USAF C7

U.S. Air Force Caribou (C-7)
Page 1

Called operation "Red Leaf" the U.S. Army transferred 133 CV-2s to the U.S. Air Force. This was completed by December 31, 1966. The Army retained 15 aircraft for support duties.

**USAF Units assigned to the 483rd TAW in Vietnam**
UNIT	TAIL CODE	TAIL COLOR	LOCATION	ACTIVATED	DEACTIVATED
457th TAS	"KA"	Blue	Cam Ranh Bay, RVN	1/1/67	5/72
458th TAS	"KC"	Red	Cam Ranh Bay, RVN	1/1/67	3/72
459th TAS	"KE"	White	Phu Cat, RVN	1/1/67	6/70
535th TAS	"KH"	Green	Vung Tau, RVN	1/1/67	1/72
536th TAS	"KL"	Yellow	Vung Tau, RVN	1/1/67	10/71
537th TAS	"KN"	Orange	Phu Cat, RVN	1/1/67	8/71

United State Air Force Aircraft/Engine Utilization Sheet By Serial Number 1st Quarter 1967

Friendly Fire

(Click on the photo to enlarge)

This haunting photograph, which graced every Caribou briefing room, was a grim reminder that the Viet Cong and the NVA were not the only problem for pilots in Vietnam. This incident occurred in August of 1967 when the Caribou (tail number 62-4161 - c/n #99) flew into the line of fire of a 155mm howitzer. This was early in the transition of the Caribou from the Army to the Air Force and highlighted the need for far better coordination amongst the services. The aircraft was assigned to the USAF 483rdTAW/459thTAS.

This photo is from book of photographs by combat photographers called Requiem. The photo credit is as follows: HIROMICHI MINE Ha Phan (sic), Vietnam, 1967

A U.S. twin-engine transport Caribou crashes after being hit by American artillery near Duc Pho on August 3, 1967. U.S. artillery accidentally shot down the ammunition-laden plane, which crossed a firing zone while trying to land at the U.S. Special Forces camp. All three crewman died in the crash. Thanks to Peter Bird and the Caribou Association

(Click on to photo to enlarge)

>>> 61-4186 (c/n #128) with 537th TAS at Chu La in 1968. (Nick Williams - Wayne Mutza collection

<<< 61-4170 (c/n #109) landing at Hickam AFB, HI - Feb. 1969. (Nick Williams - Wayne Mutza collection)

>>> 62-4184 (c/n #126) Date & Location unknown.

<<< Aircraft number 62-4157 (c/n # 93). "KC" makes it a Red Tail from the 458th TAS. Photo taken at Dalat Cam-Ly in 1968. (Bryan Waltz)

>>>62-4170 (c/n #109) with 458th TAS. Date & Location unknown.

>>> Unknown C-7 landing in Vietnam. Date & Location unknown.

>>> Ex-Army Caribous awaiting USAF markings at Tan Son Nhut Air Base in early 1967. (R. Chendweth via Wayne Mutza collection)

<<< 62-4181 (c/n #123) and crew chief Sreve Lentz shortly before they left for corrosion control in the Philippines, May 1969. (Steve Lentz)

>>> Nickname "Big Red 2" date & location unknown.

<<< 62-4181 (c/n #123) taxiing on the ramp at Cam Ranh Bay 1969. (Steve Lentz)

>>> Caribou 63-9758 (c/n #221) (536th TAS) taxiing into 459th , Detachment A, revetment area Da Nang AFB. (Tom Finkler).

<<< Unknown Caribou in flight in Vietnam. (Rick Ransdale via Tom Koza)

>>> Caribou 63-9732 (c/n #172) in flight in Vietnam. (Rick Ransdale via Tom Koza)

Tom Finkler standing next to a Caribou showing the "Sierra Hotel - Charlie Stoppers" Stencil near the nose. Caribous that participated in airdrops at the siege of Dak Seang had this painted on them after a 'Bou named Sierra Hotel was credited with scoring one dead VC. The VC was found crushed under a pallet of cargo, which was dropped "outside the wire" at Dak Seang. (Tom Finkler)

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