OLAA Operating Date 31-Dec-1969

Roster

ROSTER… 12 Men

Lt. Col. James W. Wold (Jim)
Maj. Timothy L. Buttermore (Tim)
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

At its peak in early 1969, America had 550,000 troops in Vietnam. As the year came to an end the number of troops in Vietnam had been reduced to 475,000. It may not have been clear then, but we had begun the process of troop withdrawals that would eventually end with all combat troops pulled out of Vietnam. President Nixon had announced the Vietnamization of the war. For better or worse, the South Vietnamese would have to take over this war that had become too Americanized. But many years remained until the last American was to leave Vietnam. And in the interim, hundreds more pilots would be shot down and still need help from the air Rescuemen in Vietnam and Thailand.  (pjsinnam)

By year’s end, America’s fighting strength in Vietnam has been reduced by 115,000 men. 40,024 Americans have now been killed in Vietnam. Over the next few years, the South Vietnamese Army will be boosted to over 500,000 men in accordance with ‘Vietnamization’ of the war in which they will take over the fighting from Americans.  The History Place

Dec 31,1969

Twelve (12) AC-119K Stinger gunships in-country RVN:

A Flight, Da Nang Air Base = 6

B Flight, Phu Cat Air Base = 3

C Flight, Phan Rang Air Base = 3

1969 – December 31; A HH-3E from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Edwin L. Shobert Jr. (P), Joseph M. Nall (CP), Jimmie D. Rash (FE), Paul L. Jenkins (PJ) and Roy D. Bloebaum (PJ), rescued the pilot of a OV-10A (Call sign “Nail 37”), Capt. Ronald R. Russell, after he ejected from his 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft about 10 miles west of Ban Thapachono, Laos. “Vietnam Air Losses” by Chris Hobson & “PJ’s in Vietnam” by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form  NKP SAR???

OLAA-ID: 52-1      
Flight Date: 31 Dec 69
Pilot: Robert Karre–03
Mission ID: 1535
Tail # 021-J
Location: OC
Team Name:
Hours Flown: 5+00 (5.0)
  
Remarks: #Dumped Napes on ??? Dogs HD (Dogs Head) Form 5 Shows duplicate? Entries?
Tags:
OLAA-ID: 52-1      
Flight Date: 31 Dec 69
Pilot: Larry L. Cavender–04
Mission ID: 1535
Tail # 779-H
Location:
Team Name:
Hours Flown: 5.00
  
Remarks: Dumped Napes on ??? Dogs HD (Dogs Head)
Tags:
OLAA-ID: 52-2      
Flight Date: 31 Dec 69
Pilot: Timothy L. Buttermore
Mission ID:
Tail # 738-H
Location:
Team Name:
Hours Flown: (2.50)
  
Remarks:
Tags:
OLAA-ID: 52-3      
Flight Date: 31 Dec 69
Pilot: Timothy L. Buttermore
Mission ID:
Tail # 628-H
Location:
Team Name:
Hours Flown: (2.00)
  
Remarks:
Tags:
OLAA-ID: 52-4      
Flight Date: 31 Dec 69
Pilot: James W. Wold
Mission ID: FCF
Tail # 618-H
Location: LCL
Team Name:
Hours Flown: 0+45 (0.7)
  
Remarks: -20J
Tags:
OLAA-ID: 52-5      
Flight Date: 31 Dec 69
Pilot: Warren C. Blanchard
Mission ID:
Tail # 028-H
Location:
Team Name:
Hours Flown: (2.20)
  
Remarks:
Tags:
OLAA-ID: 52-6      SOG
Flight Date: 31 Dec 69
Pilot: Donald L. Engebretsen–02
Mission ID: 1537
Tail # 738-H
Location: Dollar Lake
Team Name: Back Side/Fast Track
Hours Flown: 4+00 (4.0)
  
Remarks: SOG - 100/25; NVR; 4 BLU-32
Tags:
Larry Cavender flies first OLAA Flight as Spad 04 with Bob Karre.