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AIRAMERICA:DEHAVILLANDCANADADHC-4/C-7ACARIBOUsbyDr.
JoeF.
LeekerFirstpublishedon15August2003,lastupdatedon24August2015AnunknownAirAmericaC-7AwhoseleftgearsunkintothemudwhiletaxiingatasmalllandingstriponthePlainofJarsinMay69(withkindpermissionfromMacAlanThompson)ThetypesofmissionsflownbyAirAmerica'sCaribous:ThestoryofAirAmerica'sCaribousbeginsevenbeforetheirownfirsttwoaircraftarrivedinJuly62,becausealreadysomemonthsearlier,on12May62,AirAmericapilotFredWalkerhadsuccessfullylandedabailedUSArmyCaribou("333")onthenewlyconstructedairfieldofLongTieng(Hamilton-Merritt,Tragicmountains,p.
118).
ThefirstofAirAmerica'sownCaribous(B-851)servedinLaosformanyyears.
Atleastsince1965,however,itwasactuallybasedatUdornasaspecialmissionaircraftforrescueandexfiltrationwork,towhichaFultonSkyhooksystemcouldbeattached.
IntheearlyyearsthisaircraftwasalsousedtotransportsmallAirAmericaaircraftlikeHelioCourierswhichhadhadanaccident:Insuchacase,thewingsoftheHeliowereseparatedandthenputintotheCariboutogetherwiththefuselage.
OnlyintheearlyseventiesB-851wastransferredtoSaigonwhereitobtainedtheregistrationN11014andwasfinallyusedinSouthVietnamtosupplyAirAmerica'sownfleetofaircraftwithfuel.
AirAmerica'ssecondCaribou(B-853)wasquicklyconsideredtobeinadequateforserviceinLaos,althoughreversepropshadbeeninstalledinbothaircraftby1963.
AftersomeyearsofworkwiththeRoyalThaiBorderPoliceoutofBangkok,itwasleasedtotheUSAFinAugust68untilitwassoldin1973.
TheothertwoCaribousownedbyAirAmerica,N539YandN544Y,werebasedatSaigonnearlyallthetimeandusedunderavarietyofmilitaryandUSAIDcontracts,deliveringallsortsofsuppliesasallAirAmericaaircraftdidinSouthVietnam.
BecauseoftheirSTOLcapabilities,however,thoseCaribouswereoftenusedonflightstotheMontagnardpopulationlivinginthehillcountry.
AlthoughUSAIDwasofficiallythemaincontractortoAirAmericainSouthVietnam,allCIAmissionsinSouthVietnamwereflownaspartoftheUSAIDcontracts,andwithinthosecontracts,allCIArequirementswerehandledwithpriority(Harnage,Athousandfaces,pp.
81/2).
ThemajorityofCaribousoperatedbyAirAmerica,however,werebailedaircraft,whichusedthelastthreedigitsoftheirmilitaryserialasAirAmericaserial.
Since1964AirAmericaoperatedatleastfouroftheminLaoswhichwerebailedfromtheUSArmy.
SometimesbailedCaribouswereusedas"VictorControl",thatisasanorbitingcommandpostduringrescueoperations.
ThereasonforusingonlybailedCaribousonthoserescuemissionswasthattheyhadVHF/UHFcapabilitysothattheycouldtalktomilitaryaircraft,whileB-851andB-853hadonlyVHF(e-maildated24April2005kindlysenttotheauthorbyformerCariboupilotJoeHazen).
ButofcourseAirAmerica'sCaribouweremainlyusedasSTOLcargoaircraft,whoserolewithintheCompanyiswelldescribedbya1968articlepublishedinAirAmericaLog:"OftheninedeHavillandDHC-4A,orC-7A,Caribouaircraftinourfleet,themajority(five)areassignedtoourbaseatVientiane,Laos.
TheCaribouoffersawiderangeofpayloadperformancealternatives,dependinguponthelengthoflandingstripavailable.
At26,000lb.
grossweight,theaircraftiscapableoftakingoff,forexample,fromanunprepareddirtstripinadistanceof540feetground-rollandclearinga50-footobstaclein1,020ft.
Withfuelandoilfor400nauticalmiles,plusreserves,theaircraftiscapableofgettingairbornewithapayloadof5,420lb.
Wheretherunwaylengthisnotquitesocritical–althoughstilldemandingofSTOLperformance–theCaribou,at28,500lb.
,willtakeoffinadistanceof725ft.
ground-rollandcleara50-footobstaclein1,185ft.
forthesame400nauticalmilestagelengthwithapayloadof7,920lb.
Apayloadof8,765lb.
maybecarriedover200nauticalmilesor6,200lb.
maybecarried800nauticalmiles.
WhilesmallerthanaDouglasC-47,theCariboucancarryalargerloadintoandoutofshorterfieldsthantheoldWorldWarIIGoonybird.
Theplane'sreardroprampspeedsloadingandunloadingandmakesitafineairdropaircraft.
ThedeHavillandCaribouwillaccommodate32peoplewhenconfiguredasapassengerplane.
"("Caribouscarrythefreight",in:AirAmericaLog,vol.
II,no.
4,1968,p.
2).
CariboupilotJoeHazendescribesthemissionsflownasfollows:"Caribous,inadditiontocarryingpeopleandtheirgoods,wereusedforairdrops,bothfreefall,likebagsofriceandparachute,likegasdrumsorammunitionorwhateveronpallets,aswellaslandinggasdrumsandothercargoonmountainstrips.
Itwasalsousedfortrainingpeopletojump,withparachutes,ofcourse,outofaperfectlygoodoperatingaircraft(ThaiPARU).
TheCaribouwasaVERYversatileaircraftandapleasuretofly.
"(e-maildated29May2005,kindlysenttotheauthorbyJoeHazen).
IntheearlyyearsthebailedCaribouswerepaintedArmybrownanddidnothavearadarnose.
ButwhenallUSArmyCaribousweretransferredtotheUSAFin1967,theircolorsequallychanged.
Sincethattime,allCaribousbailedfromtheUSAFwereallsilver–exceptfor"762",whichwascamouflaged.
LaterAirAmericatitlesandaradarnosewereadded.
ThoseUSAFCaribousonloantoAirAmericaneverleftLaos,however,sothatthelastofthemreturnedtotheUSAFinJune74.
AstotheCaribousremaininginSouthVietnamattheend,N539YevenflewforICCSAirServicesin1973,andN11014didnotmakeithome.
IthadtobeabandonedatConSonIslandon29April75.
Afinalacquisitioninexchangeforotheraircraft,CaribouN6080,neverjoinedthetheaterinSouthEastAsia.
StatisticsaccordingtoAirAmericadocuments:1)1964:+5(="149","392","393","401"and"404")(MinutesBoD-AAM21July64,in:UTD/CIA/B3F5)>2)1965:thepurchaseof2"Skyhook"installationsforCaribouswasapprovedon25May65;ittakesabout30daystoinstallthem(MinutesExCom-AACL/AAMof25May65,in:UTD/CIA/B7F4)3)1966:Inventoryof1Feb.
66,in:UTD/Herd/B2:4owned+5bailed+2moreplanned1966:+2approvedforMarch66(MinutesExCom-AACL/AAMof23Feb.
66,in:UTD/CIA/B8F1)4)Jan.
1970:totalof5bailed(MinutesExCom-AACL/AAMof27Jan.
70,in:UTD/CIA/B8F4)5)1972:inventoriesof31March72>30Nov.
72(in:UTD/CIA/B1F10):3+6L>3+3LTheindividualaircrafthistories:Typeregistration/serialc/n(msn)dateacquiredorigin_I)DHC-4CaribousownedbyAirAsiaCoLtdandbyAirAmericaInc.
:1)Caribousacquiredin1962:CaribousB-851andB-853werebothregisteredtoAirAsiaCompanyLimitedon1June62,butwithoutindicatingtheirmanufacturer'sserialnumbers(bothdocumentsin:UTD/Bisson/B5,microfilmreelno.
4)DHC-4"851",takenbyJoeHazenat"851"withFultonSkyhooksystem,MoungCha(LS-113),probablyintakenbyDaveHicklerApril1964(photoexno.
1-WL1-28-26-PB407,(withkindpermissionfromJoeHazen)nowinUTD/Leary/B77F2)DHC-4CaribouB-85134July62boughtnewServicehistory:registeredtoAirAsiaon1June62(CertificateofRegistration,in:UTD/Bisson/B5microfilmreelno.
4);acquiredin"51/7",thatisinJuly62accordingtoAirAsia'sStatementofPropertyof31March65(in:UTD/CIA/B26F5);wastodepartTorontoon10July62(MinutesExComAACLof26June62,in:UTD/CIA/B7F1),butdepartedonlyon22July1962;DonSchwabelwastheferrypilotofCaribouB-851andAlSandovalwashisco-pilot.
DaveFairbanks,theDeHavillandcompanypilot,wasalongfortheride,todotrainingwhentheaircraftgottoVientiane.
DondepartedDownsvilleon22JulyandflewtoEdmonton/Anchorage/Adak/Shemya/Tokyo/TPE/TNN,arrivingTNNon28July.
On4August,afterAirAsiadidwhatevertotheaircraft,DonflewittoVientianeviaHKGandTOU(DanangSVN)(e-maildated21October2008,kindlysenttotheauthorbyJoeHazen);officiallyregd.
toAirAsiaCoLtd.
asB-851on20August62(Statusasof15January74,in:UTD/CIA/B56F3);struckhorseslocatedonrunwaywhilelandingatVientiane(T-08),Laos,on30August62(Aircraftaccidents1962,in:UTD/CIA/B49F2);repaired;usedoutofVientianeonaUSAIDcontractatleast7Oct.
62to1Oct.
64(Availabilitylist,in:UTD/Hickler/B8F8);leasedfromAirAsia;photos,takenatSamThong,canbeseenonthevideomadebyEdEckholdt(at0.
02.
35,0.
19.
25,and1.
09.
50minutes);between2and14November62,B-851wasatTainanformaintenance(LogbookofEdEckholdt,in:UTD/Leary/B44F13);reversepropswereaddedonlyin1963(Eckholdt-videoat1.
05.
55minutes),probablywhenB-851wasatTainanformaintenancebetween16and21February63(LogbookofEdEckholdt,in:UTD/Leary/B44F13);madeahardlandinginLaoson22May63(Aircraftaccidents1963,in:UTD/CIA/B49F2);repaired;assignedtocontractno.
AID-439-342foruseoutofVientianeatleastbetween1Julyand21September63(AAMAircraftAvailabilityfor1July63,15July63,and21September63,in:UTD/Walker/B25F8);ferriedbackfromTainanon17/18August63,whereithadapparentlybeenforCompanybusiness(LogbookofEdEckholdt,in:UTD/Leary/B44F13);againferriedtoTainanon9October63;backatVientianeatleaston22October63(LogbookofEdEckholdt,in:UTD/Leary/B44F13);on25January64,"851"pickedupaHelioatPhouKhong(VS-42)andferrieditbacktoUdorn,andon27March64,"851"pickedupanotherHelioatBanNamThouei(VS-118)(LogbookofEdEckholdt,in:UTD/Leary/B44F13);on22/23February64,EdEckholdtferried"851"backfromTainantoVientiane(LogbookofEdEckholdt,in:UTD/Leary/B44F13);on28/29July64,EdEckholdtferried"851"againbackfromTainantoVientiane(LogbookofEdEckholdt,in:UTD/Leary/B44F13);ferriedVientiane-Tainanon17September64andbackon29/30September64(LogbookofEdEckholdt,in:UTD/Leary/B44F13);whenafullyarmedRLAFT-28explodedontherampofVientianeairporton24January65,severalmorebombscookedoff,andflyingmetalalsocauseddamagetoanumberofAirAmericaaircraftparkednearby;inhisreporttothePresidentofAirAmerica,DaveHicklernotes:"Anumberofourpeopleperformedwellunderthiscrisis.
CaptainJoeHazen,forinstance,betweenbombblastsstartedupaCaribouwhichwasloadedwithgasolinedrumsandtaxieditouttotherampwiththelandinggearpinsstillinandtookitoffsinglehandedandflewittoUdornforsafety.
Thismanshowedrealcourageandrealintelligenceduringtheemergency.
Hesavedoneaircraftfrompossiblesuredestruction";accordingtothestatementofD.
