OLAA Pilot: Lt. A. Jackson Roberts

Albert Jay Roberts

I was born November 18, 1944, in West Palm Beach, Fl.  My dad was in the Army Air Corps and did some training in that area prior to flying the “Hump” in WWII.  After the war he was hired by Eastern Air Lines and we settled in the Miami area where I attended St Theresa (K-9) and Columbus High School.

I attended the University of Florida (BA in History) graduating in December 1966, where I managed to get two B’s, one D, and all the rest C’s (2.001 GPA).  ROTC was mandatory for two years back then and it convinced me that I was not cut out for a military life style.  However…the Draft was still in effect and I managed to pass the physical despite my best efforts.  Being draft eligible, I set about finding an alternative, making applications with the Navy and the Air Force.  One morning a month or so later, the mailman delivered two letters addressed to me; one was a “Report for Induction, US Army”, the other was an acceptance into OTS (Officer Training School) and USAF Pilot Training.  It did not take me long to make a decision.

I was quite surprised at the dining-out for class 69-E, Webb AFB to be named as a “Distinguished Graduate” (top 10% ?, I really had no idea).  Throughout the entire year my goal was to get a C-141 assignment, do the minimum time, muster out and follow my dad’s footsteps and go with the airlines. Luckily for me, my T-38 IP convinced me that one hour of single seat – single engine time was worth a hundred hours in the right seat of a 141.  Also, luckily several A-1’s came down in the group and I was fortunate to get one.

After A-1 training at Hurlburt Field, I was assigned to the 6th SOS, Pleiku, Vietnam reporting for duty in June of 1969. We flew a variety of missions including interdiction, close air support and Search and Rescue. In November of ’69 the Squadron was phased out and all Pilots were reassigned, a majority to the three A-1 squadrons making up the 56th Special Ops Wing at Nakhon Phanom (NKP), Thailand. One of the most interesting and rewarding close air support missions was supporting special forces teams who were routinely dropped into the remote jungle alongside the Ho Chi Minh trail, in an area referred to as “over the fence” (Laos). Prior to consummating my transfer to NKP, a group of us were redirected to Da Nang Air Base to become Operating Location Alpha Alpha (OLAA), 56th SOW. Our primary missions were Search and Rescue, supporting the Jolly Green HH-3 helicopters based at Da Nang and supporting the Recon Teams from Special Forces Command and Control North, also in the Da Nang area. Our little unit was unique in many ways, but the staff make up (8 lieutenants, two captains and a major) kept Col. Wold on his toes.

After my tour, I was assigned back to Webb AFB as a T-38 Instructor Pilot where I met my life’s love Tracy, marrying her 9 months later (no, it was not just after the baby was born).  I got an early out to go to an A-37 reserve unit, got hired by Eastern Airlines, moved to New York flew for Eastern (DC-9, 727, L-1011) while Tracy got an architecture degree from Pratt Institute. I then moved to Center City Philadelphia and managed to talk my way into the New Jersey ANG (F-105).  Our only son Aaron was born while I was in training. In 1986, while all our friends were fleeing to the burbs, Tracy decided we should live in the Virgin Islands; so we did and still do. In 1989, Eastern tanks, then in 1990 I got on with NWA (DC-9, 727, DC-10, 747).  In 2006, at age 62, I took an “early retirement” from the back seat of the DC-10.  Later, I bought 49% of a sailing school until my partner’s girlfriend decided I wasn’t right for the job.  In 2008, we bought a Condo in Seattle (where Aaron lives).  Someday we will Summer there and Winter in the Virgin Islands.  Thank God Tracy loves her job!

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OLAA-ID: 10-5      SAR
Flight Date: 19 Nov 69
Pilot: A. Jackson Roberts
Mission ID: SAR
Tail #
Location: Laos Da Nang
Team Name:
Hours Flown: 1.8E
  
Remarks: # Spud 06 SAR
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OLAA-ID: 12-6      
Flight Date: 21 Nov 69
Pilot: A. Jackson Roberts
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Location: DaNang?? 15 miles South of Ashau Valley
Team Name:
Hours Flown: 3.5E
  
Remarks: #Navy A-6A Intruder Pilot Rescued, A-6B KIA; DeTar/Weinig on Same Mission
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OLAA-ID: 26-7      
Flight Date: 05 Dec 69
Pilot: A. Jackson Roberts
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Remarks: BOXER 22??? Likely flew…get details escorted Jolly’s
Tags: Boxer 22, Flights of Interest
OLAA-ID: 27-8      
Flight Date: 06 Dec 69
Pilot: A. Jackson Roberts
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Remarks: Boxer 22???
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OLAA-ID: 28-12      
Flight Date: 07 Dec 69
Pilot: A. Jackson Roberts
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Remarks: Boxer 22??? Unknown flights on this date are likely… Brian Danielson research showed 14 Boxer 22 Strikes
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OLAA-ID: 31-3      
Flight Date: 10 Dec 69
Pilot: A. Jackson Roberts–12
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Location: DNG
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Remarks: Jax was on Dean’s Wing. DFC Mission… Likely
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OLAA-ID: 36-2      
Flight Date: 15 Dec 69
Pilot: A. Jackson Roberts–02
Mission ID: 1533
Tail #
Location: YB400185-265/35/94
Team Name: Wine Cup
Hours Flown: 4+30E
  
