Skyraiders left in vietnam

[Broken-Wrench]

All the aircraft that were abandoned in Vietnam were placed on a "Not to be imported" list. Ie. no import authorization and automatic customs seizure if bonded for US import. The list was compiled sometime right after the fall and it was broken down by model, type and serial numbers.

As a wreck rebuilder that dont mean S%$&. Simple drill off all of the Serial number data plates Strip off all of the markings and bring them in one at a time thru Mexico as C-170 parts. They probably don't have paperwork anyway so it doesn't matter. I have rebuilt several planes from two or three wrecks and the best logs ended up with the best Airframe. I wouldn't let that bother you. Anyway your going to have a hard time dealing with those people because they want the same price as if they were flying. Good Luck.

[airnutz]

No Setter...I meant how are the US/SEA relations nowadays...in your
opinion of the area. I wasn't interested as if I'm "off to the goldrush"..
as has been prevalent here lately! Is it relaxing or tightening going
into the 2nd term of this US Gubment? Have the internal tensions
of these regions relaxed significantly since post Pol Pot, Khmer days etc.?

Like I say, for the stuff I'm interested in, the shopping is better here at
home. Sometimes it's overvalued and accordingly priced...but it doesn't cost as much to say no! I can walkaway grumbling about the gasoline bill.

[bdk]

Is it SE Asia, or Vietnam this "list" affects? I'm curious about stuff in Laos, Cambodia, and Mynamar.

There were two T-28's that passed through Chino that came from Laos, in fact one has been restored and is based there. I'm thinking it was in the 1991 timeframe they were recovered.

[marine air]

In 1997, I talked to a guy in Knoxville, Tenn. who had been over there with a group of west coast people to look at the aircraft that were abandoned in Viet Nam. His name is John Schofner and he was having a P-47 rebuilt at that time by Klaers Aviation and an Albatross in another shop in California. I believe he went with Bill Klaers, and Bill's partner and some of their guys. They went to Thon soNhut, and Da Nang. He said there was a half dozen Skyraiders (single seaters), a few A-37 Dragonflys , one CH-47, a couple of C-7 Caribou, and bunches and bunches of UH-1 Hueys. Many were left with their canopies and doors open and exposed to the elements. They were still in the revetments. Most interesting were the hangars were filled with engine cans with the Skyraider engines (R-3350-21W's) and many dozens of Huey engines and spare parts. Unfortunately many of the cans had their seal broken or were left open to the elements. He said the corrosion was so bad on the Skyraiders that you could take a pencil and push it through the spar where the wing folds. He said the A-37's were worse shape. He took a pass on them. He also said they had South Vietnamese markings and that he didn't see any Bearcats, P-63's, etc.

[Cvairwerks]

As far as I was told the "list" was strictly limited to stuff left in Vietnam. It may be with the easing of tensions with them and changes in trade policy, the "list" may not be applicable anymore.
Because the aircraft and any of the parts are most likely still considered ITAR items, it would best that the import requirements be verified, and in writing prior to dropping bucks on a recovery program.

As to the suggestion of drilling off all the data plates, what a nice way to inform even the dumbest customs inspectors that you are trying to circumvent both import and arms regulations.

[Oscar Duck]

I bought a T-28D-5 from Laos. Trucked across Laos/Vietnam/Cambodia to Thailand and shipped out of Bangkok [port] to Australia. Been flyinmg since 1987. I also own a Bird Dog obtained from Bien Hoa around then. Been flying it here since around '92. 10 T-28's came to Oz followed by around 12 0-1's and 6 A-37's. Three of which are airworthy here....

[Chris Brame]

Is there anyone who has visited there and knows whether either of the Laotian Boeing 307s, particularly the one which was abandoned after crash-landing on a riverbank, still exist?