[TCTAAmembers] TDY orders and photo-Congo

[Sam McGowan]

Hi Ed,

Thanks for the picture. I don't think you sent me that particular one before, but you did send me one of one of the Pope airplanes. I have that book Wings of the CIA, or at least I think I do. There is a pretty good account of the mission in Joe Dabney's book about the Herk. It was taken from the article that was in AIRMAN magazine. John Coble told me that Mack Secord wrote most of it, or was at least the main source. I've also got a copy of Don Strobaugh's mission report. They did go from Klinebrogel to Moron. There are some things in the Army article that don't jive. The sources I have say that the flight crews didn't even know where they were going and were given a sealed envelope with the flight plan it with instructions to open it immediately after takeoff. 

The crew you were with was from the 779th and I knew them all. Johnnie Hooks was one of my instructors in the CTS and was in the squadron. He had a brother who was an Army helicopter pilot and he came and spent a few days with us at Mactan. I heard several years later that Johnny was killed by his son-in-law. I don't know the details but I remember someone telling me that they were drinking and got into an argument and his son-in-law shot him. 

Sam
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Ed Jackson 
  To: tctaamembers at troopcarrier.org 
  Sent: Saturday, November 22, 2008 10:44 PM
  Subject: [TCTAAmembers] TDY orders and photo-Congo


        Sam, your timely discussion regarding Dragon Rouge,prompted me to look through my TDY orders and forward a photo of the "mercs" in Stanleyville.( I think I sent this to you a few years ago).
        I was a "propman" from the 464th FMS, and went to Spain, on standby, after the early morning alert. My orders attached me to the 776th TCS, but don't list the flight crew.
        I later, (Jan '65), did a 30 day rotation to Leo, with a visit to Stanleyville.
        The locations were only listed by APO.
        The  779th C-130 that took us there, has the crew listed as: Capt William Waterson,
        Capt Herbert Canney, 1st Lt John Long,Tsgt Arley  Haynes and Ssgt Jonnie Hooks. loadmaster?
        The book, "Wings of the CIA", (Frederic Lert, French ) describes a very different mission for the 464th TCW-once the hostages were released. 
        I know that as time goes by, we find it important to put names, and places, together.
        Attached: Photo of me, in Incirlik, and the "mercs", and me next to a B-26K at N'djili.
        According to the book, the 4 C-130's, on the rescue mission came through Spain, on the way to Ascension Island. I guess they didn't have any leaky props! (not sure if it was Torrejon or Moron AB).... Ed
       
               
       



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