Links to Related Web Sites

Ramsbury at War - Wiltshire, England - This excellent web site contains historical information about a sister Troop Carrier Group(437th) assigned to this British airfield. The 437th TCG was assigned to the 50th Troop Carrier Wing along with the 434th, 435th, 436th, and 438th TCGs. The site also contains documentation of an unfortunate mid-air collision of two C-47s of the 71st TCS.

USAF AC-119 Gunships is a very comprehensive resource for both the AC-119G and K model gunships, and the three U.S. Air Force units that flew them in Southeast Asia: the 71st SOS, 17th SOS, and 18th SOS. The host of this excellent site is Bill Petrie,CMSgt, USAF, Ret.

The AC-119 Gunship Association is by and for officers and enlisted personnel who served combat duty with the 71st, 17th, or 18th SOS during the Southeast Asia conflict. This site endeavors to attract former members of the three units, and contains information about past and future reunions. This site is associated with the USAF AC-119 Gunships site.

The Shadow Gunner is a site by former 71st SOS Aerial Gunner Jim Mattison. Jim flew with Maj. Dick Morgan's crew at Phan Rang. Jim shows and explains his experiences as a gunner on an AC-119G "Shadow" aircraft. Air Force members who served at Phan Rang during 1969 will recall many of the scenes.

The Atterbury/Bakalar Air Museum site documents the history of the former U.S. Army Air Field/U.S. Air Force Base at Columbus, Indiana. Title to the Air Force Base was transferred to the City of Columbus in March, 1972, and it was officially renamed Columbus Municipal Airport in 1981. The airport's identifier is BAK.

The Atterbury/Bakalar Air Museum is located on the Columbus Municipal Airport property, forty-five miles south of Indianapolis, IN. It is dedicated to the memory of all military and civilian personnel who served in any capacity in the wars and conflicts from 1942 to 1970. It serves to recall events of WW II, and the Korea, Cuba, and Vietnam conflicts which touched so many of our lives.

1st Lt. John E. Bakalar. This excellent web site is hosted by 71st SOS member James D. West, and contains many photographs and personal documents that were contributed by Lt. Bakalar's family. Lt. Bakalar lost his life in France on September 1, 1944 while flying a P-51D-5 of the 353rd Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group (The Pioneer Mustang Group), 100th Fighter Wing, XIX Tactical Air Command, 9th Air Force.

Camp Atterbury. This excellent web site is also hosted by 71st SOS member James D. West. Camp Atterbury is best known for soldier training for WW II, Wakeman General Hospital, a POW camp for 3,000 Italian and 8,900 German soldiers, and an out-processing center for hundreds of thousands of troops following the end of WW II. Wounded U.S. soldiers from the European Theatre were flown in to nearby Atterbury Air Field for treatment at Wakeman Hospital.

Visit the Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Memorial was dedicated on May 28, 1999, the last Memorial Day weekend of the 20th Century. On hand were 95 of the 156 living recipients of the Medal of Honor. The Memorial, including its perpetual care, is presented by IPALCO Enterprises to the citizens of the United States of America in honor of all who served their country, and to the precious few who received this Nation's highest award for valor.

The world's first operational atomic bomb was delivered by the U.S.S. Indianapolis (CA-35) to the island of Tinian on 26 July 1945. The Indianapolis then reported to CINCPAC (Commander-In-Chief, Pacific) Headquarters at Guam for further orders. She was directed to join the battleship USS Idaho (BB-42) at Leyte Gulf in the Philippines to prepare for the invasion of Japan. The Indianapolis, unescorted, departed Guam on a course of 262 degrees making about 17 knots. At 14 minutes past midnight, on 30 July 1945, midway between Guam and Leyte Gulf, she was hit by two torpedoes out of six initiated by the Japanese submarine I-58.

The Ninth Air Force inherited the British airfield at Aldermaston on 16 Oct 1943. Aldermaston became home for the 434th Troop Carrier Group from 3 March 1944 - 12 Feb 1945. The airfield is on the Aldermaston Court estate, south of Aldermaston Village in Berkshire. Aldermaston and other airfields can be visited at the Museum of Berkshire Aviation.

A Douglas C-53D 'Skytrooper' of the 72nd Troop Carrier Squadron is currently on display at the McClellan Aviation Museum, Sacramento, CA. The C-53D (USAAF S/N 42-68835) was delivered to the USAAF on July 12, 1943. It was assigned to the 72nd Troop Carrier Squadron, 434th Troop Carrier Group, while undergoing training with the 101st Airborne Division before departing for overseas in September, 1943. Upon arrival in England, the aircraft was assigned to 434th Group Headquarters at Aldermaston, but was maintained by the 72nd TCS, and bore the markings of that unit (CU) throughout the war. Unlike the C-47 with the large double-opening cargo doors, the C-53 had a small passenger-type entry door on the port side and 28 small metal bucket seats laid out airliner-style in the cabin.

The National World War II Glider Pilots Association web site is a tribute to the deeds, heroism, and sacrifices of the American Combat Glider Pilots of World War II.  They flew and fought in Europe, the Pacific, and the China/Burma/India Theater. Their fragile craft made of wood, canvas and metal tubing carried troops, vehicles, artillery, ammunition and supplies. When they lifted off on their one-way combat missions, they knew that at least one in every five of their number would probably be killed or wounded. They flew into combat at low altitude through skies filled with anti-aircraft fire before they released from their tow planes. These brave pilots suffered casualties far in excess of those of most other combat specialties. 

Tribute to the American Combat Glider Pilots of World War II