PROJECT HISTORY BOOK FOR AC-119 GUNSHIP SQUADRONS & PERSONNEL

The AC-119 Gunship Association has undertaken a major project to publish a history book about the AC-119 Gunships & the men who served & supported them during the Vietnam War.  Histories & photographs of everyone associated with or supporting the 71st, 17th, & 18th Special Operations Squadrons, & biographies along with Vietnam-era & recent photographs of personnel are the heart of the publication. War stories will be included along with selected snapshots.

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!!  We want & need your biography in the History Book; especially your Special Operations Squadron & support squadron experience along with your Vietnam-era photograph & a recent (within 10 or 15 years) photograph. Show pride in your military service record by telling about places & dates of all your assignments along with awards & decorations.  DO NOT BE HUMBLE IN WRITING YOUR BIOGRAPHY – BE PROUD! Write about some of your favorite war stories during your Vietnam Tour with AC-119 gunships. There is no limit to the length of biographies & war stories. Don’t worry about grammar & spelling. We will make corrections free of charge.

Submit your biography & war stories (Microsoft Word documents if possible) to Larry Fletcher at fletch12@charter.net or type-written via snail-mail at 606 Racquet Club Drive; Lake Ozark, MO 65049. Send scanned pictures (jpg.300dpi) & slides to Ralph Lefarth at ralph-l@sbcglobal.net (that’s a lower case L, not number 1 in Ralph’s address) or via snail-mail at 5754 Birch Hollow Drive; St. Louis, MO 63129-4236. If you snail-mail photographs or slides to Ralph & want them returned, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Write your name on the back of each photograph & each slide border. If you have other photographs or slides from Vietnam that you think are history book-worthy, follow the same procedures. NOTE: Shadow & Stinger personnel who are not members of the Association are encouraged to submit a biography & picture for the AC-119 Gunship Squadrons History Book. To view other Air Force Unit’s history books, visit the Turner Publishing website at: http://www.turnerpublishing.com/searchresult.aspx?CategoryID=5.

Biography Format: Show your full name, date and place of birth (city, county, and state), along with your parent’s full names and dates of birth. Include when and where you enlisted and/or entered military service, the circumstances of you entering military service, how long you served and your grade at time of separation or retirement from the military. In subsequent paragraphs, you may present any information you want to record concerning your military assignments/ duties. Where did you experience basis military training? Were there any unique aspects concerning your subsequent assignments and duties? What would you like your family members and future generations to know about your military service? Do you want to be specific concerning why you earned awards/decorations or recognition? You should not be bashful - - just record the facts. You are not limited in the length of your record. (You may submit photos - - if you use snail-mail and want photos returned, enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Write your name on the back of each photo.)

ASSIGNMENTS: List by years (for instance 60-63) each of your assignments by unit, location, and duties.

FLIGHT INFORMATION: (If an aircrew member at any time during your military service.) Note your aircrew specialty (Pilot, Flight Engineer, Gunner, etc.), number of flying hours in your aircrew specialty, and aircraft in which you logged flying time in your aircrew specialty.

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS: List the name of each award and decoration.

DATES OF PROMOTION: List your military grades and effective dates.

Forward Biographies to: Larry Fletcher 606 Racquet Club Drive, Lake Ozark, MO 65049  E-mail: fletch12@charter.net

Forward Photographs to: Ralph LeFarth 5754 Birch Hollow Drive, St. Louis, MO 63129-4236 * E-mail: ralph-l@sbcglobal.net  * Lower case “L”, not a 1

I completed and emailed my bio earlier this year. I did not have any ‘glamorous’ stories to tell, just a few notable experiences and the impact the ‘call-up’ had on me. Not only will it document my experiences for the book, but more importantly, it also will serve as a personal record for family and friends. That is important to me.

Finally, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me.

Best Regards,

Jim. Alvis
Secretary, AC-119 Gunship Association
3110 Maqua Ct, Carmel, IN 46033-4136
Shadow1969@indy.rr.com 

P.S. The AC-119 Gunship Association Reunion IX will be held Sept 12-14, 2008 at Branson, MO.

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Most or all enlisted personnel attended Basic Military Training (BMT) at Lackland AFB, or perhaps another location. Lackland AFB created the BMT Flight Photograph Project in an effort to collect approximately 119,000 USAF Basic Training flight photographs from the inception of the USAF in 1947 to the present. The collection includes photos from all bases that conducted Air Force basic training including Lackland AFB, Texas, Sampson AFB, New York, Parks AFB, California, Keesler Field, Mississippi, Amarillo and Sheppard AFB, Texas. This collection will also include Air Force basic training that was conducted overseas.

Go to the Lackland main BMT page. In the center of the page you will see 'VIEW FLIGHT PHOTOS'. Click on VIEW FLIGHT PHOTOS, then click on the decade you completed basic training. Once you select the decade, select the year and month you completed basic. Your Flight photo may or may not be there. If your flight photo is not there and you have such a photo, instructions are available to help you scan and submit your flight photo.