Caribou Airlines: A History of USAF C-7A Caribou Operations in Vietnam: Volume II: Tet Offensive - 1968 - Paperback

by M. T. Smith Usaf (Author), Pat Hanavan Usaf (Author)

Caribou Airlines, Vol II is a detailed history of USAF C-7A operations in Vietnam in 1968. It is about aircrews, crew chiefs, maintenance officers, line chiefs, maintainers, phase inspection personnel, specialty shop personnel, supply personnel, personal equipment specialists, administration and operations personnel, commanders, staff personnel, etc. They made it possible to deliver the troops, guns, ammunition, rations, beer, soda, equipment, animals, etc. to hundreds of bases on the battlefields of Vietnam. The 483rd Tactical Airlift Wing and its squadrons were not an airline, per se. They were tasked with supporting Army and Marine units and other customers with air landed and air dropped supplies using pre-defined, emergency, and opportune sorties to front line locations where the supplies were needed. The history of the Military Advisory Command, Vietnam (MACV); C-7A Caribou Association newsletters; and personal stories of those involved in C-7A operations provide the context for this book.

Author Biography

Pat Hanavan graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1958. Midshipman Hanavan received the Marine Corps Association Prize in 1958 for the best research paper on operational or doctrinal aspects of ground, air, or amphibious operations, Peleliu Pushover. He and Alicia, his wife of 55 years, raised four children (Patrick III, Cynthia, Michael, and Theresa). During his 20 years in the United States Air Force, he was a pilot, research and development engineer, maintenance officer, and logistics officer. His USAF assignments included the 55th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, the 6570th Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory, Aeronautical Systems Division, the 535th Tactical Airlift Squadron and the 483rd Tactical Airlift Wing in Vietnam, the Space and Missile Systems Organization, Headquarters AFSC, Warner Robins ALC, and San Antonio ALC. He worked on manned extravehicular operations for the Gemini and Manned Orbiting Laboratory space programs from 1964-1965. The Ohio Society of Professional Engineers recognized him as its Young Engineer of 1966. Pat flew the C-7A Caribou as an Instructor Pilot in the 535th Tactical Airlift Squadron at Vung Tau, Republic of Vietnam (RVN), during the Tet Offensive of 1968 and was then assigned as the Quality Control Officer and Chief Test pilot for the 483rd Tactical Airlift Wing at Cam Ranh Bay, RVN. During his Vietnam tour, he flew over 600 hours in the C-7A Caribou. Colonel Hanavan retired from the USAF in 1978 and transitioned to industry and academia. Dr. Hanavan received a Ph.D. in Engineering from the University of California at Los Angeles while on active duty in the Air Force. From 1979-1990 he was a member of the faculty at The University of Texas at San Antonio. Then he worked at the Software Engineering Institute from 1990-1995. His engineering and management consulting work took him to many countries, including France, Australia, China, England, Canada, Italy, Holland, Korea, and Singapore. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Software Engineering (Texas) and in Aeronautical Engineering (Ohio). He has been a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers since 1965 and is a Life Senior Member of the IEEE, a Senior Member of the ACM, and a senior member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Pat has been a member of the C-7A Caribou Association since 2003 and serves as its President, newsletter editor, and historian.