Capt. Curry, I think I was one of the six other emergencies that day. Navy EKA-3B with fuel emergency. I have pictures of 665 as I taxied pass 665 after I refueled and on my way back to USS Coral Sea. I can share the pictures if you care to contact me. Glad you saved your crew and you deserve every award.

Captain Curry, I was one of the many SP Augmentees on duty that night and was posted and the end of the runway where you completed your rollout. The CP got us to evacuate our posts as far away as possible when you were on final. Amazing display of airmanship. I still remember the smell of the fuel. Thanks for not running over me.

@user-ed8sy2mo2g

3 ай бұрын

I'm a military history buff. I value first hand accounts. I love this story. I grew up watching the Vietnam War every night on the evening news.

Captain Curry thank you for your outstanding service and for relating your experiences to us. In 1957-58 at the age of 18 I worked on the B52D assembly line at Boeing Plant 2 in Seattle. I installed the left aileron, hydraulics, cables and wiring runs. I repeated the same installations every two and a half days. The most important aspect of the job was quality control. Everything had to be perfect with multiple inspections down to every nut, bolt, rivet and each installed part or assembly. Chet Burress

What a great story. I was a corporal in a Marine Corp F-4 squadron that was stationed at Danang when this aircraft landed there. I remember them working on it for a couple of weeks, then one day I came to work and she was gone. Really brings back the memories.

@g.t.simmons5496

3 жыл бұрын

I was a sergeant with Marine Aircraft Group 12 and was temporary assigned to MAG 15 for security. I also remember seeing that aircraft on the north end of the runway. About ten years later I was having a cup of coffee with a friend who was one of the maintenance crew who spent five days working on the plane. Tom said it was the scariest days of his life. It was just a normal day for us on security.

@johnfrancis4809

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your service

@PauloPereira-jj4jv

2 жыл бұрын

"Da Nang"...

Definitely should have got the Silver Star medal. An incredible story that relates to incredible times. A very humble, personable guy.

A friend/classmate of mine was a B52 pilot for 2 tours in Vietnam. He checked his log books and said he flew a mission in that plane at the museum.

I was a DFCS tech on '52s for 7 years. Worked many hours on 665 at Carswell, Anderson and U-Tapao. Never knew it was hit until I saw this video. Amazing story and outstanding flying by Captain Curry. I know how it feels to see an aircraft on display that you flew on in wartime. 56-0687, another D model, is displayed at Orlando International. I flew a gunnery training mission on her in 1970 out of Carswell and got my only 100% fireout. I now have a 1/144 scale model of her on my desk, thanks to a retired gunner who builds them for a hobby. Couldn't be more proud to have served and worked with those who flew and maintained these incredible aircraft.

Thank you for your service sir and the amazing story. My father was a top turret gunner on a B-17, flew 52 missions on board the “Glittering Gal” in the European theatre. His decorations include a Purple Heart, DFC, and Silver Star. My mother was a member of the WAC; they met and married while they were serving at the same air base after dad had returned from Europe.

Captain Curry, thank you for your service. An incredible story, years ago I heard a version of your story from my father, he was the Deputy Commander you mentioned at Danang (Col. Bill Dillard). I have a couple photos of 665 after you landed. He even mentioned joining y'all for beers after. I'm so grateful you and your crew are here to tell the story, thank you.

@georgelockfort8124

3 жыл бұрын

Pictures please?

@bt7112

3 жыл бұрын

@@georgelockfort8124 not sure how to post photos on KZread, but if you’re on Facebook I have posted a number of photos to the 366th Gunfighters page.

@georgelockfort8124

3 жыл бұрын

@@bt7112 Thanks, I'll check it out

@bt7112

3 жыл бұрын

@@georgelockfort8124 Sorry, not a great photo, I think taken with an old instamatic camera, but there are two photos of that particular Buff, it's a great page with some great people... facebook.com/photo?fbid=10202719200489700&set=p.10202719200489700&opaqueCursor=AbofZm5Ic7nlEQyIDU3uuTVu0G-QEN_yL7DhYlRoVTxwYGwrgjlUn1uzwe4QW-O88SaVDAWFjkFVp1gsxMM2vWp8SLb2vn0Mma9Fo0weyniNtZ7iyWNjBTwriq6nmvd-U3YRRGaVyl2pIVnYpgeYCsCqHT8pEEI76Vrpb7_KZVC39Zxaeh1xY1ztIWT29s4i74iN2jmP7xMFmkvi3pTTnTpTHByaskiu9kxBIqQG9G5krrIQ-zutqGJPn0ObsB32IkgqGc_6vy50z67Q1BcUsYUSxIjtHHg_U_xAyvmjHBn28qY-qpX11VoJd2qIKCKbIRNdoIHu8_hvo4u7fnbac9rt41p387GVR3bUi8s7tksloo4E6GdKSMyQ61oq-17l3I6i5T-18NAu3n492zIPtZLSQAdkNp2uFZotInyxJ-H35Bt_BAFKzhdZqj4X1c0d_5aqK9kv3aefEyOuMnKSzvFsAYT0HFjJK5g5nVlX9Tb8ZA