Fisherthatispartofthatreport,thatCaribouwas"851"that"hadbeenparkedinfrontofTrafficandloadingwithchoppergaswascompleted"(Report"Blowup",thatisdocumentno.
GML-65-036HsentbyDaveHicklertoAirAmerica'sPresidenton28January1965;copyinthepossessionofJoeHazenwhokindlyfaxedittotheauthoron9May2005);aphototakenatVientianeinMarch65withFultonrecoverysystemstandingbesidestheaircraftcanbefoundin:UTD/Hickler/B29;aphototakenbyDaveHickler(formerlyno.
1-WL1-28-26-PB407),showing"851"withtheFultonSkyhooksystemmountedcanbefoundatUTD/Leary/B77F2;atSamThonginMay65as"851",photoscanbefoundin:UTD/Hickler/B28,B29,andB32;aslideisinUTD/Wiren/B2;probablythereasonfordroppingthe"B-"wasthatChinaandLaosbrokeoffdiplomaticrelationsinmid-1962whichalsoaffectedtheregistrationofAAMaircraft(seeMinutesExCom-AACLof25Sept.
62,in:UTD/CIA/B7F1);usedoutofVientianeundercontractAID-439-342inFebruary64andinApril64(AAMaircraftavailabilityof1February64,inthepossessionofWardReimerwhokindlyfaxedittotheauthoron17February2004;Aircraftavailabilityof1April64,in:UTD/Kirkpatrick/B8F4);stillinJuly64(Aircraftstatusasof7July64,in:UTD/Kirkpatrick/B1F1),andinOctober64(Aircraftavailabilityasof1Oct.
64,in:UTD/Hickler/B8F8);basedatVientianeinApril65(AircraftlistofApril65,in:UTD/Walker/B12F3),andstillon22May65,butbasedatUdornon27October65(PlannedAircraftAssignments,Memosof3May65,22May65,and27October65,allin:UTD/Walker/B12F3+4);testflownatTainanon3August65byJoeHazenwhothenferried"851"Tainan-Taipei-HongKong-Danang-Vientianeon4and5August65(e-mailsdated31December2004,kindlysenttotheauthorbyJoeHazen);usedoutofUdornunderCEECOcontract59-069inNovember65(Aircraftstatusasof1Nov.
65,in:UTD/Kirkpatrick/B1F1);stillbasedatUdornon1January66(PlannedAircraftAssignments,Memoof1January66,in:UTD/Walker/B7F8);flewBangkok-Vientianeon18December65(FlightcrewmembermonthlymovementreportofA.
J.
Zarkos,in:UTD/Zarkos/B1F8);photoinFlight,26March70,p.
466;photoinAirliners,summer93,p.
19,withFultonrecoverysystem;on5January66,no.
oneengineof"851"wentoutsome30minutesoutofPitt'sCamp(T-603),Thailand;sotheaircraftreturnedtoT-603andwasrepaired(XOXOof5Jan.
66,in:UTD/Hickler/B26F16);inuseoutofUdornundercontractAID-439-713on8April66(Aircraftstatusasof8April66,in:UTD/Kirkpatrick/B1F1);stillon4May66,calledthru27June66(Aircraftstatusasof4May66,in:UTD/Hickler/B1F2);stillon1May68,calledthru30June68(Aircraftstatusasof1May68,in:UTD/Herd/B2);stillon15August69(F.
O.
C.
of15Aug.
69,in:UTD/Hickler/B1F1);inuseatVientianeatleastbetween2Sept.
65and8Feb.
69(LogbookofL.
H.
Maxwell,in:UTD/Maxwell/B1F6;LogbookofR.
L.
Wofford,in:UTD/Wofford[Sm.
C.
6]);incurredsubstantialdamageastheresultofahardlandingatBanMoungNgan(LS-236),Laos,on8Nov.
67,resultinginadamagedskin,spar,rib,flapsandmainlandinggear(Accidentreport,in:UTD/Hickler/B24F3;MinutesExCom-AACL/AAMof14Nov.
67,in:UTD/CIA/B8F2;possibly,thephotoonthevideomadebyJohnTarnat0.
16.
52minutesreferstothisaccident);repaired;atTainanformaintenanceandSkyhookmodificationsinSeptember68(F.
O.
C.
of15August68,in:UTD/LaShomb/B14);thenosegearcollapsedwhiletaxiingatDanang(V-03),SouthVietnam,on23Oct.
68(Accidentreport,in:UTD/Hickler/B24F7);repaired;basedatUdorn16-30June69(F.
O.
C.
of15June69,in:UTD/Hickler/B8F7B);flewUdorn(T-08)-LuangPrabang(L-54)on27July69(LogbookofD.
Keele,in:UTD/Keele/B1F6);currenton1July70(Leary,TheaircraftofAirAmerica,p.
20),butassignedtocontractVN-70outofSaigon(AircraftInformationCircularof1July70,in:UTD/Leary/B41F4);photoinAirAmericaLog,vol.
V,no.
7,1971,p.
2;usedoutofSaigonatleastbetween20April71and6July71(Saigondailyaircraftschedules,in:UTD/Hickler/B8F1);basedatSaigon1-15July71;putintoinactivestorageatSaigonon1July71,inprocessofre-registration16-31July71(F.
O.
C.
of15July71,in:UTD/Hickler/B8F7B);theregistrationwascancelledon23July71(LetterbyClydeS.
Carter,dated23July71,in:UTD/CIA/B15F2).
Fate:soldbyAirAsiaCoLtdtoAirAmericaon23July71andreregdasN11014on29July71(Statusasof15January74,in:UTD/CIA/B56F3;BillofSalein:UTD/Bisson/B5,microfilmreelno.
4).
BillofSaledated23July71:CaribouB-851ofAirAsiaCoLtdtoAirAmericaInc(in:UTD/Bisson/B5,microfilmreelno.
4)N110143423July71AirAmericaB-851Servicehistory:registrationrequestedon23July71(LetterbyClydeS.
Carterdated23July71,in:UTD/CIA/B15F2);inuseoutofSaigonundercontractAIDVN-10016April-1May73(F.
O.
C.
of16April73,in:UTD/Kaufman/B1F14);usedinaconvertible12seat/cargoconfigurationoutofSaigon1Nov.
-31Dec.
73undercontractAIDVN-100,andsince1Dec.
73asaspareaircraft(F.
O.
C.
of1Nov.
73and1Dec.
73,in:UTD/Hickler/B8F7C);wasintemporarystorageinFeb.
74(F.
O.
C.
of1Feb.
74,in:UTD/CIA/B51F21);reactivatedandusedoutofSaigonasaspareaircraftforcontractAIDC-1029atleast1-30April74(F.
O.
C.
of1April74,in:UTD/Hickler/B8F7C);usedasaspareaircraftoutofSaigon1-31May74(F.
O.
C.
of1May74,in:UTD/Hickler/B8F7C);damagedatcoordinatesWT-8726nearSvayRieng(C-49),Cambodia,on30May74,whenthreepalletsofcargoshiftedontake-offandbrokeopentherearcargodoor;therewerenoinjuries;theaircraftwasrepairedandreturnedtoserviceon31May74(XOXOof30May74,in:UTD/Hickler/B10F12;MinutesExCom-AACL/AAMof11June74,in:UTD/CIA/B10F1);inApril75,N11014wasusedtocarryfueltokeeptheAirAmericaUH-1Hsinoperation(Telexdated28March75,in:UTD/CIA/B18F2);basedatSaigoninMarch75(Telexdated20March75,in:UTD/CIA/B18F2);departurefromSaigontotheContinentalUSwasscheduledonlyfor15May75(Telexdated20March75,in:UTD/CIA/B18F2).
Fate:abandonedatConSonIsland,SouthVietnam,on29April75;however,itwasrequestedon11June75thattheregistrationshouldbemaintained(XOXOof19July75:"Write-offofaircraftthatwereabandonedatSaigon",in:UTD/CIA/B40F4;Surveyreportdated21July75;LettersbyClydeS.
CartertoFAA,dated11June75and2August77,in:UTD/CIA/B17F4andUTD/CIA/B18F10),amountingtoalossof$526.
634,86(listinUTD/CIA/B18F7);stillregd.
toAirAmericainthe1974-77USCARs;canx;nolongerregd.
on31Oct.
82;ithadbeenreportedthatthefuselageofthisaircrafthadbeenseenpaintedas"34/U"atCapeMayinbasicIndianAirForcecamouflagecolors,fuselageonly,markedwithitsc/nandacodeletter,atCapMay,NJ,on26Jan.
99–oneof7formerIndianAirForceaircraft(AviationLetter,no.
387,p.
43);evenregistrationN21NChadbeenreservedforthisaircrafton19March96forNewcalAviationInc,LittleFerry,NJ,andagainon19December96forPenTurboAviation,RioGrande,NJ.
"TherearesevenotherexIndianAirForceCaribousatCapeMay,andalldoindeedhavethec/npaintedonthefuselage.
Butthisparticularaircraftwaspaintedincorrectly.
Althoughpaintedas"34",itisinfactc/n94,exIndianAirForceM2168,coded"U".
ThesameerrorcausedtothereservationofN21NCforthisaircraft.
Thisreservationwasnevertakenup"(e-maildated27June2009kindlysentbyAadvanderVoettoPaulOelkrugwhoforwardedittotheauthor);thefateofformerAirAmericaCaribouN11014canonlybeguessed:ProbablylikemanySouthVietnameseAirForceCaribousalsocapturedbytheCommunists,itwasflownbytheCommunistsaslongassparepartswereavailableandthenscrapped.
DHC-4853takenintheearlysixtiesDHC-4B-853atSaigoninJune67(UTD/Hickler/B33)(UTD/Hickler/B28)DHC-4CaribouB-85352July62boughtnewServicehistory:registeredtoAirAsiaon1June62(CertificateofRegistration,in:UTD/Bisson/B5,microfilmreelno.
4);acquiredin"51/7",thatisinJuly62accordingtoAirAsia'sStatementofPropertyof31March65(in:UTD/CIA/B26F5);ferriedbyEdEckholdt(PIC),LeRoyLetender(Co-pilot),andDonWilliams(Navigator)Toronto-Edmonton-Anchorage-Shemya-Tokyo-Taipei-Tainanbetween10and16July62;on21/2July,EckholdtferriedB-853fromTainantoVientiane,andaftersomedaysoftraining,B-853wasflownonshuttlesbetweenSites22and20on30July62(LogbookofEdEckholdt,in:UTD/Leary/B44F13);between5and12August62,EdEckholdtshuttledbetweenHuaHininsouthernThailandandSamThonginLaosviaVientiane,UdornorTakhliinB-853,probablybringingPARUadvisorsandtheirequipment(LogbookofEdEckholdt,in:UTD/Leary/B44F13);leasedfromAirAsia;allsilver;photoonthevideotapemadebyEdEckholdt(at1.
09.
16minutes);between26Septemberand13October62,B-853wasatTainanformaintenance(LogbookofEdEckholdt,in:UTD/Leary/B44F13);reversepropswereaddedonlyin1963(videobyEdEckholdtat1.
05.
55minutes);initiallyusedas"853";aphotoinUTD/Hickler/B33andphotosonthevideotapemadebyEdEckholdt(at1.
13.
10minutes)showthisaircraftinLaosduring1963,havingalightgrayanti-corrosiontestcolorscheme;probablythereasonfordroppingthe"B-"wasthatChinaandLaosbrokeoffdiplomaticrelationsinmid-1962whichalsoaffectedtheregistrationofAAMaircraft(seeMinutesExCom-AACLof25Sept.
62,in:UTD/CIA/B7F1);hitobstructionswhenlandingatanairstripinSouthVietnamon28June63(Aircraftaccidents1963,in:UTD/CIA/B49F2);repaired;"853"wasassignedtoCSGcontractno.
1861foruseoutofDanangatleastbetween1Julyand13September63;thatdaytransferredtoThaiPolicecontractno.
