Milairjunkie wrote: |
Got in (all) in one; On to You. |
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That one was in my wheelhouse, a favorite story, although it ended in death.
May 6, 1954 CAT (Civil Air Transport) is operating air drops in support of the beseiged French garrison at Dien Bien Phu. Aircraft 149 in French markings is flown by James McGovern, a good old boy and adventure pilot nicknamed Earthquake Mcgoon, after the Li'l Abner character, and copilot Wallace Buford. Three other kickers are the crew, the mission is to drop a 105 on one of the artillery positions. Hit by ground fire, they make it to near the Laotian border where they crash and all but one crewman die.
Buford and McGovern were the first US airmen lost in that conflict.
http://jeffbass.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=portfolio.viewItem&item_id=136&cat_id=21
The new Italeri C-119 release has the correct markings, including USAF in slightly darker red than the then standard outer wing colors, as though painted over. Not 149, but that's easy.
Here's my ?
Wuddat? Hint, the windscreen is a bit unusual.