@johnschulz3614

3 жыл бұрын

9'@@georgelockfort8124k I

I can relate to Captain Curry's experience, and like he said, he did 23 missions over Vietnam. I happened to have grown up as an Air Force Brat as my dad was previously a B-17 pilot in WW II, shot down, and spent 2 years as a POW. He stayed in the Air Force and became a B-52 pilot in the early 1960's, a decade before Captain Curry, during the Cold War flying nuclear armed B-52's in holding patterns over the Arctic Circle on alerts in case of a nuclear war. My dad was my hero. I had the best parents any kid could hope to have. So I wanted to be a military pilot. I didn't care what kind of aircraft or service, I just wanted to be a pilot. However, my eyes were very bad, but even if they had been good, I was really poor at math because we moved around so often that I attended so many different schools with different text books, different teachers, different everything that I was lucky to graduate with a C average and I got into college. This was 1964-68 and the Vietnam war was still in a very serious fight. I was a history and English major and so I didn't have a deferment from being drafted. I received my notice to report for a pre-draft physical, so I knew my number was up and I would be drafted into the Army and most likely sent to Vietnam. I didn't mind going to Vietnam, but I didn't want to be a private with zero control over anything. One morning, I was walking to the student union to get a cup of coffee because I didn't have enough money to have breakfast when I saw two Marines at at table. One was and officer and the other was and senior staff NCO. I asked them what they were offering. A program that would allow me to finish college and if I graduated from Officer Candidate School between my junior and senior years I would be commissioned as a 2nd Lt upon graduating from college. So I signed up on the spot without telling my parents. Long story, but I ended up as a platoon commander in Vietnam 1968-69. It was a very hard year. I lost a lot of good Marines killed and wounded. I lost 20 pounds and when I returned home I was physically and mentally exhausted. But more than that, every single day for entire year, we never knew if we would see the next sunrise or the next sunset. There were firefights, ambushes, snipers, enemy mortars, friendly fire, fatal accidents, injuries, diseases, but the worst (in my opinion) were the mines and booby-traps. So, I know what Captain Curry was going through on that mission and I know the tension he had on his 23 missions into North Vietnam. But on the ground, it was much worse than that every day for an entire year except for the week of R&R we had during our tour. I took mine in Singapore, but I spent most of the week sleeping, drinking Singapore Slings at the Raffles Hotel, and eating constantly. I couldn't seem to get enough food. And then it was back to Vietnam. I somehow survived while too many of my Marines were killed and wounded. Coming back to the US was an out of body experience. The anti-war protesters were aggressive and violent. I landed in San Francisco on a charter flight from Vietnam and we were greeted by an angry mob of anti-war protestors screaming expletive's and throwing cans and bottles at us as we left the terminal. Welcome to America. I always wondered who gave our charter flight schedules to the protestors. I made it out of the airport without being attacked, but once I got into my hotel room waiting for my next flight home. Actually it wasn't home, but my parents were stationed in the Philippines, but my girlfriend had invited me to spend Christmas with her and her parents. That was perhaps the most enjoyable Christmas' ever and we got engaged. So, because of my father being my hero, I wanted to be a pilot. So, I became a civilian pilot and getting my commercial and instrument ratings. I took basic to advanced aerobatics, I became a glider pilot, and I took amphibian lessons and I went to Alaska to take mountain flying and float plane courses. Ultimately, my Marine Corps jobs became too time consuming and the nearest airport that had instrument rated planes for rent was too expensive, and so I had to eventually give it up. When I did, I had 650 hours of pilot in command time. I hope my dad and mom in heaven are proud of me. I'm 75 and permanently retired now and enjoying life without all the pressures. Semper Fi to all the Marines out there.

@garym7771

3 жыл бұрын

A great story to hear about too. Thank you also for your service.

