The FReeper Foxhole Studies Flying Quartermasters - December 14th, 2003

Various

[SAMWolf]

Flying Boxcar
Fairchild C-119J



The C-119, developed from the WW II Fairchild C-82, was designed to carry cargo, personnel,

litter patients, and mechanized equipment, and to drop cargo and troops by parachute. The first

C-119 made its initial flight in November 1947 and by the time production ceased in 1955, more

than 1,100 C-119s had been built.

The USAF used the airplane extensively during the Korean War and many were supplied to the U.S.

Navy and Marine Corps and to the Air Forces of Canada, Belgium, Italy, and India. In South

Vietnam, the airplane once again entered combat, this time in a ground support role as AC-119

"gunships" mounting side-firing weapons capable of firing up to 6,000 rounds per minute per gun.

The C-119J on display was specially modified for the mid-air retrieval of space capsules

re-entering the atmosphere from orbit. On August 19, 1960, this aircraft made the world's first

midair recovery of a capsule returning from orbit when it "snagged" the parachute lowering the

Discoverer XIV satellite at 8,000 feet altitude 360 miles southwest of Honolulu, Hawaii.

The airplane was delivered to the Museum in November 1963.

SPECIFICATIONS
Span: 109 ft. 3 1/4 in.
Length: 86 ft. 5 3/4 in.
Height: 26 ft. 7 3/4 in.
Weight: 66,900 lbs. max.
Armament: None
Engines: Two Wright R-3350s of 3,500 hp. ea.
Cost: $590,000
Serial Number: 51-8037
C/N: 10915
PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed: 290 mph.
Cruising speed: 200 mph.
Range: 2,000 miles
Service Ceiling: 30,000 ft.

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Today's Educational Sources and suggestions for further reading:
www.qmmuseum.lee.army.mil/korea/

[SAMWolf]

Veterans for Constitution Restoration is a non-profit, non-partisan educational and grassroots activist organization. The primary area of concern to all VetsCoR members is that our national and local educational systems fall short in teaching students and all American citizens the history and underlying principles on which our Constitutional republic-based system of self-government was founded. VetsCoR members are also very concerned that the Federal government long ago over-stepped its limited authority as clearly specified in the United States Constitution, as well as the Founding Fathers' supporting letters, essays, and other public documents.

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Tribute to a Generation - The memorial will be dedicated on Saturday, May 29, 2004.

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Actively seeking volunteers to provide this valuable service to Veterans and their families.

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[SAMWolf]

FALL IN to the FReeper Foxhole!



Good Sunday Morning Everyone

If you would like added to our ping list let us know.

[SAMWolf]

Good Morning Snippy:

The first airdrop of a bridge to troops engaged in combat.

On the morning of December 7, 1950, a rush call was received. An unusual item was to be airdropped to the beleaguered troops at Chosin Reservoir. Aerial delivery technicians were required at a forward airbase to prepare and help deliver the item. Immediately, a detachment from the 8081st, led by Captain Hospelhorn, was dispatched to the airbase. Once there the Para-Quartermasters were shown an eight-section treadway bridge and told to figure out a way to drop it.

It was decided that each section of the bridge should be delivered in a C-119 aircraft and carried to earth by two 48-foot parachutes.

The men worked through the night rigging the bridge sections. In the morning the sections were loaded aboard eight Flying Boxcars. Once in the air, the sections had to be moved again. It had been decided at an Army-Air Force briefing that at 1,000 feet the sections would be moved so that seven feet of the 16-foot length of each section would extend past the rear opening of the plane. This was necessary to facilitate a fast drop because the drop zone was only 300 yards long. However, with careful planning each section hit well within the limits of the prescribed area.

Captain Hospeihorn, for distinguishing himself in this action, received the Legion of Merit. Thus, the story of the 8081st is written; a story of the individual and combined efforts of all members of the unit.

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Sam.

[SAMWolf]

Morning Aeronaut.

[SAMWolf]

Number 3 was for you.

[Iris7]

I remember the C-119 era well. I was an Army dependent in Japan from 1956 to '59, when Korea was the center of attention. I remember the men talking about the 8081st. My Dad used to fly back and forth to Korea in a C-119, which he called "the flying coffin". There were in those days maybe six or ten C-119's lost a year.

The Wright R-3350's, truly the epitome of the radial era, had an unfortunate way of losing oil pressure in seconds, and a loaded aircraft needed two engines to fly.

Knew and old 187th RCT guy, lost track of him a few years ago, who was in the combat drop mentioned in the article. The ground was all big rocks and you couldn't dig in where he was wounded (by Chinese mortar fire). He was as close to the ground as he could get and was wounded just as you would expect from ground bursts in that situation. To make things clear, Snippy, as you try to move around under fire, in order to pull your knees up one at a time you have to raise your behind up in the air, making it a good target!! Remember the sound of mortar fragments maybe six inches above my head, loud buggers!!

[radu]

Good morning all at the FReeper Foxhole!

THANK YOU service men and women, past and present, for serving the USA!

[E.G.C.]

Good morning Sam and everyone at the Freeper Foxhole. WE GOT SADDAM!!!!!!WOOHOO!!!!!!

[Samwise]

Merry Christmas! Smoke 'em if you got 'em!

[radu]

What a lovely sight!!

[Darksheare]

He looks like Anti-Claus....

[GATOR NAVY]

I'm a quartermaster in the Navy, but our job is a little different:

"Quartermasters (QM) stand watch as assistants to officers of the deck and to the navigator; serve as steersmen and perform ship control, navigation, and bridge watch duties; procure, correct, use, and stow navigational and oceanographic publications and charts; maintain navigational instruments and keep correct navigational time; render "honors and ceremonies" in accordance with national observance and foreign customs; and serve as petty officers in charge of tugs, self propelled barges, and other yard and district craft."

QM rating symbol

[GATOR NAVY]

This was my wallpaper until snippy sent me the big deck gator pic (and even in the days of GPS, we still do this stuff now).

[Soaring Feather]

Good morning everyone in The Foxhole!

[Professional Engineer]

Today is a great day indeed!

[Soaring Feather]

Saddam Hussein has been put away!
We thank you Lord for this new day
Justice will rule in Iraq
freedom for a people ruled by a thug, a slug
lives under the ground
that's where Saddam was found!
THANK YOU TROOPS!!!!
THANK YOU PRESIDENT BUSH!!
GOD BLESS OUR MIGHTY NATION.