From: John Souders
Date: 1/12/2005
Time: 7:25:42 AM
Remote Name: 205.188.116.138
I flew in in/with 311 from August 1968 to August 1968 (13 month tour). I might have a few old photo's. I'll check. I do have some Super 8 film. Two incidents that I remember were: An A-4 after an engine change with the tail off jumped the chocks and broke the chains. The mech. had forgotten to hook up the fuel control and it went to 100%. When it got to the edge of the concrete, the nose gear broke off and the re-fueling probe punctured a big fuel bladder. I went on a mission and the leaked fuel would still flame up when the foam would part over 2 hours later.
Morning just before sunrise, 311 and 211 were both hit by rockets. Must have lost or heavy damage to a dozen planes. Utter kaos until things were under control. Rockets would fire and take out the aircraft in the revetments across from the firing airplane. Bombs went off low order.
John Souders (770) 953-3862
I stayed in the reserves and flew F-8's and F-4's. I flew for my entire 20 and am now considered retired reserve.
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