Remarks: #8 CBU-25; 8 BLU-32; 2 CBU-22; 2 SUU-11; Prairie Fire Emergency; 100/50m
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OLAA-ID: 38-2      
Flight Date: 17 Dec 69
Pilot: A. Jackson Roberts–04
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Remarks: Jax on wing…Glenn flew approach first
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OLAA-ID: 51-3      SAR
Flight Date: 30 Dec 69
Pilot: A. Jackson Roberts–12
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Hours Flown: 1+50E
  
Remarks: #SAR Airborne Alert
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OLAA-ID: 65-7      SAR
Flight Date: 13 Jan 70
Pilot: A. Jackson Roberts–12
Mission ID: SAR
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Remarks: Jax flew as SAR wingman for successful mission to Recover Capt. Johnson who parachuted from C-130 flare ship
Tags: C-130 Parachute Rescue, Flights of Interest
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OLAA-ID: 100-1      
Flight Date: 17 Feb 70
Pilot: A. Jackson Roberts–03
Mission ID: 1634
Tail # 242-H
Location: SL
Team Name:
Hours Flown: 3.1E
  
Remarks: # Spat Man (?) Orbit; Struck with Covey 578; Jax's 37 Hit?
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OLAA-ID: 111-3      
Flight Date: 28 Feb 70
Pilot: A. Jackson Roberts–02
Mission ID: 1637
Tail #
Location: 265/25/94
Team Name: Half Track
Hours Flown: 3.3E
  
Remarks: # Prairie Fire Emergency
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OLAA-ID: 111-4      
Flight Date: 28 Feb 70
Pilot: A. Jackson Roberts–02
Mission ID: 1639
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Location: 265/25/94
Team Name: Half Track
Hours Flown: 3.4E
  
Remarks: # Team Pulled - Prairie Fire Emergency
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OLAA-ID: 142-1      
Flight Date: 31 Mar 70
Pilot: A. Jackson Roberts–03
Mission ID: 1634
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Location: 265/24/94
Team Name: Outhouse; Step Down
Hours Flown: 3.3E
  
Remarks: # Did Not Expend; Jettisoned Napes
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OLAA-ID: 142-2      
Flight Date: 31 Mar 70
Pilot: A. Jackson Roberts–03
Mission ID: 1868
Tail #
Location: 180/115/74
Team Name: Dunce Cap
Hours Flown: 1.7E
  
Remarks: # 100% On Target; NVR; Ball Game Cancelled
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OLAA-ID: 174-1      SAR
Flight Date: 02 May 70
Pilot: A. Jackson Roberts–11
Mission ID: SAR
Tail #
Location: NORTH - SAR - Near Bat Lake
Team Name:
Hours Flown: 3+50E
  
Remarks: #SAR-01B?? - 20mm; Diverted to Hue with 100 pounds fuel Falcon 93 SAR
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OLAA-ID: 174-2      
Flight Date: 02 May 70
Pilot: A. Jackson Roberts–11
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Location: Hue - Da Nang
Team Name:
Hours Flown: 0+30E
  
Remarks: # Ferry from Hue to Da Nang
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OLAA-ID: 183-5      
Flight Date: 11 May 70
Pilot: A. Jackson Roberts–04
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Team Name: Back Spin
Hours Flown: 3.0E
  
Remarks: # Ballgame; Struck Hootches SW Of Eagle's Beak; Ordnance Not Too Bad; Good Strafe/Minis; 2 x Destroyed; 2 Secondary Fires; 1 Secondary Explosion; Took Small Arms/AW Hits in Tail
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OLAA-ID: 185-3      
Flight Date: 13 May 70
Pilot: A. Jackson Roberts–02
Mission ID: 1625
Tail #
Location: 270/58/77
Team Name: Soft Shell - Bright Light
Hours Flown: 3.3E
  
Remarks: Team Under Fire
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OLAA-ID: 186-3      SAR
Flight Date: 14 May 70
Pilot: A. Jackson Roberts–04
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Hours Flown: 1.3E
  
Remarks: #Uneventful SAR Ex; WX ; Watched Mohawk Land With Rt MLG Up; Guy Did Really Good Job
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OLAA-ID: 207-2      
Flight Date: 04 Jun 70
Pilot: A. Jackson Roberts–02
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Hours Flown: 2.8E
  
Remarks: #Split Team--Could Have Been Really Hairy. Ordnance Very Good-We Should Have Killed Somebody.
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OLAA-ID: 207-3      
Flight Date: 04 Jun 70
Pilot: A. Jackson Roberts–02
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Hours Flown: 3.7E
  
Remarks: #Big Team-DS LZ - Had To Go Down Into Trees To Land. We Put In Some Good Ord To Prep and Get Their Heads Down. Then On South Into Big C for Another Team In Trouble
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OLAA-ID: 210-4      SAR
Flight Date: 07 Jun 70
Pilot: A. Jackson Roberts–14
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Location: #255/25/69
Team Name: SAR
Hours Flown: 3.1E
  
Remarks: #Start for PKU-Then SAR-Army Made Pick Up. Then Strike in Cambodia, Good One, To-Recover PKU for SAR Alert
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OLAA-ID: 213-12      
Flight Date: 10 Jun 70
Pilot: A. Jackson Roberts–14
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Location: 269/71/107
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Hours Flown: 2.4E
  
Remarks: #Fragged Out of PKU - DAG. Struck at Sampan On River. Worst Bloody Ordnance For Both Of Us In A Long Time. All 4 LAU-3 No Fire-Couldn't Hit That Dammed Thing. Did Get A POL Fire Going From Some Long CBU, However.
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