@billcallahan9303

3 жыл бұрын

I can't believe you only got one reply for your great comment....without one word misspelled! Yes, you were incredibly, miraculously lucky! I'm sure you still feel the pain of your fellow charges (troops) losses. I bet your Dad popped you upside the head too for volunteering for the Marines! My dad most likely saved my life. I was going to volunteer for Airborne infantry. He said "Can't you think of something better son?" Good question! He was a Marine, S.W. Pacific, WW II. Since I watched a lot of Lloyd Bridges Sea Hunt....I wondered hmm? Does the Armg have divers? They did! My book, if interested. Oved & Back by Wild Bill Callahan. Amazon. Lots of crazy flying down into Mexico, some of zero visibility Vietnam diving. My video: Smuggling South (ditto as above). Take care buddy & Welcome Home! I'm 72.

@Axgoodofdunemaul

3 жыл бұрын

You and I had similar lives. I am an Army brat, lived all over the world with my wonderful family, ROTC, eight years in the Army, two tours in Vietnam, messy life afterwards, now retired on VA disability. I used to look up from clearings in the mountains and see the B52s (as I was told) silently flying over in threes, each one just a faint white light. As you say, an out-of-body experience. The pressure is off us now. God bless us one and all.

@ruthc8407

3 жыл бұрын

BMF, you sir, are a hero. Not just because of Nam, but because you are a Marine Corps officer, and also because of all you accomplished since then.

Capt Curry, I was assigned to the 366th MMS there at DaNang when you arrived. As a young Sgt working nites I was amazed to see your BUFF on our flight line the next morning. The only thing we ever heard was that it had received battle damage. After all these years it is nice to get the “rest of the story “.

@USAFmuseum

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you so very much for your service Mike!!! Great to hear you know the full story now!!!

Very humble guy, crew and the plane must have been one of a kind combination that day :)

AWSOME EXPERIENCE !!!! MY Father was US AIR FORCE IN N.AFRICA IN THE LATE 40's into 50's...Right Wing Commander of Maintenance on B-52's...one he worked on Crashed killing the pilot that took my Dad's emotions because they were friends...he was never the same after...GOD BLESS ALL WHO SERVED AND GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES of AMERICA... THANK YOU ALL...!!!

I flew B-52G aircraft acceptance out of Boeing Wichita, Kansas in the early 60’s. We delivered the planes to various bases. I got out of the air force in 1963. My crew went to Vietnam shortly thereafter. I always felt I had made the right decision. I praise the crews that survived it. It wasn’t a war I felt good about. Too many people died or were injured for basically political reasons. The worst thing is we lost.

@MrTea7

2 жыл бұрын

Well correctly speaking we quit. The Democrats controlled the Congress and withheld funding, a lot of them actually cheering on the communists. Arguably at least a stalemate with a conclusion similar to Korea could have been effected. One of the most grotesque lies of the 20th Century remains that the end of Viet Nam was foregone; the history texts lie by omission or in the case of the recent PBS Ken Burns "history" show, by overt denial. Aviation was cut out of the "history" (8,000 aviators died) and the Dec. 1972 "Christmas Bombing" (they did not actually bomb on Christmas) Operation LInebacker 2 deserved an episode all by itself; what Linebacker demonstrated was that the communist war effort could have been defeated (as it was in Korea) by air power, IF THE IDIOTS IN DC HAD PERMITTED THE MILITARY TO DO THEIR JOB. See "The Eleven Days of Christmas" book or any of the books with LInebacker in the title. My father was a SAC wing commander who was in the war and I grew up in those days hearing straight from B-52 crews and commanders how insane the policies implemented by LBJ, McNamara, and his "whiz kids" from Harvard were (my dad called them "highly educated idiots).

@user-tk6rw4sb5i

2 жыл бұрын

Hello i find my dad he back in USA after Vietnam war who can help me find him

@BobHoover-kl6zm

Жыл бұрын

My grandfather was Larry Lee, cheif in charge of customer support and crash recovery at Boeing when you were there

@havu-oj4qh

Жыл бұрын

THE HUMILIATED LOST BECAUSE "ALL OF US WERE FOOLS. I MYSELF AM AMONG THEM " - AS GENERAL MAXWELL TAYLOR SAID. (Wikipedia)

I much enjoyed your video. I was a B-52 Flight Surgeon for two years at Andersen AFB Guam (1966-68) with the 3rd Air Division. Your account brought back many memories of the Arc Light round the clock missions.Thanks, Capt. Robert Blake, MD

@adamwsaxe

3 жыл бұрын

You probably have lots of great (and some sad) stories yourself, Doc!

He’s still having an adrenaline rush from that experience. God bless you sir.

@stevesecret2515

3 жыл бұрын

PTSD, I bet.

This is the reason as an ex crew chief I feel proud for the pilots I sold aircraft to that they brought themselves home,and my airplane. Thank you.