58-056foruseoutofBangkok(AAMAircraftAvailabilityfor1July63,15July63,and21September63,allin:UTD/Walker/B25F8);flownBangkok-Danang-HongKong-Tainanformaintenanceon11November63andthesamewaybackon18November63,bothwayspilotedbyJoeHazen(E-maildated5May2013,kindlysenttotheauthorbyJoeHazen);on11February64,EdEckholdtflew"853"Bangkok-Takhli-Phitsanulok-Bangkok(LogbookofEdEckholdt,in:UTD/Leary/B44F13);ferriedBangkok-Danang-HongKong-Tainanon25February64(LogbookofEdEckholdt,in:UTD/Leary/B44F13);usedoutofBangkokonRoyalThaiBorderPatrolPolicecontract58-056inFebruary64andinApril64(AAMAircraftAvailabilityof1February64,inthepossessionofWardReimerwhokindlyfaxedittotheauthoron17February2004;Aircraftavailabilityof1April64,in:UTD/Kirkpatrick/B8F4);stillinJuly64(Aircraftstatusasof7July64,in:UTD/Kirkpatrick/B1F1);ferriedbackfromTainantoBangkokon7/8September64andusedforparatroopdroppracticeatPhitsanulokon9/10September64(LogbookofEdEckholdt,in:UTD/Leary/B44F13);flewBangkok-Tainanon29October64andTainan-Bangkokon4November64andmadeborderairdropsoutofPhitsanulokon21/22November64;basedatBangkokinApril65(AircraftlistofApril65,in:UTD/Walker/B12F3),alsobetween3May65and27October65(PlannedAircraftAssignments,Memosof3May65,22May65,and27October65,allin:UTD/Walker/B12F3+4);againflownbyEdEckholdtbetween3May65and1August65,mostlymakingairdropsoutofPhitsanulokorUdorn;ferriedBangkok-Danang-HongKong-Tainanon6June65andbacktoBangkokon12/13June65(LogbookofEdEckholdt,in:UTD/Leary/B44F13);participatedinthesearchfortheill-fatedUH-34DH-32intheSaravane(L-44)areaon13October65(Chronologicalaccount,in:UTD/CIA/B58F6);usedoutofBangkokundercontractAID-493-66inNovember65(Aircraftstatusasof1Nov.
65,in:UTD/Kirkpatrick/B1F1);stillon8April66(Aircraftstatusasof8April66,in:UTD/Kirkpatrick/B1F1)andon4May66(Aircraftstatusasof4May66,in:UTD/Hickler/B1F2);hadahardlandingaton26March66;backinserviceon5April66(MinutesExCom-AACL/AAMof6April66,in:UTD/CIA/B8F1);transferredtoSaigonin67()foruseundercontractAID/VN-23;releasedfromthatcontracton31December67andusedasaspareaircraftstillon1May68(Aircraftstatusasof1May68,in:UTD/Herd/B2);theleftlandinggearcollapsedontouch-downatSaigon(V-01)on2June67,whenitwasalready"B-853";repairedatacostof$13,900;backinserviceon11June67(XOXOof2June67,in:UTD/Hickler/B26F16;MinutesExCom-AACL/AAMof13June67and11July67,in:UTD/CIA/B8F2;aphotoofthisaccidentisinUTD/Hickler/B28);atSaigonon5May67;photoinUTD/Luckett/B1F14;on26February68,B-853receivedbattledamagewhileparkedatTanSonNhut(V-01),whenarocketroundhittheairfield;repaired(XOXOof26Feb.
68,in:UTD/Hickler/B26F16);inuseoutofSaigonatleastbetween11June68and17July68(LogbookofR.
L.
Wofford,in:UTD/Wofford[Sm.
C.
6]);boughtbyAirAmericafromAirAsiaon5August68.
Fate:ferriedtoTainanformodificationon5August68;renumberedas"61-2388"(F.
O.
C.
of15Aug.
68,in:UTD/LaShomb/B14).
61-2388525Aug.
68AirAmericaB-853Servicehistory:leasedtotheUSAF3Sept.
68-15June73as"61-2388"(F.
O.
C.
of15June69,in:UTD/Hickler/B8F7B;F.
O.
C.
of15Aug.
69,in:UTD/Hickler/B1F1;LettersbyClydeS.
CartertothePacificCorp.
,dated15June69,andtotheUSAF,dated15May73,in:UTD/CIA/B15F5);aCompanyInter-OfficeRoutingSlipof2June70(in:UTD/Bisson/B5,microfilmreelno.
4)givesthefollowingdetails:B-853wasde-registeredon7September68andkeptonCompanyaircraftliabilityscheduleas61-2388;acceptedbytheUSAFferrycrewanddepartedTainanon27September68;deletedfromtheCompanyliston1December69;notcurrentwithAirAmericaon1July71,15July71,1Nov.
73(F.
O.
C.
of1July71,15July71,1Nov.
73,in:UTD/Hickler/B8F7B+C).
(in:UTD/Bisson/B5,microfilmreelno.
4)Fate:soldtoThePacificCorp.
,Washington,DC,on15June73;soldtoSouthernSkyInc.
,Dallas,TX,on27June73(Invoiceof27June73,in:UTD/CIA/B15F5;MinutesBoD-AAMof15Nov.
73,in:UTD/CIA/B4F3;MinutesofthePacificCorp.
of30Oct.
73,in:UTD/CIA/B1F6;LetterofPaulC.
VeltetoSouthernSky,dated15June73,in:UTD/CIA/B15F5).
Apparently,theaircraftthenpassedtoaCIA-backedProjectinIrancalled"IBEX"duringthemidandlate1970sandwasflowninthecolorsoftheImperialIranianAirForce(IIAF)andserialled"553":Togetherwithissistership"555",whoseidentityisunknown,bothCaribouswerewithdrawnfromusefollowingtheIranianrevolutioninJanuary1979.
TheaircraftwasthentransferredtotheTehranAerospaceExhibitionCenteratMehrabadAirportinTehran,where,until2007,theaircraftstillcarrieditsmilitarymarkings,with"IIAF"onthenose,andserial553inArabicnumeralsbelowit.
BetweenMarch2007andFebruary2008itwasrepaintedincivilcolors,withthefictitiousregistration"EP-RAJ".
"Aphotooftheaircraft'sdataplateveryrecentlyconfirmedthattheDHC-4ACariboustillsurvivingattheTehranAerospaceExhibitionCenterisnoneotherthanc/n52,exB-853and61-2388(2)"(e-maildated27June2009kindlysentbyAadvanderVoettoPaulOelkrugwhoforwardedittotheauthor).
2)Caribousacquiredin1964/65:DHC-4N539YatLongTiengin1965ICCSAirServicesDHC-4N539Y(UTD/V.
David)atSaigonin1973(AirAmericaLog,vol.
VII,no.
8,1973,p.
4)DHC-4CaribouN539Y19726Nov.
64boughtnewServicehistory:arrivedatSaigonfromBangkokon15December64(LogbookofEdEckholdt,in:UTD/Leary/B44F13);regd.
toAirAmericaasN539Yon6January65(Statusasof15January74,in:UTD/CIA/B56F3);on19January65,thegearofCaribouN539YcollapsedatV-70(XOXOof19January65,in:UTD/Walker/B25F2);basedatSaigoninApril65(AircraftlistofApril65,in:UTD/Walker/B12F3),alsobetween3May65and27October65(PlannedAircraftAssignments,Memosof3May65,22May65,and27October65,allin:UTD/Walker/B12F3+4);flownbyEdEckholdtoutofSaigonbetween5and14February65(LogbookofEdEckholdt,in:UTD/Leary/B44F13);atLongTieng(LS-20A),Laos,in65(photoinUTD/V.
David[Sm.
Coll.
1]);theleftwingofN539YwasdamagedatSaigonon26September65,whenChinaAirlinesC-46CA-2wastowedtooclosetotheCaribou(XOXOof26September65,in:UTD/Walker/B24F1);therightwheelreceivedbattledamageatQuangNgai(V-23)on3October65(XOXOof3October65,in:UTD/Walker/B24F1);usedoutofSaigononUSAFcontractAF49(604)-4395inNovember65(Aircraftstatusasof1Nov.
65,in:UTD/Kirkpatrick/B1F1);stillon8April66(Aircraftstatusasof8April66,in:UTD/Kirkpatrick/B1F1)andon4May66(Aircraftstatusasof4May66,in:UTD/Hickler/B1F2);thelandinggearpartiallyretractedwhilelandingatHueCitadel(V-70),SouthVietnam,on18November65;repaired(XOXOof18November65,in:UTD/Walker/B25F2;Aircraftaccidents1965,in:UTD/CIA/B49F2;MinutesExCom-AACL/AAMof24November65,in:UTD/CIA/B7F4);on16December65,thenosewheelofN539YstuckinthemudatDucPho(V-201),whiletheaircraftwasshotat;thecrewwasevacuatedandlatertheaircraftwastemporarilyrepairedandflownbacktoSaigon(XOXOsof16December65,in:UTD/Walker/B25F2);receivedbattledamageatQuangNgai(V-23)on16March66,damagingthefuelcell;returnedtoserviceon28March66(XOXOof16March66,in:UTD/Hickler/B26F16;MinutesExCom-AACL/AAMof23March66,in:UTD/CIA/B8F1);thefuelcellwasdamagedonthegroundon7May66;returnedtoserviceon15May66(MinutesExCom-AACL/AAMof11May66,in:UTD/CIA/B8F1);on1September66,thepropellerofN539YwasdamagedatTuyHoa(V-113);repaired(XOXOof1Sept.
66,in:UTD/Hickler/B26F16);aphototakenatSaigoninFebruary67isinLove,WingsofAirAmerica,p.
45;on15February67,N539YmadeaprecautionarylandingatGiaNghia(V-202)becauseofalossofoilpressure;repaired(XOXOof15Feb.
67,in:UTD/Hickler/B26F16);on5July67,atruckdroveintoN539Y,whileitwasattherampatSaigon(V-01);repaired(XOXOof5July67,in:UTD/Hickler/B27F1);transferredtoVientianein;on24January68,atruckdroveintoN539Y,whenitwasparkedatVientiane(L-08),Laos;repaired(XOXOof24January68,in:UTD/Hickler/B26F17);returnedtoSaigonon5April68,usedundercontractAID/VN-23on1May68,calledthru30June68(Aircraftstatusasof1May68,in:UTD/Herd/B2);on23October68,thenosegearofN539YshearedafterlandingatDanang(V-03);repaired(XOXOof23Oct.
68,in:UTD/Hickler/B26F17);basedatSaigonunassignedon15August69(F.
O.
C.
of15Aug.
69,in:UTD/Hickler/B1F1);inuseoutofSaigonon27May68(LogbookofR.
L.
Wofford,in:UTD/Wofford[Sm.
C.
6];andphotoinUTD/McCauley/B1F3);basedatSaigon15-30June69asaspareaircraft;usedoutofSaigonatleastbetween20April71and23June71(Saigondailyflightschedules,in:UTD/Hickler/B8F1);putintoinactivestorage1July71andstoredatSaigon1-30July71(F.
O.
C.
of15June69,1July71,15July71,in:UTD/Hickler/B8F7B);inuseoutofSaigonundercontractICCS73-008,thatisbyICCSAirServices,Saigon,atleast16April-1May73(F.
O.
C.
of16April73,in:UTD/Kaufman/B1F14)and1Nov.
-31Dec.
73(F.
O.
C.
of1Nov.
73and1Dec.
73,in:UTD/Hickler/B8F7C;photoinAirAmericaLog,vol.
VII,no.
8,1973);inuseoutofSaigonon26December73(Saigondailyflightscheduleof26Dec.
73,in:UTD/Dexter/F1);intemporarystorageinFeb.
74,butre-activatedasaspareaircraftinFeb.
74(F.
O.
C.
of1Feb.
74,in:UTD/CIA/B51F21);usedoutofSaigonasaspareaircraftforcontractAIDC-1029atleast1-30April74(F.
O.
C.
of1April74,in:UTD/Hickler/B8F7C);ininactivestorageatSaigon1-31May74(F.
O.
C.
of1May74,in:UTD/Hickler/B8F7C);wastobesoldtoMasinAircraft,Cologne,on23December74,butthedealfellthru(Summaryofsales,in:UTD/CIA/B40F6);atHongKongin1975;basedatSaigoninMarch75(Telexdated20March75,in:UTD/CIA/B18F2).
Fate:departurefromSaigontotheContinentalUSwasscheduledfor15April75(Telexdated20March75,in:UTD/CIA/B18F2);atTainaninJune75(Aircraftlistof12June75,in:UTD/CIA/B51F12);wasatTainanbetween15June75and9September75;ferriedtoRoswellNM,butstoppedatMidwayformaintenance;stillthereon30September75(AirAmerica,ownedaircraftasof30September75,in:UTD/CIA/B56F1);soldtoOmniAircraftSales,WashingtonDC,at$200,000accordingtotheSalesAgreementof13November75(Summaryofaircraftsales,in:UTD/CIA/B40F6);passedthruHonolulu29Dec.
