sammywoody Loc: Moncks Corner, SC

Just thought I would share a few photos from my tour in Northern Thailand, 72-73, during the Vietnam War. We were the closest air force base to North Vietnam and launched many F-4 Phantom strike planes, F-4Ds from the 555th TFS (Triple Nickel) and the 13th TFS. We also had the 432nd Reconnaissance Wing which flew the RF-4C Phantom. Here are a few pics of my bird, 66-8727. I was a crew chief on the 13th flight line, and I did get to fly back seat a couple of times on FCF (functional check flights) after a rudder actuator change. My squadron was used mainly for bombing missions rather than Migcap (air to air combat).

This is an exact replica of my bird, 727, as it was configured during the war. I painted nose art on it which I will show later

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This is the most common configuration we launched: 12 EA MK82 500 LB bombs, a pair of AIM7 Sparrow radar guided missiles on the back just in case Migs were encountered, an ECM (electronic countermeasures) pod up front, and a pair of external 370 GAL wing tanks

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Me after an FCF test flight

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Me sitting on top of right intake with my name on canopy sill

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On a mission with a typical bomb load

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Another shot on the way to a target

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This is an actual bomb drop from about 20,000 FT using LORAN (long range navigation). Remember, we didn't have GPS back then and LORAN was the next best thing for night bombing and also clouidy conditions

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jederick Loc: Northern Utah

Nice photos sammywoody. I have great memories of those F4's from my Navy days. BTW, your looks haven't changed all that much...except for the beard! :-D :-D :-D

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Great shots. I'm glad you made it back in one piece.

Jamers Loc: Michigan

Very nice shots, while in college I lived next to the St. Louis airport where McDonald Douglas built the F4's. I can still hear the roar of the after burners when they would fly over so closely, one could almost see the color of the pilots eyes. It wasn't long afterwards I would be doing my part in the medical corps.
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Thanks so much for your service. I have circled a landing zone in a CH-46A many times and watched the F4 go to work dropping bombs and/or napalm. One would think nothing could be alive after such an onslaught. Unfortunately there was somebody still there to shoot at us as we went in to drop off personnel. Great pictures by the way.

Dennis

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Thanks for your service and welcome home!

Your signature includes "Learn from Yesterday". I wish we would and hope someday we will.

I am an ex Navy pilot from the Vietnam war. None of my missions had much danger in them. In fact, I had a lot of fun in that War.

That said, we lost around 50,000 men and, near as I can tell, we didn't accomplish much.

One friend that was flying F4s off a carrier watched his friend and formation leader vaporize in front of him. Later a SAM blew up under him with damage to his aircraft. The decision to get it back aboard was made. It wasn't flying quit right and the landing was not good. He still gets back surgeries.

I was at the Smithsonian at Dulles a couple weeks. An F4 was on display near the Enola Gay.

I like your photos, but lets not glorify war too much. My visit to the Smithsonian and all the war veteran aircraft left me a little chilled and less fond of how we try to blow up our fellow man.

teacherdad48 Loc: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

Thank you for your service and sharing your experience. My dad was stationed at Ubon I think a year or so earlier. He flew in in the AC 130 Spectre gunships operating some type of infrared monitors or something. Anyway, I enjoyed your sharing with us. All you guys are heroes to me!

GrayPlayer Loc: Granby, Ct.

Remember the "Phantom's" arriving at Oceana around '60, '61! Can you say "LOUD!"

ebbote Loc: Hockley, Texas

You have gained my admiration and respect Sammy, thank
you for the service to our country. Earnest

HowardPepper Loc: Palm Coast, FL

sammywoody, the F-4 Phantom II is one of my favorite aircraft of all time. I was an avionics/Radar tech on the Gruman F-14A Tomcat in the Navy, and when I checked-in to Naval Air Station Oceana, in Virginia Beach (back in 1978), the fighter community was about half and half comprised of the F-4 and the F-14. Both were great aircraft.

tom kf4wol

Neat Photo's Thanks for sharing, Love them, best thing a about photography refreshes our memories.

plus appreciate the information provided on the F-4.

And Most of All - Thank You for Your Service to our Nation.

AND WELCOME HOME....I know those words were along time coming. Which was a disgrace in my opinion for the sacrifice so many made when our Nation called them to serve.

I pray your life has been blessed and You have a nice Memorial Day.

As we all take time out of our lives to remember the many who have served, those who were wounded suffer mentally and for those who gave everything and their families who still grieve to this day.

Blessings,

tom

ggiaphotos Loc: Iowa

Thanks for your service Sammy! The photo series was very interesting, thanks again

James Shaw

Sammy you are a brave and an intelligent man (dummies don't fly those planes), and your service to our country is greatly appreciated, especially by this guy. Handsome you were in youth and handsome you are now (avatar). You have had a full life and seemed to have been blessed all along, and I hope the remainder is fulfilling as well. I thank you for sharing your earlier experience. I see you wearing glasses. Didn't know you could fly back then if you wore glasses?

Again, thanks for sharing. Hope all is well for you.

idaholover Loc: Nampa ID

Thanks for sharing a piece of your life that made all the rest of ours better! Do you still fly?

LPigott Loc: Monterey Peninsula, CA

Very interesting. One of my favorite posts on UHH. Thank you ... What a guy!