Thank you for telling your missions! Thank you for your service for our country!🇺🇸

@GM-xk1nw

7 ай бұрын

He was there to kill other humans, there was nothing to thank him for.

I was at Danang with the 366th SPS, Tiger Flight, Air Base Defense, when this bird came in and was assigned to guard it. They'd parked it in Victor Sector which was the North West corner of the base as I recall. To say it was full of holes from nose to tail would be understatement. Ranging from huge to tiny and the wing tank was ruptured. That bird was a mess.

Thank you for your service sir. We have a DFC in the family too. My great uncle earned it posthumously at Ploesti as a co-pilot of a B-24. All the best to you and your family.

@billcallahan9303

3 жыл бұрын

Oh man! Ploesti was the worst of the worst! Some got lost, formations scattered, very low level, very heavy flack, total chaos! My hat is off! Deep respect!

@MrWahooknows

3 жыл бұрын

My dad was the pilot of a B-24 on that raid. 506th Sqdn "8 Balls." Plane was "Southern Comfort."

@bjohnson6108

3 жыл бұрын

@@MrWahooknows, best to you and your family.

@cindyjenkins17

Жыл бұрын

Rip to your uncle that was one Hell of a mission over ploesti

Captain Currie wonderful man, good to see the gentleman and hear him!

@robertwilkins8357

3 жыл бұрын

@kevin brown were you in the military? Are you a trumpette?

@loganmpe7559

3 жыл бұрын

@@robertwilkins8357 He's a moron but what's his political affiliation have to do with anything?

@loganmpe7559

3 жыл бұрын

@kevin brown Isn't is great, living the safe secure life you do, in in the most equitable country that has ever existed where you have the rights and freedom to cry about and disrespect the very people who are willing to sacrifice even life itself to make sure you have all of those in un-earned privileges?

Capt. Curry, I was a Marine stationed at Danang, use to watch many crippled Air Force and Marine aircraft return from their missions up North, can not say enough kudos to you guys that made it back. I wish you had touched on the mission restrictions required by our Government and the bombing runs you guys had to follow when flying those suicide missions. So many aircrews that didn't make it back from being shot down by Russians "advisors", that of course, were not there. I take little comfort in knowing we got some pay back in Afghanistan, too many good people lost over there for that God awful war. Thank you for your service Sir, I salute you, and your crew, and all our young men on the wall that didn't make it home !! God bless !!

I’m so fortunate to hear this story from this Airman, standing in front of his plane that saved his life. I’m certain he speaks for all the other aviators & crew with unique and similar events that will remain silent through history or are unable to share share their stories from all nations, friend or foe.

Thank you, Captain Curry, and your fellow airmen. What an amazing story. I'm glad you're still with us! Take care.

Thanks Ken, very much brought back memories. I was a B-52D navigator at U-T at the same time you were I also flew about the same number of missions over North Vietnam. I was flying on 22 Nov 1972 as Olive 3 to the same target as you had, Vinh, when Olive 2, in front of me, was hit by an SA-2 and became the first B-52D shot down by an SA-2. Olive 2 lost all communication and navigation aids due to the SA-2 hit. They flew by whiskey compass I learned later. We followed them to provide ECM support even though we couldn't contact them while they headed toward Thailand. I provided position to Search and Rescue so that after they bailed out near NKP, they were not on the ground more than 5 minutes. I am also a life member of the DFC Society except I feel you should have gotten a combat "V" for valor with your DFC for your heroic action. We both got our DFCs for missions over Vinh. I eventually retired as LtCol, USAF but from the Medical Corps. Welcome Home, Brother!

What a great guy....humble, has character and such an inspiration...thank you for your service sir.

Thank you for your service...I'm so proud to hear your story..God Bless You and all who served with you during that difficult time in history.Im so proud to be an American.

Captain Curry, You and your entire crew(s) are HEROES! Thank you, and God Bless you, for your service!!

Thanks for your service. I flew the Buff, but after the Vietnam war was over, so nobody ever shot at me. You did a great job on this video relating what happened to you, your crew, and 665.

What a fantastic chap! My hero. I absolutely love the B52. Well done.

Having seen that B-52 over the many years I have visited the museum, it was great to hear this first hand account.

@mikeglasgow6656

3 жыл бұрын

Where is this plane and museum ??

@MartyBecker

3 жыл бұрын

@@mikeglasgow6656 USAF museum in Dayton, OH.

What an amazing accounting of the event! I commend this Captain laying out all the vivid, action details, first person. If the Sam missile had exploded with the wing at a slightly different angle, there would have been NO wing and the plane would have crashed over enemy territory. Intelligence, skill and integrity with a great crew, that airplane behind him saved his life. Thank you, for posting.