75to7Jan.
76onreturntotheUSA;atSanFranciscoon8Feb.
76allsilverwithUSflagontail;arrivedatRoswell,NM,forstorageon11Feb.
76(LetterbyClydeS.
Carterdated12Feb.
76,in:UTD/CIA/B18F9);soldtoOmniAircraftSales,Washington,DC(TT10611hrs)on17Feb.
76;cancellationofregistryrequestedon17February76(Propertieslistdated17Feb.
76,in:UTD/CIA/B18F9;LetterbyClydeS.
Carterdated17Feb.
76,in:UTD/CIA/B18F9);soldtoAlaskaAirService,Anchorage,in1976();atAnchorageon1Sept.
78andon1July79,allmetallic;photoinAir-BritainDigest,May-June79,p.
53;soldtoCharlesT.
ConnellTrustee,Anchorage,AKinNovember81;soldtoWood'sAirService,Palmer,AK(WarrenW.
Woods),inOctober83;currentin1986;crashedonfinalapproachtoLimeVillage,AK,on20March86,killing2crew;wasonaflightfromPalmer,AK,toLimeVillage;cancelledinApril87;stillnotedasderegisteredinMarch2004(requestsubmittedtotheFAAon13March2004athttp://162.
58.
35.
241/acdatabase/).
DHC-4N544Y,takenatTanSonNhutinJanuary1970byBobLivingstone(withkindpermissionfromBobLivingstone)DHC-4CaribouN544Y24121Oct.
65boughtnewServicehistory:boughton25October65;regd.
toAirAmericaasN544Yon12November65(Statusasof15January74,in:UTD/CIA/B56F3);manufacturedinOctober65(InventorylistmadeupbyR.
DixonSpeasAssociatesIncanddated10and11November1975,p.
5,in:UTD/CIA/B18F6);take-overatDownsviewscheduledfor8December65(MinutesExCom-AACL/AAMof6Oct.
65,in:UTD/CIA/B7F4);wastobeusedoutofSaigononUSAFcontractAF49(604)-4395inNovember65(Aircraftstatusasof1Nov.
65,in:UTD/Kirkpatrick/B1F1);basedatSaigonon1January66(PlannedAircraftAssignments,Memoof1January66,in:UTD/Walker/B7F8);stillassignedon8April66(Aircraftstatusasof8April66,in:UTD/Kirkpatrick/B1F1)andon4May66(Aircraftstatusasof4May66,in:UTD/Hickler/B1F2);stillon1May68,calledthru30June68(Aircraftstatusasof1May68,in:UTD/Herd/B2);receivedlightbattledamageabout8milesfromDucPho(V-201)on26March66,whileenroutefromQuangNgai(V-23)toV-84;returnedtoserviceon28March66(XOXOof26March66,in:UTD/Hickler/B26F16;MinutesExCom-AACL/AAMof6April66,in:UTD/CIA/B8F1);on16November66,akickerfelloutofN544Yduringadropabout5milessouthwestofBinhThanhThon(V-168),butlandedsafelywithhisparachute(XOXOof16Nov.
66,in:UTD/Hickler/B26F16);atVientiane30Jan.
67(FlightcrewmembermonthlymovementreportofA.
J.
Zarkos,in:UTD/Zarkos/B1F8);inuseoutofSaigonatleastbetween29May68and21June70;flewSaigon-Danang-HongKong-Tainanon2July68andTainan-Danang-Vientiane-Saigonon8-11July68(seealsoLogbookofR.
L.
Wofford,in:UTD/Wofford[Sm.
C.
6]);usedoutofSaigonasaspareaircraft16-30June69,15Aug.
-1Sept.
69(F.
O.
C.
of15Aug.
69,in:UTD/Hickler/B1F1);aphototakenbyBobLivingstoneatSaigoninJan.
70isinLove,WingsofAirAmerica,p.
48;usedoutofSaigonatleastbetween20April71and23June71(Saigondailyflightschedulesin:UTD/Hickler/B8F1);putintoinactivestorageatSaigonon3July71(F.
O.
C.
of15June69,1July71,and15July71,in:UTD/Hickler/B8F7B+C);inuseoutofSaigonundercontractAIDVN-100atleastbetween16Apriland1May73(F.
O.
C.
of16April73,in:UTD/Kaufman/B1F14);usedasaconvertible12seat/cargoconfigurationoutofSaigon1Nov.
-31Dec.
73undercontractAIDVN-100,andsince1Dec.
73asaspareaircraft(F.
O.
C.
of1Nov.
73and1Dec.
73,in:UTD/Hickler/B8F7C);stillaspareaircraftinFeb.
74(F.
O.
C.
of1Feb.
74,in:UTD/CIA/B51F21);inuseoutofSaigon1-30April74asaspareaircraft(F.
O.
C.
of1April74,in:UTD/Hickler/B8F7C);ininactivestorageatSaigon1-31May74(F.
O.
C.
of1May74,in:UTD/Hickler/B8F7B+C);wastobesoldtoMasinAircraft,Cologne,on23December74,butthedealfellthru(Summaryofsales,in:UTD/CIA/B40F6);atHongKongin1975;basedatSaigoninMarch75(Telexdated20March75,in:UTD/CIA/B18F2).
Fate:departurefromSaigontotheContinentalUSwasscheduledfor20April75(Telexdated20March75,in:UTD/CIA/B18F2);atTainaninJune75(Aircraftlistof12June75,in:UTD/CIA/B51F12);atTainanbetween15June75and9September75;ferriedviaAdak,AK,(photoin:UTD/AnnStuart[Sm.
Coll.
5])toRoswell,NM,between9and25September75(AirAmerica,ownedaircraftasof30September75,in:UTD/CIA/B56F1);arrivedatRoswell,NM,on25Sept.
75(InventorylistmadeupbyR.
DixonSpeasAssociatesIncanddated10and11November1975,p.
7,in:UTD/CIA/B18F6);wastobesoldtoOmniAircraftSales,WashingtonDC,at$200,000accordingtotheSalesAgreementof13November75(Summaryofaircraftsales,in:UTD/CIA/B40F6);soldtoOmniAircraftSales,Washington,DC,atTT8931hrs.
on2February76(Propertieslistdated17Feb.
76,in:UTD/CIA/B18F9);deregistrationrequestedon6Feb.
76(LetterbyClydeS.
Carterdated6Feb.
76,in:UTD/CIA/B16F9);soldtoAmericanEliteInc,Chicago,inDecember76;atMiamiallsilveron12March77;leasedtoAirCargoAmerica,SanJuan,PR,inMarch78;atOpaLocka,FL,on24March78;aphotowaspublishedin:Propliner,no.
32,p.
46;leasedfromJimMcIvor,Miami;atMiamiinJuly80;currentin1981-82;boughtinOctober83;soldtoUnionFlights,Sacramento,CA,inSeptember85;enteredserviceinJanuary86;soldtoAlcoholAviationFuelsInc.
on11Feb.
91,butstillleasedtoUnionFlights;currentin1995;soldtoOperationBlessingInternationalRelief&Development,Norfolk,VA,on4August94;regd.
on5Aug.
94;leasedtoG.
deKlerk,Benoni-Brakpan,Zaire,in1995;parkedatBrakpan,on22Nov.
95;seenstoredatBrakpan,SouthAfrica,on10Nov.
97inpoorconditionandwithoutengines;regd.
intoWilmingtonTrustCompany,Wilmington,DE,on24November97;stillatBrakpan,SouthAfrica,on1December99,partlybrokenup(AviationLetter,no.
398,p.
42);stillnotedasderegisteredinMarch2004(requestsubmittedtotheFAAon13March2004athttp://162.
58.
35.
241/acdatabase/).
3)ACaribouacquiredin1975thatwasneverused:DHC-4CaribouN60802June75TynolAssociatesInc.
,N6080;previouslyCF-LAN-X,thenCF-LAN,thenN6080ofInter-mountainAviationServicehistory:accordingtoacontractdated24February75,thisaircraftwasexchangedforformerAirAmericaC-45sN9542Z(c/nAF-674)andN3728G(AF-65)(seeSummaryofaircraftsales,in:UTD/CIA/B40F6),buttheaircraftdidnevercometoSouthVietnam;registrationtoAirAmericarequestedon30May75(LetterbyClydeS.
Carterdated30May75,in:UTD/CIA/B17F4);regd.
inJune75;onlyapapertransaction;theaircraftwasstillatMaranaAZinJune75(Aircraftlistof12June75,in:UTD/CIA/B51F12);ferriedfromMaranaAZtoRoswellNMon6August75(AirAmerica,ownedaircraftasof30September75,in:UTD/CIA/B56F1);aphotoiscontainedintheinventorylistmadeupbyR.
DixonSpeasAssociatesIncanddated10and11November1975(p.
8,in:UTD/CIA/B18F6).
Fate:soldtoOmniAircraftSales,WashingtonDC,at$235,000accordingtotheSalesAgreementof13November75(Summaryofaircraftsales,in:UTD/CIA/B40F6);soldontoOmniAircraftSales,Washington,atTT6383hrs.
on2February76(Propertieslistdated17Feb.
76,in:UTD/CIA/B18F9);deregistrationrequestedon6Feb.
76(LetterbyClydeS.
Carterdated6Feb.
76,in:UTD/CIA/B16F9);soldtoEnvironmentalResearchInstituteofMichigan,Detroit,on16June77;flewReykjavik-BigginHill-Ramsteinon24/25July80andreturnedFrankfurt-Prestwick-Reykjavikon17/18Sept.
80;currentin1995;reregd.
toERIMInternationalInc,AnnArbor,MI,inSeptember97;reregd.
toEnvironmentalResearchInstituteofMichigan,AnnArbor,MI,on11June98;soldtoH.
A.
T.
AviationInc,Ypsilanti,MI,inAugust98;reregd.
on27Aug.
98;currentwiththeminMarch2004(requestsubmittedtotheFAAon13March2004athttp://162.
58.
35.
241/acdatabase/).
II)C-7ACaribousbailedfromtheUSArmyandsince1967fromtheUSAF:1)ACaribouevaluatedin1962:DHCYAC-1Caribou"333"462exUSArmy57-3080;previouslyCF-LKU-XServicehistory:leasedfromtheUSArmyforevaluationinthespringof1962(AircraftlistofJune62,correctedtoSept.
1963,in:UTD/Kirkpatrick/B1F1);AirAmericapilotFredWalkerevaluatedtheCaribou'sperformance.
OnhisinitialflightintoPaDoung(LS-05),withCol.
H.
Aderholtintherightseat,theylandedshortandskiddedtotheendoftherunway.
SotheagencyadvisedtheArmythattheCariboushouldbeequippedwithreversibleprops(Trest,AirCommandoOne,p.
119).
On12May62,FredWalkerlanded"333"atanewlyconstructedairstrip,LimaSite30:LongTieng(Hamilton-Merritt,Tragicmountains,p.
118).
Fate:returnedtotheUSArmyas57-3080in62(AircraftlistofJune62,correctedtoSept.
1963,in:UTD/Kirkpatrick/B1F1);re-designatedasCV-2A-DHin1962;transferredtotheUSAFon1January67;to0-73080withtheUSArmyin;atTorontoon24June73;to57-3080withtheUSArmyAviationMuseum,FortRucker,Alabama,in;stillpreservedthereinNovember88.
2)Caribousreceivedin1964:DHCC-7ACaribou"149"8527May64USArmy62-4149Servicehistory:receivedon27May64;usedoutofVientianeundercontractAID-439-342(Aircraftstatusasof7July64,in:UTD/Kirkpatrick/B1F1);flownon10,20,21,and25June1964outofVientianebyJoeHazen(e-maildated5January2005,kindlysenttotheauthorbyJoeHazen),flownbyEdEckholdtseveraltimesbetween14June64and1October64(LogbookofEdEckholdt,in:UTD/Leary/B6F12).
Fate:flownVientiane-UdornbyEdEckholdton1October64,"ferrytoArmy"(LogbookofEdEckholdt,in:UTD/Leary/B6F12);became62-4149withtheUSAFon1Jan.
