18th Aviation Company Otter Nest

I was with the 18th from 10/67 until 8/69.  I was a crew chief on 209 and also the company clerk for most of the time from Womack-Luckenbill-Thacker.   I sent Ed Wallace the unit histories from 67 and 68 so you can get them from him.  I also have pictures and actually the downed 691 photo. 

I have a whole bunch of photos (slides mostly) of the 18th including group photos of the company when Lt. Col Thacker was CO. All I gotta do is figure out how to transfer them to a cd or something. I also have the unit histories from '68 and (I think), '69. I was with the 18th from Apr. '68 to Mar. '70 in the operations section at Qui Nhon.

great site Jim keep up the good work

Just for the record, the photos in the Jim "Bill" Woodward 339th album were taken by both Garth Breckon of the 339th and me. Thanks, J. Bill Woodward

Jim

Good Job!  I was stationed with the 18th Aviation in Feb69 to Feb70. I was the senior airframe repairman in the trailer outside the hanger. I was there when Sgt Jesse Hackenburg had the maintenance crews with Benny Garrett under the direction of Staff Sgt Chevalier under the command of Maj William S Bloesma. Thir was in theupper bunk and Doug Nicholson and I were in AIT together. I took over for Jerry Cravens and Bill Elkins.  I spent my last three months in Pleiku as a crewchief on Aircraft 55-3311 under Sgt Heycoup Grovers old airplane. I noticed in one the the group pictures Bill Estabrooks another crew chief from Nha Trang. Bill used to pylon race before active duty. In additionJohn Ortiz (Hey Harry) was an Indian from Arizona. Jim Hunting below was from Utah and in the original 256th detachment. Good to know your still around Jim. I aw Bill Coak and james Haycraft in the pictures.

All My best to them. Currently living in Pagosa Springs Colorado managing a Bed and Breakfast Elkwoodmanor.com.

Thanks Daniel Gonzales

Hi Jim nice website .  I was stationed at Vung Tau VN 1963-64 with the 61st AVN Co. under Maj Marcus Coyle.  My job was 053.10 radio-teletype operator, operating a ANGRC/47 teletype van skid -mounted behind operations.  Loved the caribou and the otter planes, unit worked great under fantastic leadership.  Any and all emails greatly appreciated.  Thanks.  Charlie Dimon

aug 68 / 69 256th

Commanded the 18th Avn. Co, Circa 1965-66. We had  the

best Kareoka (sic) singers in Vietnam, Via the cockpit club.

The best outfit and best bunch of guys you could ever want

to serve with. God bless those still with us and those gone before.

 Mr Stover send me your email so that you can be added to the site.  Getting ready to post unithistory from64-70 If you got pictures send them of the 18th Hopefull of aircraft tail no's and billetsThanks

Thank you very much for what you did for our country!!!  Awsome site!

Great web site! I am the oldest daughter of Russell W Edwards, born when he was in Korea. I love seeing history like this.

Never assigned to the 18th.  Retired in 82nd aviation bn. flight school 56-11,   Stationed at hue Citidal 1966.  and 11th trans at nelligen in 1960-  1963.

Great job with your web site.  Lots of hard work but worth it.   best of luck to all.. Ted

You need to include the 339th Tran Co. and their co Capt Alwine.

that was the maintenance Co. that went orver with us on the USNS Core.;

I was a crewchief in the 18th Aviation Company late 1962 to late 1963. Was on 58 1706 when it went down. 

Last pilot assigned to unit before leaving for Viet Nam 1962

Great job on the site was with the 18Th from 65 to 66 . Keep up the good work.

I was an Army Aviator in the 18th from June 63 to June 64. Will provide more info and photos in the future. Thanks for developing an 18th web site.

Best Regards,

Ed

In Nov 1958 I reenlisted for the Avn Bn then at Ft Ord. It's one of those "Who knows who" things. My boss in Mexico rotated to Ord. My enlistment ended and I wanted OUT. I did but old Cpt Hopkins was rotated to Ft Ord. We remained in almost daily contact. His plan was I reenlist before the 90 day keep your rank (E-5) would expire. Hoppy said if I reenlisted for Ft Ord I would be assigned to the Avn Bn and further the new Otter company recently assigned there. Seems the incoming Bn Cdr was an old Korean war buddy of Hoppy’s. He would put in a good word or two for me with the new Cdr and my application for OCS would be approved without delay. Remember the old and GREAT Army? Frankly, I don’t remember the Otter unit designation but it was in 1958. That was an experience since I was one of 2 or 3 Crew Chiefs that could spell “Otter”! I was fortunate in that I was sent early to a great DeHaviland course on the Otter. It was a piece of cake, vacation since I had over 1 year OJT on the Otter and Beaver while in Mexico. I crewed L-19, Beaver and Otter (at the same time) while in Mexico on the IAGS mapping project. In fact for a short time I was the ONLY Crew Chief/mechanic on the Mexico Project. I had no school training on anything other than the Birddog. Anyway, I did all Hoppy wanted me to do and all went exactly as he planned. I was ordered to Inf. OCS . However, departing the Otter company then at Ord was my last ride in an Otter I didn’t get to Flight School until 1963. That was 3 years after being commissioned. Upon graduation from Flight School I was assigned to a Caribou company, as a Cpt. Pissed off a few senior Cpt’s and Maj’s in the company. I was one of the first to go to Caribou transition. So I got a tour in VN with the 134tth Avn in the Delta. For my second tour I flew the Volkswagen of Army Aviation…the Quiet Airplane. Going from Caribou to the QT was like Caddy to a VW. Anyway I still have a soft spot in my flying heart for the Otter.  I could have becoime shark meat in an Otter which ran out of oil!!!! We were beyond the point of no return between Ensanada, Mexico and the main land of Mexico.  That's another story.  Got to hgo now O know I have taken too much of your time.  If you could give me the designation of the Otter company at Ft Ord in 1958-59 I'd asppreciate much. 

