The Beginning



Phu Quoc

Island Paradise

I was nervous as a cat on the ride to the in-country air terminal. Only mid morning, already 100 degrees the asphalt was soft under my feet. The packed terminal was a steaming bedlam of humanity, but at least my flight was on schedule. I'd be flying with the Royal Australian Air Force, flight 007. They called themselves "Wallaby Airlines." 

The twin engine C7a Caribou was built for short airstrips, like where I was going. Passenger seats folded down along the sides, and ran the length of the cabin.  I belted in as the back ramp shut closed. The engines revved up and we taxied to the end of the runway. After a smooth take off we climbed above sweltering Tan Son Nhut Air Base. Within minutes we got into into cooler air, my sweat soaked uniform gave a chill.

We turned south west, but it wasn't long before we landed at the first stop. This was going to be a milk run, for passengers and mail. After two more landings at increasingly remote villages, we finally left the Vietnamese mainland behind. Flying low over the Gulf of Siam's tropical blue waters, we skipped over tiny uninhabited islets along the way. 

My first sight of Phu Quoc was a low pass over spectacular white beach, and a grove of banana trees. I saw rolling hills inland, and a river cutting through the little village. My nervousness left me once I saw the island. Any apprehension was replaced by awe, and excitement. Somehow I knew this island was enchanted, I felt it at first sight. In the middle of a war, we prepared to land on a tropical jungle covered island, in the Siamese Gulf.

The pilot banked over the ocean, and I got a glimpse of the primitive airstrip. Off to one side I saw an olive drab mesh radar dish, and a few Quonset huts of matching color. My excitement again shifted to concern, this was an isolated outpost surrounded by barbed wire.

We made a turn over the water, and lined up for approach. Minutes later after a perfect landing, the crew-chief opened the ramp as the pilot taxied to the terminal. Once the ramp exit was lowered, I stepped out onto the taxi-way, lugging my bag.

Air Vietnam terminal
Phu Quoc

I knew this assignment was going to be weird when I noticed a hot pink Jeep parked in the shade next to the terminal. Sitting behind the wheel was an airman wearing dark sunglasses and a camouflaged Australian bush hat, with the brim pined up on the side. The driver waved, introducing himself as Smity. "Hop in, I'll take you to the site. Welcome to Duong Dong Air Station."


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Arrival May 1968 - May 2018 Plus Fifty Years Landing at Tan Son Nhut Air Base Saigon, Vietnam The blood red seashore was the set-up for the next shocker. After we touched down and rolled to a stop, the pilot taxied to the place we'd disembark. Everyone lined up and took the stairs single file, the long line of soldiers reached the tarmac and walked toward the terminal.  The entire twenty-four hour flight to Vietnam aboard the 707, was of course air conditioned. But as soon as we stepped outside, we immediately sweltered in 100% humidity, and 100 degree plus mid day heat. Before we got very far we all had to strop and wait for a flight line vehicle passing in front of us. The vehicle was towing several trailers, that were all neatly stacked with shiny new aluminum caskets. Each one contained the remains of a dead American soldier. That was our unofficial welcome to Vietnam. I don't know how that effected the other soldiers, but to me it was a sobering ...
Read more
Prequel to War In the winter of 1967/1968 my one year tour of duty in Alaska was winding down to the last few months. At the same time the war in Vietnam was intensifying. Up above the Arctic circle, our radar kept an eye on the USSR, and the winter dropped to 95 below zero.  Because of the remote duty, we were allowed to request where we'd like to next be assigned. Three years into my four year enlistment, I was disappointed that I'd not been sent to Vietnam. Like most airmen, I was very patriotic and we were proud to help any small country fighting to be free. It seemed like a great cause, and I didn't want to miss out on the war. When it was time to process out, in the orderly room I filled out my choice of my next assignment. On that form, I wrote in, Vietnam as my first choice. It didn't take long for my orders to arrive. The reassignment orders read, Detachment 1, 619th Tactical Control Squadron, Unknown existence, APO 96236, Republic of South Vietnam....
Read more