Back in ‘65-’66 I worked flight-line maintenance on transient cargo aircraft at Hickam Field on Oahu. The newly introduced ‘T’ tail, jet engine, C-141 was the Air Force’s new stragetic workhorse in the build up for Vietnam along with C124s, C-130s, and C-133s adding support. Occasionally older cargo planes would arrive requiring maintenance such as Gooney Birds, $19s, C-54s, C-97s, C-118s, C-121s, C-118s, and C-123s. We always groused and complained about working on the old birds but the truth was we learned a great deal about the evolution of avionics. If you look at the C-54 and compare it to the C-118 (my favorite prop cargo/executive plane) you can’t miss the bloodlines.
BTW, Operation Bluelight moved the 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry (Electric Strawberrys) from Schofield Barracks Hawaii to Pleiku Vietnam. The balance of the 25th went to CuChi North of Siagon. They were there so long they eventually became known as the CuChi National Guard. Anyway, in terms of weight moved, Op Bluelight, not well known, was bigger than the Berlin Airlift, although not as significant. I know, I worked 12hrs/day for months and enjoyed every minute.
C-54 bttt