C-7A Caribou – Air Mobility Command Museum (2024)

Most frightening flight I ever had was on a C7A. I was Navy and arrived in Saigon in August 1971. Was at MACV Annex a couple of days getting equipped then to Tan Son Hut for flight to Bien Thuy, near Can Tho. Plane was carrying some equipment and there were 3 of us sailors on board. We sat on seats attached to sides of plane and cargo nets were hung ceiling to floor. We encountered a monsoon and it was like riding a bucking bronco. We would drop altitude suddenly and then regain it then repeat over and over. The aircraft was rolling side-to-side so one moment you’d be looking down at the seats on the other side then you’d be looking up at the same seats. It seemed like an eternity before we landed and when I looked out the window behind me I saw crabs crawling on the airstrip metal plates, there was so much water they had no problem doing it. I think the air crew was all Army but I was in total awe of their flying ability and the versatility of the C7A.

Saw one that from touchdown to complete stop in 75’

My late Father was a pilot at Cam Ranh Bay for many years during Viet Nam, and we have many pictures of the pilots there at the time. He was (then) Captain William D Smith, and retired a Lt. Col. Does anyone know who the pilots were for this plane???

My late father, Lt. Col. Merten Meader was a C-7 AF pilot in Cam Rahn Bay I believe 69-70. If anyone remembers him I wonder if you could tell me what division he was in and if you have any memories to share. Thank you.
‘Beth

Just looked it up, my Caribou flight was early Jan 67 when my step-father died, and I was sent home to be with my mother for a while. And if I remember right it still had Army markings but a mix of Army and Air Force crew so maybe it was a transition training flight for the turn-over.

I may have flown on that bird. I was in Qui Nhon Dec 66 to Jan 69 and on one of my four flights out of country during that period I was on a Caribou to Cam Rahn to a flight to Japan for R&R or the states for one compassionate leave (Step-Father died) and two special leaves home when I extended my tour by 6 months. I don’t remember which of those flights started on a Caribou from Qui Nhon to Cam Rahn.
When I first arrived in Vietnam the Caribous were Army, then they were transferred to the Air Force and here I see at least some went back to the Army later.

My grandfather died before I was born and all I have of him is a zippo with his name, John Sandy, Cam Rahn Bay, Vietnam 68-69, TAW Caribou. If anyone know anything that would be cool.

I am looking for anyone who may have served with my grandfather Allan (Gus) Gustafson. He was a loadmaster on one of these aircraft and did 2 tours in Vietnam.

While stationed at Clark Air Base, Philippines 1969-70, I served in the 405th Fighter Wings’ 509th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron as the crew chief of an F-102a. I also served in the 523rd Tactical Fighter Squadron as the crew chief of an F-4d Phantom after the 509th disbanded. Both squadrons sent detachments in-country to Tainan Air Base, Taiwan, as well as to TDY stations in Thailand, etc. At the 523rd’s 24-7 Quick Reaction Alert “Hot Pad” in Taiwan, my Phantom was one-of-two armed with a 340 Kiloton B-61 Nuke, on five-minute alert. While serving at the 509th FIS QRA site, called Detachment-2, we were very close to the 523rd Hot Pad. We worked 16-hour days, without a hanger, very close to the end of the runway, which teamed with airplanes stacked up, coming and going. We patrolled Taiwan’s air space with two flights of two F-102’s daily, and we kept four more Deuces on five-minute and 15-minute alerts, keeping the MiGs away.
One day fog blanketed the land, grounding all aircraft. It was an excellent time to take a needed break, so another crew chief and I left our flight line for a stroll towards the end of the runway. There, we heard the rumbling roar of a sizeable prop-driven aircraft, but we could not see it. Even the direction it approached from was confusing. Suddenly, a wing-tip dipped out of the fog, nearly scraping the tarmac, coming at as fast, but at a right angle to the runway. We hit the deck, and the wingtip narrowly passed right over. If standing, the Grim Reaper’s Seigh would have taken us out. The prop wash dispersed the trailing fog, and then we saw a C-7 Caribou with gear down, the skilled pilot making a radical left bank maneuver. The wheels touched down just as the wings went horizontal; then, the Caribou immediately disappeared into the fog. I want to contact anyone serving at the 523rd’s QRA Hot Pad or in the 509th Fis Squadron, circa 1968-1971. We pulled our Nukes out of Taiwan a few days ahead of President Nixon’s 1972 visit with Chairman Mao,

If I understand this article, that this was the only Caribou at Cam Rahn Bay, then this plane took me and others to our duty station at An Khe in March 1969. It was noisy but made the trip.

My name is Jim Biggie. I was a crew chief in the 493rd at Cam Rahn. About 1970. Looking for anyone that worked with me. 4408th CCTS C123k at Lockbourne AFB before that.

I ran into an old vet, Caribou crew member the other day said he was in a flight of 21 Caribou that flew from the US to Vietnam in the early sixties. Wish I’d had more time and wish I’d gotten his contact info. What he told me was a fascinating story and I’d like to hear more. This sounds like it could be a good book or at least a good story for the VVA Veteran Mag or Vietnam Magazine.
I am a Vietnam vet with two tours. Love hearing fellow vets stories.