67;transferredtotheUSArmy/ConnecticutAirNationalGuard,Groton,AviationClassificationRepairActivityDepot(AVCRAD)as0-24149in75/6;activeinAugust90;withdrawnfromuseatGrotonNewLondonAirport,Connecticutin95;soldtoWestairInternationalUSAInc,Monument,CO,asN9249Qon2Aug.
95;regd.
inOct.
95;soldtoPatrickM.
Murphy,Queensland,Australia,asN9249QinFeb.
98;regd.
13Feb.
98;soldtoCatalinaFlyingBoats,LongBeach,CA,asN9249Qon4Sept.
98;regd.
on15Dec.
98;soldtoVanderwallAircraftLLC,PeachtreeCity,GA,asN9249QinJuly99;regd.
on12July99;reregd.
tothemasN149HFon24Aug.
99;reg.
reservedon12July99;currentwiththeminMarch2004(requestsubmittedtotheFAAon13March2004athttp://162.
58.
35.
241/acdatabase/).
C-7A"389"inArmybrowncolorsC-7A"389"allsilverwitharadarsomewhereinLaosinthemid-sixtiesnoseatVientianein1971(UTD/Wiren/B2)(AirAmericaLog,vol.
V,no.
6,1971,p.
7)DHCC-7ACaribou"389"4664USArmy61-2389Servicehistory:receivedafter1April64,butreturnedtotheUSArmyon8June64(AAMaircraftavailabilityof1April64,in:UTD/Kirkpatrick/B8F4;Aircraftstatusasof7July64,in:UTD/Kirkpatrick/B1F1);aslideinUTD/Wiren/B2shows"389"indarkcolorswithoutaradarnose;basedatVientianeinApril65(AircraftlistofApril65,in:UTD/Walker/B12F3),alsobetween3May65and27October65(PlannedAircraftAssignments,Memosof3May65,22May65,and27October65,allin:UTD/Walker/B12F3+4);flownoutofVientianebyEdEckholdton30and31May65(LogbookofEdEckholdt,in:UTD/Leary/B44F13);usedoutofVientianeundercontractAID-439-342inNovember65(Aircraftstatusasof1Nov.
65,in:UTD/Kirkpatrick/B1F1);stillon8April66(Aircraftstatusasof8April66,in:UTD/Kirkpatrick/B1F1),on4May66(Aircraftstatusasof4May66,in:UTD/Hickler/B1F2),on1May68(Aircraftstatusasof1May68,in:UTD/Herd/B2),andon15August69(F.
O.
C.
of15Aug.
69,in:UTD/Hickler/B1F1);theUSAFAssignmentrecords(reelAVH-7)noteforthatperiod:C-7A61-2389GI(=returnedfromoutsidetheUSAF)fromCNA(=USArmy)toLOGHQ,WrightPatterson,on67120;GF/Reconciliationon67151,whichprobablymeans:transferredfromtheUSArmytotheUSAF,LogisticAirCommand,Headquarters,WrightPattersonAFB,on30April67,butadministratively,itwasdecidedon31May67tolettheaircraftwithitsuserAirAmerica;againwithAirAmericainuseoutofVientianeatleastbetween23August65and11April72;on28September67,"389"receivedbattledamagenearSavannakhet(L-39),butnobodyonboardwasinjured(XOXOof28Sept.
67,in:UTD/Hickler/B27F1);on20June68,"389"receivedbattledamageatcoordinatesTJ4275inLaos;fortunately,nobodyonboardwasinjured,andthedamagetotheaircraftwasonlyminor;repaired(XOXOof20June68,in:UTD/Hickler/B25F14);flewVientiane-Danang-HongKong-Tainanon29July69andTainan-HongKong-Savannakhet-Vientianeon12Aug.
69(LogbookofL.
H.
Maxwell,in:UTD/Maxwell/B1F6;FlightcrewmembermonthlymovementreportofA.
J.
Zarkos,in:UTD/Zarkos/B1F8;andLogbookofR.
L.
Wofford,in:UTD/Wofford[Sm.
C.
6]);phototakeninthemid60sshows"389"camouflaged,butwithoutaradarnose,soitwasprobablyusedonnightdrops(in:UTD/Hickler/B28+29);basedatVientiane16-30June69(F.
O.
C.
of15June69,in:UTD/Hickler/B8F7B);flewVientiane(L-08)-LongTieng(LS-20A)on1January70(LogbookofD.
Keele,in:UTD/Keele/B1F6);currenton1July70(Leary,TheaircraftofAirAmerica,p.
20);atUdornon20July70;currenton3August70(Aircrafttime,in:UTD/CIA/B29F4);damagedatSanTiau(LS-2),Laos,on28December70,whenBoumyVongachakwaskilledbygunfire,whenflyAID-439-342(XOXOof28Dec.
70,in:UTD/Hickler/B25F10;List"Deceasedemployees",in:UTD/Leary/B34F1;Memorialfile,in:UTD/LaShomb/B16F3);repaired;basedatVientiane1-31July71(F.
O.
C.
of1July71,15July71,in:UTD/Hickler/B8F7B);losttherearuppercargodoorinflight10milessouthofBanXon(LS-272)on13August71(Accidentreport,in:UTD/Anthony/F4);repaired;photosinUTD/Abadie/B2F3andAirAmericaLog,vol.
V,no.
6,1971,p.
7;damagedbygroundfireoverLaoson9December71,whilemakingadrop;thebottomofthefuselagewasdamaged;repaired(MinutesExCom-AACL/AAMof11Jan.
72,in:UTD/CIA/B9F7);currenton7July72(Airframetimereport,in:UTD/CIA/B29F9);currentinDecember72(Airframetimereport,in:UTD/CIA/B32F1);maintainedbyAirAmericaVientianeatleaston1January73,1March73,1July73,and1August73(Assigned,maintainedaircraft,in:UTD/CIA/B32F1and/B31F10);inuseoutofVientianeundercontractF04606-71-C-0002atleast16April-1May73(F.
O.
C.
of16April73,in:UTD/Kaufman/B1F14);inuseoutofUdornundercontractF04606-71-C-0002atleast1Nov.
-31Dec.
73,1-28Feb.
74(F.
O.
C.
of1Feb.
74,in:UTD/CIA/B51F1),and1April-31May74(F.
O.
C.
of1Nov.
73,1Dec.
73,1April74,and1May74,in:UTD/Hickler/B8F7C);flewthelastAirAmericaserviceoutofLaoson3June74,fromVientianetoUdorn(UTD/Leary/B1for3June74).
Fate:probablyreturnedtotheUSAFinJune74;became0-12389ofUSArmy/MississippiAirNationalGuard,Gulfport,AviationClassificationRepairActivityDepot(AVCRAD),in75/6;activeinAugust90;soldtotheNationalMuseumofNavalAviation,Pensacola,FLon24November92;regd.
on4Dec.
92asN6154T;soldtoAirPowerFinancialGroupIncin;soldtoBishopAviation,Decatur,TX,on18March94;regdon30March94;currentin1995;soldtoTurbineGroupInc.
,Melbourne,FL,on18Dec.
96;regd.
inJan.
97;soldtoSt.
JamesDevelopmentInc.
,Naperville,IL,inJanuary98;regd.
on23Jan.
98;currentwiththeminMarch2004(requestsubmittedtotheFAAon13March2004athttp://162.
58.
35.
241/acdatabase/).
FoundbyTrevorMcIntyre/AirAmericaFoundationinajunkyardinFloridaandboughtbyhiminJanuary2007forrestoration(e-maildated14January2007,kindlysentbyTrevorMcIntyretoDr.
ErikCarlson,whoforwardedittotheauthor).
DHCC-7ACaribou"392"5027May64USArmy61-2392Servicehistory:usedoutofVientianeonUSAIDcontractAID-439-342atleast27May64to1Oct.
64(Availabilitylist,in:UTD/Hickler/B8F8;Aircraftstatusasof7July64,in:UTD/Kirkpatrick/B1F1);madeahardlandingsomewhereinLaoson5July64(Aircraftaccidents1964,in:UTD/CIA/B49F2);repaired;on6July1964,inCaribou"392",JoeHazenflewpartsofaRussiantankfromMuongSouitoUdornandthenontoBangkok;on7July64,heflew"392"fromBangkoktoUdorn,pickedupaloadofammunition,andflewittoMuongSoui(E-maildated4February2006,kindlysenttotheauthorbyJoeHazen);flownbyRichardB.
Craftson8and9July64(LogbookofRichardB.
Crafts,at:UTD/Leary/B44F6);on14/5August64,EdEckholdtflew"392"overthePDJonanairsearchforadownedT-28(LogbookofEdEckholdt,in:UTD/Leary/B44F13);on18August1964,GaryMalmbergflew"392"covernearBanPeung(LS-95),whenH-19wasshotdown("PersonalObservation",thatisdoc.
no.
GML-64-065H,sentbyDaveHicklertoAirAmerica'sPresidenton22August64,documentinthepossessionofJoeHazenwhokindlyfaxedittotheauthoron9May2005);photostakenatVientianeinMarch65canbefoundinUTD/Hickler/B29;JoeHazenferried"392"Vientiane-Danang-HongKong-Tainanon12April65(E-maildated31December2004,kindlysenttotheauthorbyJoeHazen);andEdEckholdtferried"392"Tainan-HongKong-Vientianeon18April65(LogbookofEdEckholdt,in:UTD/Leary/B44F13);whenUSNavyLt.
Ilgwasshotdownon3June1965,flyinganA-4Skyhawk,JoeHazencontactedhimon4June65fromCaribou"392"thatwasusedas"VictorControl"(e-maildated24April2005,kindlysenttotheauthorbyJoeHazen);basedatVientianeinApril65(AircraftlistofApril65,in:UTD/Walker/B12F3),alsobetween3May65and27October65(PlannedAircraftAssignments,Memosof3May65,22May65,and27October65,allin:UTD/Walker/B12F3+4);usedoutofVientianeundercontractAID-439-342inNovember65(Aircraftstatusasof1Nov.
65,in:UTD/Kirkpatrick/B1F1)andstillon1January66(PlannedAircraftAssignments,Memoof1January66,in:UTD/Walker/B7F8);JoeHazenrecalls:"ThelasttimeIflew392wason22December1965.
IwasbringingaloadofsheetmetalfromLS-36(flattenedgasolinedrums)toeitherLS-20or20AwhentherightenginefailedandIhadtoshutitdown.
Theloadwasquiteheavyandwewerelosingaltitude,soIhadtheloadjettisonedandproceededtoVientiane.
Whentheloadwasjettisoned,theflattenedsheetmetalsailedthroughtheair,twistingandturningandactinglikeascythewhenithitthejungle.
Thereneverwasareportofanydamagefromanyofthevillages,soIguesstheareawasuninhabited"(E-maildated29January2006,kindlysenttotheauthorbyJoeHazen);stillassignedon8April66(Aircraftstatusasof8April66,in:UTD/Kirkpatrick/B1F1),on4May66(Aircraftstatusasof4May66,in:UTD/Hickler/B1F2),andon1May68(Aircraftstatusasof1May68,in:UTD/Herd/B2);theUSAFAssignmentrecords(reelAVH-7)noteforthatperiod:C-7A61-2392GI(=returnedfromoutsidetheUSAF)fromCNA(=USArmy)toLOGHQ,WrightPatterson,on67120;GF/Reconciliationon67151,whichprobablymeans:transferredfromtheUSArmytotheUSAF,LogisticAirCommand,Headquarters,WrightPattersonAFB,on30April67,butadministratively,itwasdecidedon31May67tolettheaircraftwithitsuserAirAmerica;on14July68,"392"ranofftheleftsideoftherunwayapproximately200feetwhenlandingatVientiane(L-08)-duetoanhydraulicfailure;nobodyonboardwasinjured,butbothpropellerswerebent;repaired(XOXOof14July68,in:UTD/Hickler/B25F14);inuseoutofVientianeatleastbetween8September65and12April72(LogbookofL.
H.
Maxwell,in:UTD/Maxwell/B1F6;LogbookofD.
D.
Wharton,in:UTD/Wharton/B1F2;LogbookofR.
L.
Wofford,in:UTD/Wofford[Sm.
C.
6]);photoinTroupesd'liteAviation,no.
142,p.
