DAK TO MEMORIES
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Picture


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Facebook contribution by James Loesch in 2022
​  
Dak To - Late summer 1967
335th AHC Cowboys - Gunship Crew Chief Ship #12930

I took the image as we hovered over the east end of the Dak To strip to our revetments on the north side after refueling.  I have seen this image many times over the years because it is in a folder I use as screen saver files.  I am always surprised at how casual our flying was, hovering 75 feet above a DC-3 preparing for takeoff.
James Loesch
March 23, 2022

James Loesch
July 2, 2022
  
335th AHC Cowboys 1967-68
Crewchief Falcon Gunship Platoon
Ships #63-12930 and #38685

I posted a picture a few months ago, that I made in late 1967, shot from my door as we hovered across the runway at Dak To. It is looking down at a DC-3 getting ready for takeoff.

One of the comments about the picture came from Pat Rogers, a member of the UH-1 CE/Door Gunners Group.

It blew me away.  He said “I have 63-12930 in my hanger right now!    Undergoing restoration for a museum.”

I was stunned to learn that my old ship had not become scrap metal, and 55 years after it was mine, it might fly again, and live in a museum.

I have included a screen shot of post that Pat commented on, some pictures of my ship and me, and a few pictures that Pat sent to me of the ship on a trailer and in his hanger, Aircraft Restoration Services, at the beginning of the restoration.

There is also a picture of the magnetic compass that was in the ship during a mission out of Dak To, which was hit by a round that came up through the chin bubble, nicked the compass and went out through the roof.  I don’t know what made me think to keep the compass and send it home instead of the trash.  I’m glad I did.  It sits on my desk today.  Maybe I’ll donate it to the museum where the ship ends up.

I hope to see my ship again someday and sit in my seat once more.
James Loesch


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  • Home
  • Battles
    • Operation Hawthorne
    • Battle Of The Slopes
    • November Action Hills 823, 875
    • Defenders of Dak To 1969
    • Special Forces Camps >
      • Ben Het
      • Dak Seang
      • Dak Pek
    • Fire Bases
  • Photos
    • AirfieldPhoto
    • Airfield Landmarks & Map
    • 125 ATC >
      • List-1 >
        • Arrival, June 1967
        • Airfield Attack 671115
        • ATC facilities
        • ATC Team Members >
          • ATC Roster
          • Bartlett
          • Camacho
          • Saveski
          • Scott
          • Short
          • Other Team Members
          • Christmas 1967
        • Runway
        • Runway Ramp
        • Road
        • Shooting Range
      • List-2 >
        • Aircraft
        • Vehicles
        • Weapons
        • Soldiers
        • EOD - Explosive Ordinance Demolition
        • Fuel Fire
        • A1E Skyraider Emergency landing
        • Rope Extraction
      • List-3 >
        • Air Strikes, Artillary
        • Arc Light Bombing Run
        • Around The Field
        • Local Folks
        • Outside Dak To Area >
          • Nearby Countryside
          • Trip to Pleiku
          • Holloway Airfield, Pleiku
          • Around The Country
          • Vung Tao USO show
          • Qui Nhon
    • 4th ID-HQ
    • 4th ID - Norm Spaulding >
      • Norm Spaulding
      • 2nd_Indochina_War
      • Dec. 1967
      • Jan. 1968
      • Mar. 1968
      • Apr. 1968
      • May 1968
      • June 1968
      • July 1968
      • Sept. 1968
    • Casper Aviation - Tony Bolivar
    • 4th ID - Chris Ross >
      • SwampFox
    • Misc Photos
  • Documents
    • Ivy Leaf - 4th Inf. newsletter >
      • Nov. 19, 1967
      • Nov. 26, 1967
      • Dec. 17, 1967
      • Dec. 24, 1967
      • More Issues
    • Pacific Stars and Stripes >
      • Nov. 11, 1967
      • Nov. 15, 1967
      • Nov. 16, 1967
      • Nov. 22, 1967
      • Nov. 24, 1967
      • Nov. 25, 1967
      • Nov. 26, 1967
      • Nov. 29, 1967
    • News Items
    • Leaflets
    • ATC reports >
      • 30 November 1967
      • 18 December 1967
      • 29 February 1968
      • 18 March 1968
      • Definitions of terms
  • Audio
  • Stories
  • links
  • Contact
  • About Me
  • Site Map