This kit was given
to me by my friend of many years, Col. Lester G.Frazier (USAF Ret.),
who flew 2 tours (694 combat hours) in the F-100D and F with the
614th TFS and 612th TFS, 35th TFW stationed at Phan Rang AB, South Viet Nam.
There were only two
conditions to the gift...One, it had to be in Southeast Asian camo...Two, I
couldn't use that damned (the actual term was slightly harsher) F-102
'Eyelid' (afterburner can).
The kit's
instructions stated that the markings for the Southeast Asia camo version were
for a New Mexico ANG aircraft. However, no specific service history, beyond the
unit, was provided.
Through Col.
Frazier's contacts in the 'Super Sabre Society' (an online group of former
F-100 "Hun" pilots), Lt. Col. Ira Holt (USAF Ret.,a Major in
Vietnam) recognized his former C.O.'s aircraft, crewed by his
friend, Archie Simms. (Maj. Holt also flew 737 on occasion).
SK 737, was
the personal aircraft of Lt. Col. Frederich Fink, C.O. of the 188th TFS of
the New Mexico Air National Guard. The 188th served in Vietnam from May 1968,
until May 1969, & were stationed at Tuy Hoa AB, South Viet Nam.
Thanks to a photo,
supplied by Lt. Col. Holt (taken by Crew Chief Simms), I was able to
make & add a small additional decal with 737's nickname "Miss Mynookie",
which was stenciled on the portside nose. I am fairly sure, mine is the
only example of this kit constructed (thus far), with this small,
authentic detail.
On 26
January 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson recalled the New Mexico Air National
Guard to active duty due to increasing international tension and the seizing of
the intelligence gathering ship, USS Pueblo, by North Korea. In May 1968, the
150th Tactical Fighter Group (TFG) received its first order for
movement. The 188th Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS), with over 360
officers and airmen with 22 aircraft, was deployed to Tuy Hoa Air Base, Republic
of Vietnam. The US Air Force airlifted all support personnel to Vietnam on
C-141s, while NMANG pilots required three days and 13 aerial refuelings to ferry
their F-100s across the 11,000 miles between Albuquerque and Tuy Hoa Air Base.
While in Vietnam, the NMANG lost
one pilot, Capt. Michael T. Adams, and two pilots were listed as missing in
action: Major Bobby Neeld and Lt. Michel S. Lane. During their twelve months in
Vietnam, the 188th TFS flew over 6000 sorties and accumulated the following
decorations:
- 8 Silver Stars
- 29 Distinguished Flying
Crosses
- 26 Bronze Stars
- 270 Air Medals
- 3 Purple Hearts
- The Air Force Outstanding Unit
Award
- The Presidential Unit Citation
- The Vietnamese Gallantry Cross
with Palm
- 3 Vietnamese Gallantry Crosses
with Silver Stars
- Vietnamese Air Service Medal,
Honor Class
- 289 Air Force Commendation
Medals
- Army Commendation Medal
I found this interesting story online, from the 188th TFS's hometown newspaper...
Albuquerque TribuneDecember 18 1968
Tuy Hoa Airbase, Vietnam — Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Fink, commander of New Mexico's 188th Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS) receives a very special package from home. The Albuquerque Tribune, in conjunction with the public affairs staff's of Kirkland Air Force Base (where the 188th was based prior to it January 1968 mobilization) and the NM Air National Guard, arranged for the families and friends of the Guardsmen serving in Vietnam to make a sound color movie sharing their stories and holiday wishes. Called the "Tribune Merry Christmas Project" it was underwritten by the newspaper along with support from Radio Shack. The movie was a great boost to the men's morale, and have subsequently been employed by many communities to boost the morale of hometown Guard units during Operations
Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. The 188th TFS, mobilized in January 1968 served in Vietnam from May 1968 until its return home in May 1969. It flew ground support combat sorties, dropping bombs on enemy positions and disrupting troop concentrations and supply lines. Three pilots of the unit died in combat during their tour, the most from any of the four Air Guard squadrons deployed to Vietnam.