186,as"392";atBanMuangNgan(LS-236),Laos,theparkedaircraftbegantorolldownasteepslopeon21May69,comingtorestamongtrees50feetbelowrunwayleveland150feetfromitspointofdeparture,causingsubstantialdamage(XOXOof21May69,in:UTD/Hickler/B25F9;Accidentreport,in:UTD/Hickler/B24F2;photosoftheaccidentcanbefoundin:UTD/Wharton/B1F6,andintheJohnAnthonycollectionpreservedatTTU);originally,itwasnottoberebuilt(MinutesExCom-AAM/AACLof27May69,in:UTD/CIA/B8F3),sothatitwasnotyetrepairedon15June69(F.
O.
C.
of15June69,in:UTD/Hickler/B8F7B);notlistedon15August69(F.
O.
C.
of15Aug.
69,in:UTD/Hickler/B1F1);butthenitwasrecoveredbyaUSArmySikorskySkycrane(seethephotosattheAirAmericaAssociation'sImageGallery1,athttp://air-america.
org/ImageLibrary/ImageGallery1.
shtml)andrestored;AirAmericaCaribou"392"atUdornin1969afterrestoration(withkindpermissionfromJudyPorter)currenton1July70(Leary,TheaircraftofAirAmerica,p.
20);currenton3Aug.
70(Aircrafttime,in:UTD/CIA/B29F4);basedatVientiane1-31July71,butatBangkokformaintenance;flewUdorn(T-08)-Savannakhet(L-39)-Pakse(L-11)on28Sept.
71(LogbookofD.
Keele,in:UTD/Keele/B1F6);currenton15Oct.
71(F.
O.
C.
of1July71,15July71,in:UTD/Hickler/B8F7B);atUdornon24May72;currenton7July72(Airframetimereport,in:UTD/CIA/B29F9);aphotoof"392"takenin1972canbeseenin:Conboy,WarinLaos,p.
57;currentinDecember72(Airframetimereport,in:UTD/CIA/B32F1);atVientianein73(photoscanbefoundin:UTD/Anthony/F9,andintheA.
CatescollectionpreservedatTTU(no.
VA024858);maintainedbyAirAmericaVientianeatleaston1January73,1March73,1July73,and1August73(Assigned,maintainedaircraft,in:UTD/CIA/B32F1and/B31F10);on25February73,"392"receivedbattledamageoverLaos;repaired(AccidentnotetotheUSAF,dated27Feb.
73,in:UTD/CIA/B32F1);inuseoutofVientianeundercontractF04606-71-C-0002atleast16April-1May73(F.
O.
C.
of16April73,in:UTD/Kaufman/B1F14);inuseoutofUdornundercontractF04606-71-C-0002atleast1Nov.
-31Dec.
73,1-28Feb.
74(F.
O.
C.
of1Feb.
74,in:UTD/CIA/B51F1),and1April-31May74(F.
O.
C.
of1Nov.
73,1Dec.
73,1April74,and1May74,in:UTD/Hickler/B8F7C).
Fate:probablyreturnedtotheUSAFinJune74;totheUSAirForceReservein75/6;became0-12392ofUSArmy/MissouriAirNationalGuard,Springfield,AviationClassificationRepairActivityDepot(AVCRAD),in75/6;activeinAugust90;soldtotheNationalMuseumofNavalAviation,Pensacola,FL,asN6154Son24Nov.
92;regd.
on4Dec.
92;currentin1995;notregisteredinMarch2004(requestsubmittedtotheFAAon13March2004athttp://162.
58.
35.
241/acdatabase/).
Caribou"393"aftertheaccidentatBanNa(LS-15)in1966,photostakenbyJoeHazen(withkindpermissionfromJoeHazen)DHCC-7ACaribou"393"5129June64USArmy61-2393Servicehistory:inuseoutofVientianeatleastbetween29June64and27July71(Aircraftstatusasof7July64,in:UTD/Kirkpatrick/B1F1;LogbookofL.
H.
Maxwell,in:UTD/Maxwell/B1F6;FlightcrewmembermonthlymovementreportofA.
J.
Zarkos,in:UTD/Zarkos/B1F8;andLogbookofR.
L.
Wofford,in:UTD/Wofford[Sm.
C.
6]);basedatVientianeinApril65(AircraftlistofApril65,in:UTD/Walker/B12F3),alsobetween3May65and27October65(PlannedAircraftAssignments,Memosof3May65,22May65,and27October65,allin:UTD/Walker/B12F3+4);usedoutofVientianeundercontractAID-439-342inNovember65(Aircraftstatusasof1Nov.
65,in:UTD/Kirkpatrick/B1F1),on8April66(Aircraftstatusasof8April66,in:UTD/Kirkpatrick/B1F1),on4May66(Aircraftstatusasof4May66,in:UTD/Hickler/B1F2),on1May68(Aircraftstatusasof1May68,in:UTD/Herd/B2),andstillon15August69(F.
O.
C.
of15Aug.
69,in:UTD/Hickler/B1F1);theUSAFAssignmentrecords(reelAVH-7)noteforthatperiod:C-7A61-2393GI(=returnedfromoutsidetheUSAF)fromCNA(=USArmy)toLOGHQ,WrightPatterson,on67120;GF/Reconciliationon67151,whichprobablymeans:transferredfromtheUSArmytotheUSAF,LogisticAirCommand,Headquarters,WrightPattersonAFB,on30April67,butadministratively,itwasdecidedon31May67tolettheaircraftwithitsuserAirAmerica;madeacrash-landingatBanNa(LS-15),Laos,on6March66,whilepilotedbyBobLaturner,duetoinadvertentpropreversal,causingsubstantialdamage,butresultinginonly1minorinjury(XOXOof6March66,in:UTD/Hickler/B26F16;Aircraftaccidents1966,in:UTD/CIA/B49F2;DD/S,MonthlyReportforFebruary/March1966,p.
2,onlineat1818029/196511;MinutesExCom-AACL/AAMof23March66,in:UTD/CIA/B8F1;photoscanbefoundin:UTD/Hickler/B24F5+B32,intheJohnAnthonycollectionpreservedatTTU;andin:AirAmericaLog,vol.
II,no.
1,Jan.
68,p.
1);repairedbyJanuary68(seephoto);on24March68,afastmovingthunderstormofmorethan70knotspassedthruVientiane'sWattayairport,damagingtherudder,verticalstabilizer,flapsandsoonofC-7A"393";repaired(XOXOof24March68,in:UTD/Hickler/B26F16);madeanemergencylandingatBanHoueiSai(L-25),Laos,on5August68,whentherightlandinggearcollapsed,"393"comingtorestonthenosegear,leftmaingearandtherightwingtip;temporaryrepairaccomplishedatL-25andferriedtoVientianeon17August68forpermanentrepair(XOXOof5Aug.
68,in:UTD/Hickler/B25F14;F.
O.
C.
of15August68,in:UTD/LaShomb/B14;Accidentreport,in:UTD/Hickler/B24F7;photoinUTD/Hickler/B33);repaired;basedatVientiane16-30June69(F.
O.
C.
of15June69,in:UTD/Hickler/B8F7B);on29January70,"393"taxiedbackintoUH-34DsH-30andH-34afterlandingatSamThong(LS-20);repaired(XOXOof29Jan.
70,in:UTD/Hickler/B25F10);currenton1July70(Leary,TheaircraftofAirAmerica,p.
20);currenton3August70(Aircrafttime,in:UTD/CIA/B29F4);atBanXon(LS-246),Laos,in70(photosinAirAmericaLog,vol.
IV,no.
3,1970,p.
10);on12November70,thestaticlineof"393"flewupduringadropmissionnearLongTieng(LS-20A)andstruckAFDB.
Kalavonginthelefteye(XOXOof12Nov.
70,in:UTD/Hickler/B25F10);basedatVientiane1-31July71(F.
O.
C.
of1July71,15July71,in:UTD/Hickler/B8F7B).
Fate:crashedanddestroyedduringapproachtoPhaKhao(LS-14),Laos,on4February72,whilecarryingtroopsfromBanXon(LS-272)toPhaKhao(LS-14);pilotGordonV.
Smithsufferedspineinjuries,copilotD.
M.
Houstonfracturedskull,AFSM.
S.
Baileyminorinjuries,kickerKhamouthSousadalaywaskilled;34passengerswereinjured;theaircraftsustainedmajordamageand,aftertherecoveryofseveralcomponents,wasabandonedatthecrashsite(XOXOsof4and5Feb.
72,in:UTD/Hickler/B27F2;Accidentreport,in:UTD/CIA/B61F1;List"Aircraftdestroyedorlost",in:UTD/CIA/B49F2;XOXOof25April72,in:UTD/Luckett/B1F3;listinUTD/CIA/B19F1;Memorial;Memorialfile,in:UTD/LaShomb/B16F3;photosinUTD/Anthony/F6,UTD/Stuart[Sm.
Coll.
5],andYearbook1984,in:UTD/Wharton/B1F3).
C-7A401somewhereinLaosintheearlyC-7A401somewhereinLaosinthesixties,inArmybrowncolorswithoutlatesixties,silver,withouttitlesortitlesorradarnoseradarnose(UTD/Wiren/B2)(UTD/Wiren/B2)C-7A401atLongTiengin1971,allsilver,withtitlesandaradarnose(UTD/R.
E.
Stuart)DHCC-7ACaribou"401"6329June64USArmy61-2401Servicehistory:usedoutofVientianeonUSAIDcontractAID-439-342since29June64to1Oct.
64(Availabilitylist,in:UTD/Hickler/B8F8;Aircraftstatusasof7July74,in:UTD/Kirkpatrick/B1F1);on4November64,"401"hadbrakesproblemsCaribou"401"afterahardlandingin1964/5,takenbyJoeHazen(withkindpermissionfromJoeHazen)andreturnedtoVientiane(L-08),whereitwasrepaired(XOXOof4Nov.
64,in:UTD/Hickler/B8F8);on5June1965,JoeHazenflew"401"as"VictorControl"nearSamNeua,Laos,whenoutof"401"hedirectedthepick-upofUSNavyLt.
IlgbyAirAmericaUH-34Ds,whileA-1sfromtheUSSMidwayprotectedthecrashsite;aslide,showing"401"incamouflagecolorsandanotherone,showingitallsilver,bothwithouttitlesorradarnose,areinUTD/Wiren/B2;aphotoof"401"withradarnose,probablytakeninthelate60ies,waspublishedin:Love,WingsofAirAmerica,p.
100;basedatVientianeinApril65(AircraftlistofApril65,in:UTD/Walker/B12F3),alsobetween3May65and27October65(PlannedAircraftAssignments,Memosof3May65,22May65,and27October65,allin:UTD/Walker/B12F3+4);usedoutofVientianeundercontractAID-439-342inNovember65(Aircraftstatusasof1Nov.
65,in:UTD/Kirkpatrick/B1F1),on8April66(Aircraftstatusasof8April66,in:UTD/Kirkpatrick/B1F1),on4May66(Aircraftstatusasof4May66,in:UTD/Hickler/B1F2),on1May68(Aircraftstatusasof1May68,in:UTD/Herd/B2),andstillon15August69(F.
O.
C.
of15Aug.
69,in:UTD/Hickler/B1F1);theUSAFAssignmentrecords(reelAVH-7)noteforthatperiod:C-7A61-2401GI(=returnedfromoutsidetheUSAF)fromCNA(=USArmy)toLOGHQ,WrightPatterson,on67120;GF/Reconciliationon67151,whichprobablymeans:transferredfromtheUSArmytotheUSAF,LogisticAirCommand,Headquarters,WrightPattersonAFB,on30April67,butadministratively,itwasdecidedon31May67tolettheaircraftwithitsuserAirAmerica;inuseoutofVientianeatleastbetween26August65and3April72;madeahardlandingatHongSa(LS-62A)inLaoson31March66(XOXOof31March66,in:UTD/Hickler/B26F16;Aircraftaccidents,in:UTD/CIA/B49F2;aphotoofthisaccidentcanbefoundintheJohnAnthonycollectionpreservedatTTU);thisistheaccidentreportedbyA.
RichforBanHongSa(LS-62A),Laos,on3April66;therewerenoinjured(LogbookofA.
Rich,in:UTD/Rich/B1);on29February67,alocalpersonwalkedintothepropelleratPS-11anddeceasedimmediately(XOXOof29Feb.
67,in:UTD/Hickler/B26F16);flewTainan-HongKong-Danang-Vientianeon4/5August68andTainan-HongKong-Danang-Vientianeon22/23June71(LogbookofL.
