Got a little nostaligic this past Veterans Day and wanted to share some 30-year old memories...

[NeoGreen]

Last edited Wed May 2, 2018, 08:42 AM - Edit history (2)

30-years ago in 1987 a group of USAF Red Horse (kind of like the Navy SeaBees, but better) personnel took a C-130 from Osan AFB Korea to Misawa AFB, Japan on a TDY to build a 75-ft x 300-ft Stress Tension Shelter (STS) in support of a FIG.

The Crew:


Long Days and Nights:




The STS was completed in 57 days, start to finish.


And it is kind of gratifying to know it is still there:




Korea: Bicyclist, Mountain and Mist


Ahhh, memories...

[Irish_Dem]

1. My father flew C-131's during the VN war, from Naha and Kadena AFBs to Da Nang.

Enjoyed looking at your pics.

The thing I remember most about the C-131 is that it was a big mother of a plane.

[NeoGreen]

2. Everyone says a 130 is big until they take a ride in a...

...C5 Galaxy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_C-5_Galaxy

[Irish_Dem]

3. Were these used in Viet Nam? I don't remember the guys flying these.

But my Dad was flying combat in the early and mid 1960's.

Crap that is a big plane.

What is that thing they are loading into the cargo bay?

[NeoGreen]

4. In service starting around 1970...

...so I'd guess not.

Big ain't the word I'd use.

I remember watching them do touch and go's... it was surreal, it made the base and runway look like a toy sized train-board.

Haven't a clue what is being loaded, looks like some squids toy boat.

[Irish_Dem]

5. That's what I thought, some sort of boat. Maybe it is a Navy Galaxy.

Don't know why the AF would be hauling Navy craft.
Especially baby boats.

Wow, I would have liked to see the Galaxy do touch and go's and fly bys.

[NeoGreen]

7. Here is a C5 unloading a C-130...

...

[Irish_Dem]

8. Holy Crap. You have to be kidding.

The C-130s were HUGE.
And it can fit into a C-5.
Look how tiny the men look standing next to it.

Why would the AF haul a C-130 around?
Is it non-operational?

In the early to mid 1960's we could not conceive of such planes.
If you had not sent me a pic I wouldn't have believed it.

[DashOneBravo]

6. Thank you NeoGreen

Those are great pictures and a very cool story. It's nice that it's still there.

Loved the picture of the guys on the steel beams.

[NeoGreen]

9. Happy to share...

...glad you enjoyed them.

Everyone took a turn on the steel.

I was the surveyor, trying to keep the whole thing straight. When not surveying I drove a dump truck, poured concrete, ran an excavator, poured concrete, set forms, poured concrete, bent rebar, poured concrete...did I mention we poured a little concrete too?

Fun fact, after the first day there were no officers, entire field project was completed by an all enlisted crew.

A one-star did stop by when we were done, but I don't remember his name.

[democrank]

10. Enjoyed your photos and learned a thing or two.

Thanks, NeoGreen.

[TEB]

11. Awesome friend thanks for sharing

[KT2000]

12. very impressive

and amazing!

[Nitram]

13. It doesn't not seem very respectful of your sister service members to start your memory with

a jab: "kind of like the Navy SeaBees, but better." Does it bother Red Horse that the SeaBees are better known?

[The Polack MSgt]

14. I did 2 tours in Misawa, it might be my favorite place on earth

Thanks for the pics.

[Skittles]

15. totally cool!

[NeoGreen]

16. At the risk of seeing comments of "hoarder" and 'packrat' I exclaim...Eureka!...I found them...

...




I was searching through my archives in the basement and found my copy of the working drawings of the 1987 project noted above.

They still have a slight whiff of ammonia.

Ahhh...memories.

[DashOneBravo]

17. Lol

In a later life. I kicked over the bottle next to the machine and cleared out half of the product engineering snobs.