After the engine got to firing on all 18 cylinders the smoke would clear out. Usually there would
be a burst of flame from the exhaust stacks during the start up. A member of the line crew was usually
positioned at the rear of the engine with a CO2 fire bottle, in case the burst of flame became a bit
agressive. The R3350 burned a lot of oil. Chu Lai circa 4/69
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- 1st picture from left: Before take-off, there would always be some congestion at the end of the runway Lots
of traffic ready to go. circa 4/69
2nd picture from left: At the end of the runway and turning around for our take-off.
3rd picture from left: Late afternoon takeoff for barrier with the 7th. fleet in the Gulf of Tonkin. We'd be
back in about 16 hours. circa 4/69
4th picture from left: Chute is Good! This photo was taken after landing and taxiing back to the VW-1 aircraft
parking area. Whenever the fighters would land (F4's), after touchdown they'd use their chutes to slow them
down. The tower would advise the landing aircraft if the chute was properly inflated. This VW-1 crew, on TE-8,
not to be out done by the fighters, placed a drop-sonde parachute on the pressurization dump valve which opens
on landing. After touch down, the tower called "chute is good!" (the chute can barely be
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- 1st picture from left: ADJ-2 Reddard waiting for his aircraft to return from a mission. The flight
electricians, flight mechs, crew chief or flight metalsmith would rotate flying on the these missions. We would
cook the meals for the crew while in flight and also sit up in the cockpit as an observer. The guys who didn't
fly would meet the aircraft when it landed the next day to work off any maintenance gripes. circa ?/68
2nd picture from left: Ok! this one is me (Thomas Dawson) a long, long, long time ago, while with VW-1 in Chu
Lai I was 21 at the time. circa 1/69
3rd picture from left: Chu Lai 4/69: TE-3 parked on the tarmac at Chu Lai. circa 4/69
4th picture from left: Our maintenance shack at Chu Lai, which we shared with NASU. circa 7/68
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- 1st picture from left: AT-3 Anthony walks out to his aircraft for preflight, he was one of the CIC scope
operator. Chu Lai. circa 6/69
2nd picture from left: VW-1 Det "C" maintenance, don't remember the names of these guys, hopefully someone out
there does. Chu Lai. circa 4/69
3rd picture from left: A nude R3350 aircraft engine. circa 7/69
4th picture from left: This photo, taken from the window at the navigators station is of the exhaust on number
3 and 4 engine during climb out at night. As you can see the exhaust stacks would get pretty hot. circa
1/69
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- 1st picture from left: While sitting in the shade of our Willy Victor we could watch the aircraft taking
off from Chu Lai's runway for another combat mission. circa 6/69
2nd picture from left: Explosion one day while working off electrical gripes we heard a noise and looked up and
this is what we saw. circa 4-69
3rd picture from left: Monsoon season, when we landed it was raining, and it did so for days, ..anyway, the
little building in the middle of the pond was our out house. circa 1/69
4th picture from left: Our mascots relief station wasn't any easier either, (note the fire plugs location.)
circa 1/69
- 1st picture from left: Chu Lai 1/69: We'd do engine changes at night and they'd be ready for the next
barrier. This scene is lit up from kleg lights.
2nd picture from left: Chu Lai 4/69: We'd do engine changes day or night, what ever it took to be ready for the
next barrier.
3rd picture from left: Getting ready to hang the prop on #3 engine of one of VW-1's WC-121 aircraft. Chu-Lai
circa 4/69
4th picture from left: Gus Murphy AMS-?, on the right and Tom Dawson were on the same crew several times. Chu
Lai circa 1/69.
Photo's courtesy of Thomas Dawson AE2 VW-1 67-69 TE-9
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- 1st picture from left: ADJ2 Reddard was a memorable character. Shown here working on a R3350. Chu Lai circa
4/69.
2nd picture from left: My memory has failed.. I can't remember this guys name. Chu Lai circa 4/69.
3rd picture from left: ADJ2 Reddard making a post flight engine inspection. Chu Lai circa 1/69
4th picture from left: AE1 Bramel Flight Engineer completing preflight inspection. Chu Lai circa 1/69.
Photo's courtesy of Thomas Dawson AE2 VW-1 67-69 TE-9
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