H.
Maxwell,in:UTD/Maxwell/B1F6;FlightcrewmembermonthlymovementreportofA.
J.
Zarkos,in:UTD/Zarkos/B1F8;andLogbookofR.
L.
Wofford,in:UTD/Wofford[Sm.
C.
6]);photoinUTD/Hickler/B28;aphotoofanunknownaccident,wheretherearbellyof"401"wasseverelydamaged,canbeseeninUTD/Hickler/B32;rapidlylostaltitudeandundershottherunwayatSamThong(LS-20),Laos,on20November67,damagingtheleftmainlandinggear,theleftpropandwingandthebelly(XOXOof20Nov.
67,in:UTD/Hickler/B25F8;Accidentreport,in:UTD/Hickler/B24F3;MinutesExCom-AACL/AAMof28Nov.
67,in:UTD/CIA/B8F2);repaired;basedatVientiane16-30June69(F.
O.
C.
of15June69,in:UTD/Hickler/B8F7B);on1September69,emptybutanebottlesandsealdrumsfellfromtheaircraftduringtake-offfromSamThong(LS-20);thePIChadappliedtake-offpower,whiletheAFDwasstillinprocessoftyingdownpallets(XOXOof1Sept.
69,in:UTD/Hickler/B25F9);receivedextensivebattledamagetotheleftmainlandinggear,wingskin,nacelleandfuselageinLaoson28December69;repairedandreturnedtoserviceon6January70(MinutesExCom-AACL/AAMof6Jan.
70,in:UTD/CIA/B8F4);intheAirAmericadocumentary;currenton1July70(Leary,TheaircraftofAirAmerica,p.
20);currenton3August70(Aircrafttime,in:UTD/CIA/B29F4);on5September70,"401"wasorderedbythePakse-customertoevaluateanunnumberedsiteinthePakse(L-11)areaforC-7Aoperations,landedthere,butendedupinthemud;later,itwaspulledoutandrepaired(XOXOof5Sept.
70,in:UTD/Hickler/B25F10);atBangkokon16December70,atLongTieng(LS-20A),Laos,in71(photoinUTD/R.
E.
Stuart[Sm.
Coll.
5]);allsilver;basedatVientiane1-30July71(F.
O.
C.
of1July71,15July71,in:UTD/Hickler/B8F7B);damagedbygroundfireoverLaoson10December71,whilemakingadrop,damagingtheleftwingandthefuelcell;repaired(MinutesExCom-AACL/AAMof11Jan.
72,in:UTD/CIA/B9F7);seenatHongKongon24March72withAirAmericatitles(AviationLetter66,May72,p.
4);;atUdornon6April72;currenton7July72(Airframetimereport,in:UTD/CIA/B29F9).
Fate:shotdownatcoordinatesXC485330nearSaravane(L-44),Laos,on23November72duringapara-dropmission,killingthePIC,CaptainJohnM.
Bannerman,FirstOfficerCharlesJ.
McCarthy,aswellasAirFreightDispatchersB.
SomchaiandSuthiChimpaibul;theaircrafthadbeenonascheduledflightfromPakse(L-11)toaforwarddropzoneandreturn,operatingundertheprovisionsofContractF04606-71-C-0002(XOXOof23November72,in:UTD/Hickler/B27F2;Accidentreport,in:UTD/CIA/B61F14;BoardofReviewreportdated19January73,in:UTD/CIA/B34F5;Memorial;UTD/Leary/B1for23Nov.
72;Memorialfile,in:UTD/LaShomb/B16F3).
DHCC-7ACaribou"404"6764USArmy61-2404Servicehistory:receivedafter1April64;usedoutofVientianeonUSAIDcontractAID-439-342(AAMaircraftavailabilityof1April64,in:UTD/Kirkpatrick/B8F4;Aircraftstatusasof7July64,in:UTD/Kirkpatrick/B1F1);Fate:ferriedVientiane-Udornon5June64(LogbookofEdEckholdt,in:UTD/Leary/B6F12);returnedtotheUSArmyas61-2404on5June64(Aircraftstatusasof7July64,in:UTD/Kirkpatrick/B1F1);became61-2404withtheUSAFon1January67;transferredtotheSouthVietnamAFasonDHCC-7ACaribou"443"375June64USArmy60-5443Servicehistory:receivedon5June64;usedoutofVientianeundercontractAID-439-342(Aircraftstatusasof7July64,in:UTD/Kirkpatrick/B1F1);flownbyEdEckholdtseveraltimesbetween12June64and25August64(LogbookofEdEckholdt,in:UTD/Leary/B6F12);flownbyRichardCraftsoutofVientianeon3,4,5,16,and21Julyaswellasseveraltimesbetween8and22August64(LogbookofR.
Crafts,in:UTD/Leary/B44F6);pilotedbyFredWalker,"443"coordinatedtheT-28attacknearroute42northofLS-21/95atthesoutheastcornerofthePlainofJars,Laos,on18August64andtherescueofAirAmericapilotWilliamA.
ZeitlerwhohadbeenshotdownthereinUH-34DH-19(UTD/Leary/B1for18Aug.
64);seeninthemid60scamouflaged,butwithoutaradarnose,photoinUTD/Hickler/B32.
FatereturnedtotheUSArmyas60-5443before1November65(Aircraftstatusasof1Nov.
65,in:UTD/Kirkpatrick/B1F1);became60-5443withtheUSAFon1Jan.
67;transferredtotheUSArmy,KwajaleinMissileRangein;storedsince1986;del.
exKwajaleintoDarrylGreenameyer,Oakland,CA,asN9016Lon6February87;regd.
inFeb.
87;arrivedatOaklandon8Feb.
87;seenthereon18Feb.
87;regdtoGilbertP.
Mose,Calabasas,CA,inFebruary88;regd.
toDeutscheAviation,Tulsa,OK,inJuly88;regd.
toFowlerAeronauticalService,VanNuys,CA,inDecember88;atVanNuys,CA,on1Jan.
89;operatedbyChieftainAir,Lanseria,SouthAfrica,in1989;returnedtoFowlerAeronauticalService,VanNuys,CA,on29Jan.
90;wasatVanNuyson6Sept.
90formaintenance;soldtoNewcalAviationInc,LittleFerry,NJ,in;soldtoPenTurboAviationInc.
,RioGrande,NJ,on7November94;regd.
on20Dec.
94;ownercurrentin1995;storedatCapeMay,NJ,on29Oct.
94andon4March95;reregisteredasN90162toPenTurboAviationInc.
,RioGrande,NJ,in95;atCapeMayCountyAirport,NJ,on21September95;stillthereon26Jan.
99asN9016L(AviationLetter,no.
387,p.
43);currentwithPenTurboAviationInc.
,RioGrande,NJ,asN9016LinMarch2004(requestsubmittedtotheFAAon13March2004athttp://162.
58.
35.
241/acdatabase/).
3)Caribousbailedin1965:DHCC-7ACaribou"430"2065USArmy60-5430Servicehistory:aslideinUTD/Wiren/B2,probablytakenintheearly60ies,shows"430"indarkcolors;flownbyRichardB.
CraftsfromUdorntoVientianeon25February65(LogbookofRichardB.
Crafts,at:UTD/Leary/B44F6);andbyEdEckholdtVientiane-Udorn("ferry")on27February65(LogbookofEdEckholdt,in:UTD/Leary/B44F13);basedatVientianeinApril65(AircraftlistofApril65,in:UTD/Walker/B12F3),alsobetween3May65and27October65(PlannedAircraftAssignments,Memosof3May65,22May65,and27October65,allin:UTD/Walker/B12F3+4);flownbyJoeHazenon4April1965andon18April1965(e-mailsdated9Januaryand20February2005kindlysenttotheauthorbyJoeHazen);on23July65,EdEckholdtflewthe"MilkRunSouth"in"430"(LogbookofEdEckholdt,in:UTD/Leary/B44F13);usedoutofVientianeundercontractAID-439-342inNovember65(Aircraftstatusasof1Nov.
65,in:UTD/Kirkpatrick/B1F1),on8April66(Aircraftstatusasof8April66,in:UTD/Kirkpatrick/B1F1),on4May66(Aircraftstatusasof4May66,in:UTD/Hickler/B1F2),on1May68(Aircraftstatusasof1May68,in:UTD/Herd/B2),andstillon15August69(F.
O.
C.
of15Aug.
69,in:UTD/Hickler/B1F1);theUSAFAssignmentrecords(reelAVH-7)noteforthatperiod:C-7A60-5430GI(=returnedfromoutsidetheUSAF)fromCNA(=USArmy)toLOGHQ,WrightPatterson,on67120;GF/Reconciliationon67151,whichprobablymeans:transferredfromtheUSArmytotheUSAF,LogisticAirCommand,Headquarters,WrightPattersonAFB,on30April67,butadministratively,itwasdecidedon31May67tolettheaircraftwithitsuserAirAmerica;inuseoutofVientianeatleastbetween29August65and14February72;on1January66JoeHazenferried"430"Vientiane-Danang-HongKong-Tainanandthenbackthesamewayon9January66(E-mailsdated31December2004and1January2005kindlysenttotheauthorbyJoeHazen);on22July67,"430"taxiedintoC-46B-138atVientiane;therewasonlylightdamagewhichwaseasilyrepaired(XOXOof22July67,in:UTD/Hickler/B27F1);therightmainlandinggearwasdamagedonlandingatNaKhang(LS-36)on31August67;repaired(XOXOof31Aug.
67,in:UTD/Hickler/B27F1;MinutesExCom-AACL/AAMof12Sept.
67,in:UTD/CIA/B8F2);losttherighthandaileronduringfinalapproachtoLongTieng(LS-20A)on19May69,butlandedsuccessfully,damagingtheaileron;theaircrafthadbeenflownbyPICJ.
W.
Russell,F/OJ.
W.
Hitner,AFDRussada,andAFDSomporn;repairedandreturnedtoserviceon22May69(XOXOof19May69,in:UTD/Hickler/B25F9;MinutesExCom-AACL/AAMof27May69,in:UTD/CIA/B8F3);wasatTainanformaintenanceinJune69;returnedtoserviceon22June69;currenton1July70(Leary,TheaircraftofAirAmerica,p.
20);currenton3Aug.
70(Aircrafttime,in:UTD/CIA/B29F4);flewTainan-HongKongVientianeon4Nov.
70(LogbookofL.
H.
Maxwell,in:UTD/Maxwell/B1F6;UTD/Wharton/B1F2,andLogbookofR.
L.
Wofford,in:UTD/Wofford[Sm.
C.
6]);stillassignedtocontractAID-439-342foruseoutofVientiane1-30July71(F.
O.
C.
sof1July71and15July71,in:UTD/Hickler/B8F7B);damagedbygroundfireoverLaoson10December71,whilemakingadrop,damagingtherightwingandthefuselage;repaired(MinutesExCom-AACL/AAMof11Jan.
72,in:UTD/CIA/B9F7);thewingsandthefuselageweredamagedbygroundfireoverLaoson24March72;repairedandreturnedtoserviceon27March72(MinutesExCom-AACL/AAMof14April72,in:UTD/CIA/B9F7);currenton7July72(Airframetimereport,in:UTD/CIA/B29F9)andinDecember72(Airframetimereport,in:UTD/CIA/B32F1);maintainedbyAirAmericaVientianeatleaston1January73,1March73,1July73,and1August73(Assigned,maintainedaircraft,in:UTD/CIA/B32F1and/B31F10);receivedbattledamageoverLaoson10March73;repaired(AccidentnotetotheUSAF,dated12March73,in:UTD/CIA/B32F1);atBangkokforIRAN26March-27May73,butassignedtoVientianeundercontractF04606-71-C-0002between16Apriland1May73(F.
O.
C.
of16April73,in:UTD/Kaufman/B1F14);inuseoutofUdornundercontractF04606-71-C-0002atleast1Nov.
-31Dec.
73,1-28Feb.
74(F.
O.
C.
of1Feb.
74,in:UTD/CIA/B51F1),and1April-31May74(F.
O.
C.
of1Nov.
73,1Dec.
73,1April74,and1May74,in:UTD/Hickler/B8F7C);aphotoof"430"canbefoundintheJohnAnthonycollectionpreservedatTTU(no.
VA031026).