My brother, LTC Edward F. Stipech (then a Major) was one of the last company commanders of an Army Caribou company and trained Air Force pilots when they took over the aircraft in 1967. There was a big battle over this A/C in the halls of the Pentagon in 1966 as the Air Force had it’s nose out of joint because the Army was flying missions with this A/C which the Air Force said they should be flying. The agreement that resulted was that the Army would give up the Caribou but would have unlimited/unrestricted use of helicopters. As history records, the Army made the most of that agreement made the helicopter role into what it is today.

I was an Aircraft airframe repairman, AFSC 53450 ,Airman A1C ,and was assigned to the 483rd attached to the 535th and 536th TAC ALFT SQDN’s at VUNG TAU and worked those most all of the C-7A’s that were attached. Fixed mostly ground fire damage and cargo doors and related structures due to Pallet extractions. I was assigned to VUNG TAU from Dec 1966 to Aug 1967.

I was a dispatcher for the 457th TAS, from Nov 69 to mid 1970. Transferred to 483rd TAW til Nov 70. Was tdy to Can Tho for a month in early 70. Flew several times on the C-7 ” Blue Tails” as an acm, Loved the airplane. Not sure if I ever flew on 63-9760. Visited the museum and 9760 a few years ago. What a beautiful restoration.

SGT Ray Milligan ACFT Mechanic , Phu-cat C-7’s, 70-71

I was a SSgt stationed at Cam Rahn Bay AB, Vietnam from October 66 to September 67. I was one of the four original enlisted sent from the 6252 Operations Sq, Tan Son Nhut AB Vietnam (holding squadron for personnel arriving for follow on assignment to man the new wing and squadrons when the AF took possession of the C7A from the US Army on January 1, 1967) to Cam Rahn to occupy the new headquarters building. The first Commander of the 483TCW was Colonel Paul Mascot and the Vice Commander was Ralph Bullock. I spent my tour providing direct admin support to both the commander and vice commander.

I was in the 483 from Jan thru dec 68. Does anybody remember a C7A coming in with only the front wheel down, the pilot managed to land the plane with only small damage to the plane. If it wasn’t for Tet it would have been great duty.

While stationed in Dau Tieng in early 1967, I was performing my MP duties guarding our very short secondary airstrip when a Caribou landed in strong headwind in about 30 feet touch to stop. I was amazed. It was from then on my favorite aircraft.

My father Capt John C. Shield flew this plane in Cam Rahn Bay 69-70. I just found two letters that he had written to my sister and I when he was in Vietnam! We are planning on taking dad to the museum in Dover on Saturday October 12, 2019.

My late father was a radio technician with the Royal Australian Air Force, RAAF Transport Flight Vietnam (RTFV) flying DHC-4 (C-7) Caribou from Vung Tau in 1964-65.
I have a newspaper clipping of him discussing avionics repairs with a Sergeant Charles Ford of the U.S. Army

My best friend put the spark plugs in the last Caribou at Camron Bay to be flown to a museum in Ohio, we were supposed to go visit that on our bucket list but he passed away , his name was Robbie Robberson served 1968 1969 United states air force hoping somebody knows what museum Caribou flew to

My Dad was in the Air Force 64′-68′ and was assigned to the base at An Khe (437th TCS) to facilitate the transfer of the caribous from the Army to the Air Force. He was there Fall of 66′-winter 67′.
I’ve got pictures of one of the planes he was in. They had to make a belly landing when the landing gear malfunctioned. Nose number 170

My first jumpmaster duty after the jm course was a C-7 about 1979. I was with 10SFG out of Ft Devens. A wing or squadron of NG C7 pilots needed airborne missions so we were busy putting a few troopers into dropzones in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.
It was a pretty good experience for my first time jumpmastering.

I was on a “Caribou” for a flight from an airbase somewhere near Fort Myer, VA where I was stationed, to Fort Bragg , North Carolina. I was a member of an Army dance band that was being flown to play at an officer’s club for some special occasion. On the return trip, I was not feeling very well and I knew I was going to be airsick, so I asked the co-pilot, who was looking out the side windows to check on the engines, where the airsickness bags were located. The band was split between two planes and his reply was that all of the airsickness bags were all on the other plane. I told him that he’d better find something for me really quick or he’d have a mess to clean up later. A minute later I saw him walk from the co*ckpit through the plane carrying a 2 pound coffee can filled with cigarette butts. He calmly walked to the rear, opened up the “jump ramp” enough that he could dump the can’s contents into the slipstream and then handed the can to me —- JUST in time ! The plane ride was so rough that I kept banging the bridge of my nose on its edge and it was sore for days ! One of my friends, an alto sax player, told me a few days later that the only thing that kept him from being as airsick as I was was the fact that I had the ONLY coffee can !! Those were the days !!!

I got to Cam Ranh July 67 to 68. Started in docks then got transfered to Red Tail 458. It was my first base out of school. It was a easy plane to maintain . The only job I hated was changing that deicer boot on wing. Must have been half a million screws holding it on.

