Khe Sanh Memorial

[Ken]

Accidentally came across a photo of a tour group standing under a C-130A at Khe Sanh. This link shows a memorial or museum on the site including a UH-1, CH-47, and C-130. I doubt any Herks were left on site so I'm guessing it was transported in or possibly flown in; either way seems like a big deal for the Vietnamese to undertake. A bid for tourism dollars perhaps?

http://www.mishalov.com/vietnam.11-12march2013.html

[Ken]

This thread says it was one left at TSN ...

http://www.c-130hercules.net/archive/in ... -1834.html

[sandiego89]

Accidentally came across a photo of a tour group standing under a C-130A at Khe Sanh. This link shows a memorial or museum on the site including a UH-1, CH-47, and C-130. I doubt any Herks were left on site so I'm guessing it was transported in or possibly flown in; either way seems like a big deal for the Vietnamese to undertake. A bid for tourism dollars perhaps?

http://www.mishalov.com/vietnam.11-12march2013.html

Neat link, thank you. The aircraft on display (UH-1, CH-47 and C-130) actually look pretty good, much better than the pictures of most aircraft in Vietnamese museums, where Mig 17's and 21's, many with war records and kills, have been rotting away for years.

I imagine the wesern tourists are more interested in visiting such places and seeing such artifacts, thus the preservation- so yes I'd say a bid for toursim.

The C-130, an A model, with serial 56-0532 (if the same aircraft) was indeed derelict at TSN after the fall of SVN. I do give them credit for preserving the aircraft with US style paint and markings, but the the C-130 looks a bit off. While it looks fair from a distance, guess they went for the same olive drab green overall as for the UH-1 and CH-47. I would think SEA cammo would be more accurate for this airframe?

[Ken]

Rivet counters they are not. I agree with you, a more accurate scheme would enhance the display but these birds reflect the same spurious approach seen in the other museums around VN.

It's nice that they are making an effort, I guess. There are some who don't care & others who will never forgive/forget and that's the beauty of America, you can have your own opinion. I was really glad I stumbled on the man's blog as it looked like a fascinating trip.

Ken

[bdk]

Some of the display aircraft seem to be in nicer condition than many similar aircraft (or even B-17s) at US bases.

[p51]

Neat shots, but this "American" tank would have been with the ARVN, it's a M41 Walker Bulldog, not a tank the US forces would have used directly:

[gregv]

interesting blog, love the foggy b/g in the photos.

Could these be a pair of F-100 rear fuselages with a Huey rear boom?

http://1-ps.googleusercontent.com/h/www ... nXQgi9.jpg

thanks for the link!

greg v.

[sandiego89]

Could these be a pair of F-100 rear fuselages with a Huey rear boom?

http://1-ps.googleusercontent.com/h/www ... nXQgi9.jpg


greg v.

Greg, I pondered over that photo as well. I think they look like F-5A rear fuselages near a huey tail boom. Would fit the scene as F-5 were left over after the fall of SNV. Many F-5A's including US and SVN in South East Asia cammo had the natural metal near the tail pipes (like the F-100), One of the fuselages is missing the burner cans. I think the other is missing the shroud over the burner cans. The fuselages look a little small to be from a F-100, but tough to tell from the angle. Other things like the flat fuselage bottom and acces doors further lead me to F-5. Looks like a F-5 canopy on top as well, although I am thrown off by possible internal bracing near the hole in the plexigalss. The F-100 Super Sabre canoy is more heavily framed and squared off near the rear.

[gregv]

think you nailed it sandiego89! The size was throwing me off a bit as well. Thought about the canopy maybe being from an F-101 but was also stumped by the central metal support; too small to be from an A-6?

cheers

greg v.

edit: canopy must be from an A-37, that would also fit I think.