Fate:probablyreturnedtotheUSAFinJune74;to0-05430ofUSArmy/MissouriAirNationalGuard,Springfield,AviationClassificationRepairActivityDepot(AVCRAD),in75/6;activeinAugust90;soldtotheNationalMuseumofNavalAviation,Pensacola,FL,asN6154Z,on4December92;currentin1995;notregisteredinMarch2004(requestsubmittedtotheFAAon13March2004athttp://162.
58.
35.
241/acdatabase/).
4)Caribousbailedin1966:DHCC-7ACaribou"750"20766USArmy63-9750Servicehistory:notyetcurrenton4May66(Aircraftstatusasof4May66,in:UTD/Hickler/B1F2);mentionedintheVientianeFlightCrewManninglistofOctober66(in:UTD/Leary/B56F1);usedon1,2,and3May67totrainAirAmericapilotsDieckman,Rogers,andOlsen(Memoof3June67,MFD-VTEtoDFD,reTrainingFlightTimeRecordforMay67,in:UTD/Walker/B11F3).
Fate:nolongercurrenton1May68(Aircraftstatusasof1May68,in:UTD/Herd/B2);probablyreturnedtotheUSArmyorUSAFin19675)Caribousbailedin1968:DHCC-7ACaribou"193"13868USAF62-4193;pre-viouslywiththeUSArmyServicehistory:flownon23February68Vientiane-Udorn-MoungCha-LongTiengandthenoutofLongTiengasdirectedbyASB-044(believedtobetheCIA)beforereturningtoVientianethesameday(VientianeDailyFlightSchedulefor23February68,in:UTD/Walker/B13F3);flownonAirAmericaservicebyAllenRichon3March68andon8March68(LogbookofA.
Rich,in:UTD/Rich/B1F1).
Fate:notcurrenton1May68(Aircraftstatusasof1May68,in:UTD/Herd/B2);probablyreturnedtotheUSAFin68as62-4193/KA;preservedattheUSAFmuseumatWrightPattersonAFB,Dayton,OH,sinceNov.
886)Caribousbailedin1969:Caribou"583"atWattayAirportin1969(withkindpermissionfromDanGamelin)DHCC-7ACaribou"583"144June69USAF62-12583Servicehistory:atSaigonon1December68,whenstillwiththeUSAF(CrewmemberdutyreportofH.
F.
Miller,in:UTD/Miller/B4F6);notcurrenton15June69(F.
O.
C.
of15June69,in:UTD/Hickler/B8F7B);usedbyAirAmericaoutofVientianeatleastbetween24June69and9October69(LogbookofR.
L.
Wofford,in:UTD/Wofford[Sm.
C.
6]);usedoutofVientianeundercontractAID-439-342on15August69(F.
O.
C.
of15Aug.
69,in:UTD/Hickler/B1F1);flownbyFirstOfficerJamesHitneroutofVientiane(L-08)atleaston7and8October69(AircraftFlightLogs,in:UTD/Hitner/B1F2).
Fate:returnedtotheUSAFas62-12583on15October69(ImplementationOrderdated15October69,in:UTD/Bisson/B5microfilmreelno.
29);giventotheSouthVietnamAFas"YN:622583"in;atBangkokon6January73(AviationLetter,no.
75,p.
2).
7)Caribousbailedin1970:ImplementationOrdersdated15Oct.
69,21Oct.
70,and23Feb.
72tocontractAID-439-342(allin:UTD/Bisson/B5microfilmreelno.
29)DHCC-7ACaribou"171"11027Oct.
70USAF62-4171of483TAW,CamRanhBay,toLOO,XY-service,on70296(=23Oct.
70)Servicehistory:assignedtoAirAmericaon22October70(ImplementationOrderdated21Oct.
70,in:UTD/Bisson/B5microfilmreelno.
29);arrivedatUdornforoperationundercontract342on27October70(Messagedated28Oct.
70,in:UTD/CIA/B49F2);butwasinuseoutofVientianeatleastbetween2December70and16June71(LogbookofR.
L.
Wofford,in:UTD/Wofford[Sm.
C.
6]);flewtheKingofLaosin71,displayingtheLaoemblem(photosin:AirAmericaLog,1971);madeagearuplandingatSamThong(LS-20),Laos,on19March71(XOXOof19March71,in:UTD/Hickler/B25F11;photosinUTD/Anthony/F6;aphotoofthesameaccident,butwithtitlesandserialblackedoutinDavis,AcrosstheMekong,p.
147);theaircraftwaslaterrepaired.
Fate:returnedtotheUSAFon30June71(F.
O.
C.
of1July71,in:UTD/Hickler/B8F7B);giventotheSouthVietnameseAirForceinDHCC-7ACaribou"195"14122Oct.
70USAF62-4195Servicehistory:accordingtotheUSAFAssignmentRecords(reelAVH-14),C-7A62004195of483TAW,CamRanhBay,wastransferredtoTL(useroutsidetheUSAF)on70292,thatison19October70;assignedtoAirAmericaon22October70(ImplementationOrderdated21Oct.
70,in:UTD/Bisson/B5microfilmreelno.
29);inuseoutofVientianeatleastbetween16November70and24June71(seealsoLogbookofR.
L.
Wofford,in:UTD/Wofford[Sm.
C.
6]).
Fate:returnedtotheUSAFon30June71(F.
O.
C.
of1July71,in:UTD/Hickler/B8F7B);giventotheSouthVietnameseAirForcein8)Caribousbailedin1972:DHCC-7ACaribou"439"3223Feb.
72USAF60-5439Servicehistory:assignedtoAirAmericaon23February72(ImplementationOrderdated23February72,in:UTD/Bisson/B5microfilmreelno.
29);C-7A"439"damagedPorterN152Lbyitspropwash,when"439"tookofffromPhaKhao(LS-14)on11March72(XOXOof11March72,in:UTD/Hickler/B27F2;Reportofthepilotof"439",in:UTD/CIA/B29F2);inuseoutofUdornatleastbetween29March72and9June72(LogbookofR.
L.
Wofford,in:UTD/Wofford[Sm.
C.
6];CrewmemberdutyreportofH.
F.
Miller,in:UTD/Miller/B4/F6);currentwithAirAmericaon7July72(Airframetimereport,in:UTD/CIA/B29F9).
Fate:returnedtotheUSAFin1972;notcurrentwithAirAmericainDecember72(Airframetimereport,in:UTD/CIA/B32F1).
DHCC-7ACaribou"441"3523Feb.
72USAF60-5441Servicehistory:assignedtoAirAmericaon23February72(ImplementationOrderdated23February72,in:UTD/Bisson/B5microfilmreelno.
29);thefuelcellandtheinterconnectlineintherightwingweredamagedbygroundfireoverLaosatcoordinatesTG846164nearLongTieng(LS-20A)on28March72;repairedandreturnedtoserviceon7April72(XOXOof28March72,in:UTD/Hickler/B27F2;MinutesExCom-AACL/AAMof14April72,in:UTD/CIA/B9F7);currenton7July72(Airframetimereport,in:UTD/CIA/B29F9).
Fate:returnedtotheUSAFin1972;notcurrentinDecember72(Airframetimereport,in:UTD/CIA/B32F1).
9)Caribousbailedin1973:DHCC-7ACaribou"762"13Jan.
73USAF60-3762Servicehistory:notcurrentinDecember72(Airframetimereport,in:UTD/CIA/B32F1);receivedandcurrentinJanuary73(Airframetimereport,in:UTD/CIA/B32F1);aphotoinLove,WingsofAirAmerica,p.
50,shows"762"incamouflagecolors;on2February73,"762"receivedbattledamageoverLaos;repaired(AccidentnotetotheUSAF,dated3Feb.
73,in:UTD/CIA/B32F1);maintainedbyAirAmericaVientianeatleaston1March73,1July73,and1August73(Assigned,maintainedaircraft,in:UTD/CIA/B32F1and/B31F10);inuseoutofVientianeundercontractF04606-71-C-0002atleast16April-1May73(F.
O.
C.
of16April73,in:UTD/Kaufman/B1F14);inuseoutofUdornundercontractF04606-71-C-0002atleast1Nov.
-31Dec.
73,1-28Feb.
74(F.
O.
C.
of1Feb.
74,in:UTD/CIA/B51F1),and1April-31May74(F.
O.
C.
of1Nov.
73,1Dec.
73,1April74,and1May74,in:UTD/Hickler/B8F7C).
Fate:probablyreturnedtotheUSAFinJune74;transferredtotheUSArmy/HawaiiAirNationalGuardon27July75;transferredtotheUSArmy,KwajaleinMissileRangein;storedsince86;del.
exKwajaleintoDarrylGreenameyer,Oakland,CA,asN9014Won15Feb.
87;arrivedatOaklandon18Feb.
87;soldtoGilbertP.
Mose,Calabasas,CA,inFebruary88;regd.
inFeb.
88;soldtoDeutscheAviationInc,Tulsa,OK,inJuly88;regd.
inJuly88;soldtoFowlerAeronauticalService,VanNuys,CA,inDecember88;atVanNuys,CA,on1January89;leasedtoChieftainAir,Lanseria,asN9014WinJanuary89;soldtoNewcalAviationInc,LittleFerry,NJ,on19December89;soldtoFowlerAeronauticalService,VanNuys,CA,on29January90;atTucson,AZ,on6April93;reg.
canxon2Sept.
94;soldtoGaramutExplorationServices,Vanimo,Papua-NewGuinea,inSeptember94;regd.
asP2-VTCon2Sept.
94;del.
thruCairnson13October94;photoinPropliner,no.
61,p.
8;crashedonapproachtoKiungaAirport,Papua-NewGuinea,on1July95;writtenoff.
III)USAFCaribousknowntohavebeenusedbyAirAmericapersonnel:DHCC-7ACaribou"184"126-USAF62-4184Servicehistory:usedinVietnambyH.
F.
MillerasadeadheadtoSaigonon28Nov.
68,probablystillwiththeUSAF(CrewmemberdutyreportofH.
F.
Miller,in:UTD/Miller/B4F6)Fate:notcurrenton15June69;returnedtotheUSAFas62-4184;coded"KC"withtheUSAF,atSaigonon18March71;transferredtotheUSAirForceReservein;storedatAMARC,Davis-MonthanAFB,sinceJan.
90(),storagecodeCM-008;regd.
toNewcalAviationInc,LittleFerry,NJ,asN700NC,on17Jan.
86;soldtoUnionFlights,Sacramento,CA,inJuly86;enteredserviceinDecember86;photoinPropliner,no.
32,p.
44;leasedfromAlcoholAviationFuelsInc.
;soldtoSkydiveCalifornia,LakeElsinore,CA,on28Sept.
94;atSalinas,CA,on16Oct.
94;photoinAir-BritainNews,94,p.
796;reg.
N702SCreservedin95,nottakenup;canxinJan.
96;soldtoJamesA.
Munson,Kenai,AK,asN700NC,inSeptember95;reregd.
asN702SCinDecember96,operatingasSouthCentralAirInc;wasdestroyedon30January97afterengineproblemsenroutetoKenai,AK;lastcontactwas2milesNWofSparrevohn,AK,airfield;writtenoff,whenattemptinganemergencylanding.
IV)Errorspublishedinsomeotherpublications:-TheC-7A,thatwasallegedlyshotdownenroutetoSavannakhetinFeb/Mar/Apr73,(HowardBoylesandhisco-pilotweremissing;1kickerwaskilledwhenhejumpedwithoutaparachute;theotherkickersurvived;theaircraftwasdestroyed;see:Robbins,AirAmerica,pp.
227-29)wasnotaC-7A,butC-123K"374",whichwasshotdownbygroundfire(amissile)nearThakhetEast(L-40),Laos,150milessoutheastofVientiane,on9February73,at7.
32hourslocaltime,whenenroutefromVientiane(L-08)toSavannakhet(L-39)with12,000poundsofgeneralcargo;pilotHowardH.
BoylesJr.
andhisco-pilotJackW.
Cavillaremissing;kickerPrasitChaichanawaskilledwhenhejumpedwithoutaparachute;theotherkicker,Sourinh,parachutedfromtheaircraftandsurvived(Accidentreport,in:UTD/CIA/B62F1).
-TherewasneveraDHC-4B-852,asAirAmericareceivedonlyB-851andB-853inJune62.
-TherewasneveraC-7A382,thiswasanerrorfor392.
UniversityofTexasatDallas,2003-2015