Was part of the crew that got the caribous ready for check flights FCF after coming out of the docks at Cam Ranh 70-71. Worked under CMSGT Brady, great man. Also did TDY in Can Tho. Great plane but hated working on those aug-tubes.

I was a loadmaster at Cam Ranh Bay in 1969. I left Dec 24 and was discharged.

In Fall 1967, I remember reading a Stars and Stripes article about a C-7A clipping the top of a tree during a short field takeoff, and flying back to Saigon with the tree stuck in his right wing. Anybody remember that?

I qualified as a jumpmaster on a C7A out of Maxwell AFB in 1982. Aircraft was assigned to the 20th SFGA at this time.

My father, Lt Col Merten L Meader also flew the C7 out of Cam Ranh Bay in 70/71. If anyone remembers him I’d love to hear from you. He only told me two stories about flying. One was while he was flying he had his arm out the window and was looking down and saw a man in black pajamas. The man stated to shoot so he got out of there. The other story made him upset because he was on a mission with supplies for the troops. But when they got there, there was no sign of them. He circled and continued to look but never found them. He never knew what happened. My mother, brother and I accompanied him to his flight training in Abilene, TX. Thank you to all for your service.

I was involved in an Army (QM petrolum unit from Ft Campbell,Ky)-Air Force competive test at the Donaldson Air Force Base, Greenville, SC in 1963. At that time the Caribou was a Army unit & it was our understanding the test was with an Air Force competive type unit.

I flew as Aircraft Commander on 63-9760 on a TDY assignment in Sept 10-12 out of Bien Hoa then back to Cam Ranh Bay AB on the 12th. On one of those short hops I was on my way to Can Tho flying low over the Mekong Delta when I spotted Can Tho airfield just on the otherside of a towering thunderhead. Going around would have taken a long time so I decided to duck under the thunderhead. I dropped to about 100 feet above the rice paddy and started under when the plane got hit with a downpour. Both engines quit with a row of 80 foot trees in front of me. Instinctively I reached up and hit the alternate air switches and both engines caught immediately. Total time without power must have at least one second, maybe almost two. Lesson learned: don’t fly under thunderheads with heavy rain! Unless of course you switch to “alternate air” first.

I am a Senior Technical Writer for Bombardier Aerospace (formally de Havilland Canada) in Toronto where the Caribou was manufactured. I had the pleasure of visiting the museum while in the Dover area on business many years back and I spent a pleasant afternoon with Col Hardie while he related his experiences with 63-9760. Congratulations on such a fantastic display of aircraft and all the best to all of you.

For those of you who are not familiar with the C-7A Caribou association, you are eligible to join if you were flight crew or maintenance. There is a yearly reunion. Check out their website for more information.

I quite likely launched and recovered this bird at Cam Ranh Bay as both of us arrived there about the same time (March 1970). I was a recip. mechanic and we spent a lot of time on the ramp readying the Caribou for its next mission. The augmenter tubes were always cracked and filthy dirty ~ we had to remove and clean them thoroughly before sending them off to the weld shop for repair.
One morning as the flight crew was boarding the aircraft they spotted a field mouse as it scampered up into the tail section of the fuselage. My buddy grabbed the fire ax and I a broom ~ we corralled the mouse with the broom and my compadre squashed it with the ax. He grabbed the mouse by the tail and escorted him off the aircraft ~ the flight crew jumped on board and away they went. Just another day on the ramp at “Caribou Bay.”

My Father, Maj. (at the time) John W McDowell flew these out of Cam Ranh Bay in 69-70. would love pictures of him if anyone remembers him or stories. Thanks for everyone’s service. You are all heroes!

I have noticed that the HF long-wire antenna is missing. Also, the radar display that resides in the forward center console is not Vietnam era. I was an avionics technician assigned to the 483rd between 1970 and 1971.

I worked on the C7A at Seward AFB. We took them over from the Army in 1966 at Ft Benning GA. We move them to Seward AFB in Dec 66 and Jan 67. Worked in aircraft structural repair till March of 1968. Then assigned to 9th Air Commando squadron and name changed to 9th SOS in Nha Trang Vietnam working on the O2B Cessna push pull twin tail. Psychological war fare unit. I loved that C7A. It was a cool aircraft.

When I arrived in Cam Ranh Bay from aircraft familiarization at Fort Benning, I was assigned as Crew Chief to C7A Blue Tail 63-9760. I remained Crew Chief until I was assigned Flight Line Maint. coordinator in the Blue bread truck, coordinating with Rainbow Dispatcher. I left Nam for the world, just as the 1968 TET offensive was formulating. Proud to have served in some pretty remote spots in the Highlands, taken along on some of these missions, in the event of immediate unforeseen problems or ground maintenance needs.

I was an engine mechanic on the C7 caribou in Cam Ranh Bay 68 69 and loved it!

My father, now 80 yrs young, flew one of these in Korea. He would love to go up in a C7 again even as a passenger. Does anyone know where this could happen?

I was the crew chief on 669. Red tail . Gotta love changing a cracked Aug Tube. Yuk

I was the crew chief on red tail 145 68-69