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Air Force Communications Service (AFCS) United States Air Force APO 74, San Francisco, California (aka - Clark AFB, Republic of the Philippines) TEAM 23 - 63 Nha Trang, South Vietnam April - July 1963 By Jerry Richard A fully equipped U.S. Army Mobile Hospital (tents) had recently been located on the airport grounds, and was capable of performing open heart surgery. In fact, this hospital was the only fully equipped hospital capable of supporting all seriously wounded soldiers north of Nha Trang to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) - separating North from South. The 1963 monsoon season was harsh that year. The month of March had been particularly bad with much of the region covered with either fog and/or prevailing inclement cloudy/rainy weather. The weather was so bad that emergency helicopter and other medical support aircraft attempting to reach the hospital were placed in holding patterns, awaiting better weather landing conditions at the airport. In fact, several wounded personnel died while their aircraft were in these holding patterns. This situation is probably what led to the decision that an instrument landing system was urgently needed for this airport. The 1st Mobile C.G. was notified that an emergency deployment was necessary to support Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) at the Nha Trang Airport, Republic of South Vietnam. In early April 1963, a team of air traffic controllers, along with the maintainers (radar, radio, and power supply personnel) were assembled and Special Orders were cut on 04 April 1963. At this critical moment in time, the only three (3) Ground Control Approach (GCA) radar units (MPN-11s) remaining in the 1st MOB inventory and available for deployment were located at the Clark AB MOB Compound. They were all undergoing major modifications/upgrades to the MPN-13 series. The units were in various stages of readiness. The radar unit most advanced in readiness was chosen to support the deployment. The TDY Gilfillan technical representative (Tech Rep) teams, along with the support of the 1st MOB radar maintenance personnel, assisted and re-focused all their attention in readying this one unit. Teams worked 24 hours a day, racing to finish the work. The two-trailer GCA unit, the radar support maintenance trailer, two (2) gasoline powered generators, support vehicle, fuel bladders, and other support materials were loaded onto two (2), ready and waiting, C-124 Globemaster II aircraft on the evening of 07 April 1963. Each aircraft carried one section of the unit (operations & maintenance vans), placing them in the only possible location on these type aircraft (without deflating tires or removing undercarriage). They were placed in the nose, just behind the clamshell doors. This was the first MPN-13 Series type GCA unit deployed anywhere in Southeast Asia. The 1st MOB Team deployed on these two aircraft on the morning of 08 April, the first of which departed Clark AB at 0400 hours, and the second aircraft a few hours later. The first aircraft arrived at Nha Trang at 0730 hours, same day. Aircraft were off- loaded. With off-base billeting and messing facilities located and sorted out, installation work began immediately. C-124 Globemaster II aircraft poised at Clark AB. Aircraft awaits arrival of 1st MOB GCA equipment. GCA, MPN-13 equipment into C-124 Globemater II aircraft. A siting location was found and immediate work was began to site and prepare a level hardstand to support and sustain the GCA unit. Because of the very deep, soft and sandy soil, it was soon determined that neither perforated steel planking (PSP), nor aluminum matting (AM-2) type hardstand arrangement would be sufficient. Construction of an all concrete hardstand was necessary. With no obvious immediate help from any possible US military construction unit/s located nearby, or from local civil contract workers, it was decided to "do it yourself". With absolutely no such construction experience among themselves, the team, nonetheless, undertook the task. With the assistance of some local personnel, sufficient bags of cement, and a nearby quarry to supply crush rock were located. A very old, small capacity, gas operated cement mixer, of French origin, was also located on the airport. One immediate problem was the cement mixing barrel had not been properly flushed, nor cleaned out by the last users, and therefore, only half of the capacity of the barrel could be used. A team of four air traffic controllers, with borrowed chisels and hammers, labored a whole day to remove old dried concrete from within the barrel. Another difficulty was overcome when the operating instructions, all in French, were translated by team member, Airman First Class (A/1C) Richard. Because the cement mixer had not been used in years, operation of the one-cylinder engine had significant problems. Oil continuously leaked into the spark plug, requiring constant removal, cleaning, and replacement of the spark plug. This severely prolonged the mixing process. Construction of the concrete hardstand, (the framing, the laying of the coarse, then the smaller, crushed rock bed, the mixing and pouring of cement into three (3) separate, but equal portions), took a week. Luckily, the weather had improved considerably after the teams' arrival so the inevitable delay was not so critical. Immediate sitting and installation of hardstand begins. Some progress on framing hardstand. Finished loading one of many truck loads of quarry gravel. Radar maintenance personnel also had some very bad news to report. Due to a very hard landing upon arrival, (again due to bad weather), the radar maintenance personnel began a detailed inspection of the operations and maintenance vans. They discovered a large number of problems. Notwithstanding the re-soldering of loose or disconnected wiring caused by the harsh landing, they discovered that much of the new modifications/upgraded work that had been hastily prepared at Clark AB, had to be re-done or repaired due mostly from shoddy workmanship. Solder ran everywhere. It gave new meaning to the saying, "haste makes waste". More progress on quarry coarse rock bed. Finished loading one of many truck loads of quarry gravel. With the hardstand completed and the maintenance difficulties repaired it was to time to roll the units onto the hardstand. Approximately ten days had passed since arrival. The unit flight checked operational and the team settled down to "business as usual". The deployment ran its full ninety (90) days, plus extensions, with no other serious malfunctions or difficulties. Some normal personnel replacements and additions took place throughout the deployment. Radar repairmen checking top of GCA unit vans. Inspecting GCA unit vans prior to towing. Pulling GCA unit onto concrete hardstand begun. Positioning of GCA unit on concrete hardstand almost complete. Success. GCA units completely on concrete hardstand. Almost finished. GCA unit wheelcock in place. Eventually, the 1st Mobile personnel were relieved and replaced by permanent party personnel belonging to the 1976th Communications Group headquartered in Saigon. A new military control tower was eventually built and Nha Trang AB became a huge bastion for US military flying units and various organizations as the years and the war prolonged. Leisure moment – breakfast at the Nautique Club. Picnic at the beach. Local refreshments. Relaxing Very little visual indication currently exists that this was once a large and sprawling US military installation. However, there is one thing that could not be removed or destroyed. The GCA hardstand, constructed by the 1st MOB Team 23-63, is still there and visible today. This detail was reported several years ago by a visiting US television news team doing a special report on US presence during the Vietnam Conflict. "Atta boy" 1st MOB. Maybe the slogan could be "First In - Never Out". Jerry Richard Jerry back then. 1962-1963 & 1973-1974 Air Traffic Control (For Jerry's contact information email Don.) |
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