Page Updated 02/11/11
Aerial photo's near Chu Lai Vietnam circa 1968 - 69
Photo's courtesy of Thomas Dawson AE2 VW-1 67-69 TE-9.. unless noted otherwise
Click on picture to see larger version, Stretch or enlarge as your browser permits.
- 1st picture from left: Aerial shot over the base at Chu Lai. circa 4/69
2nd picture from left: Another aerial view of Chu Lai right after takeoff. circa 4/69
3rd picture from left: The helo pad that the Cobra's took off from at Chu Lai. circa 4/69
-
- These 4 pictures of Vietnam farms and villages that were taken over a period of several months. They were
taken just after take off or just prior to landing at Chu Lai Vietnam. circa 6/69
-
- Three aerial views of the ammunition dump at Chu Lai. circa 4/69.
-
- Four more pictures of Vietnam farms and villages that were taken over a period of several months. They were
taken just after take off or just prior to landing at Chu Lai Vietnam. circa 6/69
-
- 1st picture from left: Barrier Sunset-this was typical of sunsets that we'd see when on station in the Gulf
on Tonkin.
2nd picture from left: This view of a sunrise while on station would indicate that our 14-15 hour barrier
flight in the Gulf of Tonkin was near its end. As ground pounders (electrician's, mechanics, sheet metal) we
could not do any of our normal work on the aircraft while inflight. So we would fly on the barrier and cook for
the crew. We would also sit cockpit watches and help scan for traffic. Normally, we would cook the evening
dinner and breakfast the next morning. circa 1/69
3rd picture from left: This was taken probably right after takeoff or before getting on station. The RVN bridge
was blown up, and some of the terrain over there. circa 5/69
4th picture from left: The Super Constellation wing: was taken while enroute to or from Chu Lai. This photo
shows the exhaust trails from the engines. These exhaust deposits were caused by the high levels of lead used
in the 115/145 av/gas. The ground pounders would use string mops (navy swabs) with Varsol after the flights to
clean these lead deposits off the wings. I read in a book somewhere that if you stepped on the wet Varsol after
mopping the wings you could fall off the wing…. (it really doesn't hurt much if you land right…OK I did it… ).
circa 6/69
-