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This was my first
Trumpeter kit, and for the most part, I found it to be quite a pleasant
build. I built it out of the box, with only a few scratch-built additions. Brake
lines looped behind the main gear's oleo scissors, Eduard harnesses on the
seat, some solder for oxygen, & communication lines in the cockpit,
along with a photo-etched rear-view mirror on top of the inner canopy rail (I
have expert advice, that the 'C' model had only one) &
the characteristic, protective canvas boot which always covered the folded pitot
boom on parked F-100s (whatever the model). I also used small lengths
of Bobe's EZ-Line for the static dischargers located on the wingtip trailing
edges, and above the rudder on the fuel dump vent. I also added a Koster Aero
Enterprises vac-u-formed intake cover.
One area of
complaint was the instruction sheet. Not only was there no specific history of
the markings provided, there was no general history, and/or specs. provided.
They also showed weapons, and pylon options without giving the vaguest hint
as to when/where these options might be appropriate. It was very frustrating.
Aim-9 Sidewinders
are the only ordnance supplied, & unless you want to build a bird in a
training scenario at Luke AFB, or during a very few Cold War incidents, you
should delegate them to the spares-box at once.
This technical brief
from Col. Frazier..."We taught sidewinders at Luke, but I never carried
them other than in an academic setting. Some guys who went to Taiwan and
pulled Zulu alert carried them but no one ever fired them. I think some of
the guys called to Germany when the Soviets closed the Berlin autobahn also
loaded them out, but once again, I think the only time they were ever fired was
when the NM ANG Guardsman (coincidentally) had water in the firing circuits
and he shot down a B-52 by accident."
On the other hand,
the wing tanks were always carried, & never pickled (dropped).
Therefore, I elected to do the aircraft with tanks, & empty weapons pylons (there
was already going to be so much stuff, with the speed brake out, & way overly
complicated main gear attached), as to make handling during final assembly nearly
impossible.
While the step by
step illustrations were nicely drawn, the text gave you no clue as to what order
the parts were to be assembled, and in several instances, particularly the
cockpit/fuselage assembly, this is very critical information. It can truly
be a 'Chinese Puzzle'.
If there was ever a
case where dry test fitting (as many parts as possible, at once) is
an absolute, this is it. It is about the only way to determine the correct order
of construction.
Another area where obvious
caution should be exercised, is in the trimming of major components from the
parts spruce (fuselage, halves). These parts are molded in such a
way, that even when cleared from the spruce, a nub of excess mold plastic is
left directly on the seam to be joined. These need to be removed very carefully.
I used the provided cockpit decals, and found cutting them into sections
added greatly in properly applying them. After positioned, a generous coat
of Micro Sol was applied. Once dry, these were further accented with paint,
sprayed with matt lacquer, and the instrument glass spotted with gloss
clear enamel. I also added a gunsight reflector pane, as none was provided in
the kit. Most of the paint was Testors Model Master, with the major
camo colors being scale desaturated with 10% white. The engine 'hot section' was
done with a multitude of Alclad II shades (some custom mixed) over a
base of Krylon No.1601/Glossy Black. Pro Modelers Weathering Wash was used,
along with graphite, & Tamiya smoke. The landing gear, & wheel wells
were accented with India Ink laced Future. The pitot boom cover was made with
small strips of tape, applied, & shaped. That was then coated with Mr.
Surfacer 500 to get the correct, wrinkled canvas look. Tally-Ho
'Remove Before Flight' flags were added at the ends as reference
dictated. The one under the nose at the base is attached to a
draw-cord on the real boot. Thick Bobe's EZ-Line was used for the intake
cover's bungee cord straps.
Thanks to: Col. Lester G.
Frazier (USAF Ret.) , Lt. Col. Ira Holt (USAF Ret.) , &
these other gentleman/warriors of the "Super Sabre Society" http://www.supersabresociety.com/ ...
Medley Gatewood, Larry Peters, Don Neary, John Schmieder, P.J. White, Bill
McDonald, Laird E. Leavoy . Also to Henry Popp (as usual) for the
photography, with additional build shots by Steve Pietzsch.
Michael Presley
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