OLAA Operating Date 26-Dec-1969

Roster

ROSTER… 12 Men

Lt. Col. James W. Wold (Jim)
Maj. Timothy L. Buttermore (Tim)… Tim Buttermore on R&R? Until the 29Dec
Maj. Dean E. DeTar (Dean)… Dean DeTar on Leave/R&R??? Until the 7Jan
Capt. Robert Karre (Bob)
Capt. Paul D. D. Houppert (DD)
1st Lt. Maurice A Coleman, Jr. (Mac)
1st Lt. John W. Weinig (JW)
1st Lt. James Seith (Jim)
1st Lt. A. Jackson Roberts (Jax)
1st Lt. Donald L Engebretsen (Don)
1st Lt. Warren C. Blanchard (Doc)
1st Lt. Larry L. Cavender

On This Date in OLAA History

OLAA-ID: 47-1      SOG
Flight Date: 26 Dec 69
Pilot: Donald L. Engebretsen–02
Mission ID: 1532
Tail # 803-H
Location: Tri Border
Team Name:
Hours Flown: 3+30
  
Remarks: SOG - Ball Game - 1 Hootch Destroyed; 2 Damaged; 4 BLU-32; 4 CBU-25; 2 CBU-22; 20mm
Tags:
OLAA-ID: 47-2      
Flight Date: 26 Dec 69
Pilot: Maurice A Coleman, Jr.
Mission ID:
Tail # 738-H
Location:
Team Name:
Hours Flown: 5.50
  
Remarks:
Tags:
OLAA-ID: 47-3      SAR
Flight Date: 26 Dec 69
Pilot: Robert Karre–11
Mission ID: SAR
Tail # 628-H
Location: 280/19/50
Team Name:
Hours Flown: 2+15 (2.3)*
  
Remarks: #4 Saves - UH-1 - NAUGHTY TAM KY DFC Mission Form 5 shows total 4.6 one mission with N 0.3
Tags:
OLAA-ID: 47-3      SAR
Flight Date: 26 Dec 69
Pilot: Warren C. Blanchard–12
Mission ID: SAR
Tail # 028-J
Location: 280/19/50
Team Name:
Hours Flown: (4.4) N.07
  
Remarks: #4 Saves - UH-1 - NAUGHTY TAM
Tags:
OLAA-ID: 47-3      SAR
Flight Date: 26 Dec 69
Pilot: James W. Wold–13
Mission ID: SAR
Tail # 021-J
Location: 280/19/50
Team Name:
Hours Flown: 2+05 (2.1)N0.9
  
Remarks: 4 Saves - UH-1 - NAUGHTY TAM KY Jim Wold shows flying a 3 ship in his Form 5???
Tags:
OLAA-ID: 47-4      
Flight Date: 26 Dec 69
Pilot: Warren C. Blanchard
Mission ID:
Tail # 028-J
Location:
Team Name:
Hours Flown: 4.40
  
Remarks:
Tags:
OLAA-ID: 47-5      
Flight Date: 26 Dec 69
Pilot: John W. Weinig–01
Mission ID: 1536
Tail #
Location: Tri Border - In Country SAR
Team Name:
Hours Flown: 2+30E
  
Remarks: DFC mission near Tam Ky. Recovered 5 downed air crewmembers after repeatedly attacking guns.
Tags:
OLAA-ID: 47-5      
Flight Date: 26 Dec 69
Pilot: John W. Weinig–01
Mission ID: 1536
Tail # 258-H
Location: Tri Border - In Country SAR
Team Name:
Hours Flown: 2+30
  
Remarks: 1 LAU-3; 4 BLU ; 20mm. Same mission award statement as recorded for John Weinig above. DFC mission.
Tags:
OLAA-ID: 47-6      SAR
Flight Date: 26 Dec 69
Pilot: Robert Karre
Mission ID: SAR
Tail # 628-H
Location:
Team Name:
Hours Flown: (2.3)* 0.3N
  
Remarks: Form 5 ENTRY Shows 4.6 Total 2-Sorties
Tags:
Larry Cavender arrived at Da Nang on this date.  Note- Larry remembers that Glen Manning had not been found before his arrival!!!????  I know it took some time, but Glenn went down on 17Dec69.  Bob Karre remembers being on R&R when Glenn crashed and thought they had recovered remains with a Recon team prior to his return (Bob did not fly between 11 and 21 December???).  Later Bob and Mac were directed to review the tapes with Da Nang radar and work on understanding what happened. I am trying to figure out the Karre/Wold/Blanchard entries.  Was it a 3 ship or were Doc and either Bob or Jim in a fat face checking Doc out for a Lead Qual??? Doc does not show the #568 time in his Form 5’s  Tam Ky is only about 60 miles south of Da Nang.  THE KARRE/WOLD/BLANCHARD MISSIONS NEED SORTING…3 SHIP REFERENCE IS FROM WOLD.  Bob Karre remembers the survivors in a rice paddy with fire coming from surrounding tree lines.  Some memories about Jim Wold getting phone call about “friendlies” near the ground fire, but the Spads only shot at observed muzzle flashes.