I’d like to compliment you on your web site….well done, attractive and attention maintainer.

Take care and God bless you and yours.

Andy

P.S.

I noted Frank Jones comment concerning flying at night in Nam. The 134th out of CanTho flew likely no more than 2 night missions because it was just too hazardous for several reasons. However, that is all we flew in the Quiet (QT) airplane. But the difference is the “mission”. Alone out there at midnight plus or minus an hour the pucker factor was high. Flying in the mission area at 800-1,000 at around 60 MPH tended to keep your head on a swivel. We were out looking for trouble unlike most other fixed wing aircraft. Additionally, the QT had a special paint which was designed to defeat radar. Not real cool if you hope to get radar tracking and /or help. I proved that. For whatever crazy reason the AF could not paint me but the Army, 72d ATC did, thank God.

Good work, look forward to more stuff.

GOOD WORK GUY'S, THE SITE LOOKS GREAT! LOOKING FORWARD FOR MORE PHOTOS

Was with the 18th Apr. 63-Apr.64.  Remembered that we did not fly at night because of lack of flight following and navigational sites.  Did fly one mission from Plieku to Nha Trang with CWO Bill Walton.  It was med evac of an AF EM because of ruptured appendix.  The crew chief announced to us that the patient was cold and we told him to unwrap one of the 'chutes and wrap him up.  It worked.  Got chewed out because we had to ship parachutes to the Phillipines for repack !!  Big Deal---- Am about to explore your site.

LTC (Ret) Frank Jones

P.S.  I volunteered for Vietnam to "get it over with" and to get out of the 101st ABN.

I just heard that my Oma, Inge Gordy was contacted by a member of the 18th in regards to my Opa, Alvin Gordy. Even though he is gone, I am still proud of everything that he had accomplished and I am learning a lot, just like my mother Rose Gordy Pitts is as well.

I also want to say thank you for contacting my family.

I just wanted to say thank you for getting in touch with our family. As my brother Paul Gordy told you in his message our dad Alvin has passed, That call my mom got brought back ALOT OF OLD MEMORIES! I was only 4 years old when dad went overseas. i am now learning alot of what went on in that day and time. Once again i say thank you for all that everyone has done who served with my father and those who serve and protect us today.  

To all of those who served our country my family salutes you.  On a sad note, my father Alvin Gordy, member of The 18th Aviation Company passed away in June of 1998.

Thanks Jim,

Appreciate your call informing me of the web site. Good Job! Will try to find

some pictures' I believe i can find some names that are not on your roster.

Keep up the good work. Excellent web site

                                                                                   Bill Salyers

I returned from Korea late in 1959 and joined the "new" 18th Avn. Co. at Fort Riley.  I left active duty in December 1960 only to be recalled to active duty in 1961.  I lost track of most of the people I served with at Fort Riley, but remember some of the names.  I was a spec 5 and worked mostly in the orderly room during my time there although I had the MOS of FW mechanic.  I knew an number of the pilots, Officers and Warrant Officers because I worked many evenings as a bartender in the Cockpit Club at Marshall Field.

I was assigned to the 18th when it departed Ft Riley for VN and served with it from Aug 61 until Dec 19, 1962.  My name in the roster fails to show my rank at the time which was an O2.  The email address shown for me is incorrect in that my last name is misspelled.  The experience we gained in this aircraft was superb and made flying the Caribou a breeze.  My last flights in the U1A was at Fort Rucker as a Standards Pilot.  A great aircraft and a great group of guys we flew with during VN. 

Jim,

Good talking to you last night.  I was in country from May of 1968 to May 1969 was also 256th Trans Det. untill it was disbanned.  Will study web site in more detail later.  what i see so for looks real good.

Jim,

This is a great beginning for the web-site.  All of my photos were 35mm slides which are in storage.  When I get a chance I'll locate them and explore the conversion process.  I believe I do have photos of the 18th move.

You've done a very professional job, Jim. I'll go thru my photos soon and will let you know what I find. Best wishes!  J  

Hi guys i was in the 18th back in March 1969 i am wondering what its like now