We stripped a lot of the Avionics gear off that B-52D at Robins AFB in Georgia in the late 70's, before it went to Wright-Patterson AFB to the Air Force Museum. They parked it over on the SAC side at the 19th Bomb Wing for the various Avionics Shops to work on it. It was stripped at Robins AFB as the other side of base was the Depot for much of the Avionics used on Air Force Aircraft. ECM gear (and a lot of other stuff) is located in way different places on D models versus G models. Dragging heavy ALT-28's down from the 47 section isn't a lot of fun. Some of guys had worked D models, so they taught us the techniques for removing gear without hurting ourselves. We saw the repaired damage in the 47 section (rear interior) from the missile strike. We watched the plane take off a few days later. I think even the pilots flying it were surprised how fast it took off without all that gear on board.

This was a wonderful video, thank you Captain Curry and your Whole Crew and all the others who served in Vietnam...Cheers, from someone who grew up in Orlando Florida and having multiple SAC pilots living in my neighborhood and watching all the B-52's coming and going, I sure miss you all....Paul

A real leader for his team. Always citing them, always telling us his is alive thanks to his crew and that plane. An Example of leadership, a kind of leadership that many in many companies should follow. Thank you for sharing this story and therefore not letting it vanish in time.

CAPT Curry....Hell of a story and bless you and your crew. Thank you so much for your service and your story. Incredible.

Wow what an incredible guy. Humble and courageous. Nothing but respect.

Thank you, Captain Curry. Your account of that bombing mission actually made me jittery with nervous emotion. I and all Americans are filled with gratitude for your bravery.

Ex-ASA type here. I was stationed in Berlin in the period 1970-72 and worked in ELINT. One of my buddies and I were sent to the 6912th Security Squadron (USAFSS), when they ran short of people in our work or MOS. I was lucky enough never to have hear a shot fired in anger or pulled a trigger on anyone, but I think I did my bit to help save the pilots in the USAF, USMC, and USN from the attentions of the other side's SAMs and Flak guns. We saw a heck of a lot of them from our work site back in the day. Hats off to all of our pilots who had to face that challenge. Hand Salute!

Amazing story. An absolute gent. That's coming from a retired RAF pilot (F4 and Tornado). Seen a few 'BUFFs' around the place in my time, they don't rotate, they levitate! Awesome (if a little smoky!!!).

From a infantry soldier in 1968 .thank you for your help !!!

Thank you, good sir, for your service to your country and all of us.

I was in Sattahip, Thailand in the summer of 1966 when U-Tapao was first under construction as a member of the USCG construction detachment to build the SE Asia Loran C Navigation system. So I really enjoyed hearing your story. Thank you for your service. Once flight operation got going, you guys in Buffs really rattled our buildings each morning, which where 4 miles off the seaside end for the runway and three miles to the side. I am sure you saw our 625' tower.

Priceless story! Thank you for your service.

Thanks. Great story of survival. I was an ECM pod tech, F4, A-10 over in England (TAC, USAFE) 1978-1980. We knew of SAMs ( SA-2s, 6s, 8s ) from training and other USAF guys but I was never in a jet or shot at. The USAF sent a lot of us back to tech school to teach. Ugg.. Keesler. I am glad you survived, I am glad I missed Viet Nam.

@dennisgoff4723

3 жыл бұрын

David- i Trained at Keesler, ‘65-6 Best part about it was-> 90 mi. to The Big Easy, NOLA! & Made bearable for me personally [ a gorgeous US🇺🇸AF Nurse 👌🏾 ] Silver bars & ALL, went on to become a leading Health official.

@DavidALovingMPF102

3 жыл бұрын

@@dennisgoff4723 Keesler..UGG! Yes, good thing New Orleans was not too far off. My mom was in Florida, so I could drive down there too. I did not care for Keesler..

I think my Dad flew with Captain Curry, the name rings a bell. Dad was a Navigator on B-52's out of U-Tapao. Sadly Dad passed a year ago and I can't ask him

@richardnixon4345

3 жыл бұрын

Your dad told you he was a Navigator? I remember him peeling potatoes and making the officers beds

@ronaldlavender1137

3 жыл бұрын

@@richardnixon4345 This is the most vulgar reply I have ever read in utube comments.

@quikstrike9899

3 жыл бұрын

@@richardnixon4345 Sadly, he said they weren't allowed to aim for the American traitors in Hanoi at the time he visited. Guess that's how your folks lived to breed.

@jamesbatton4058

3 жыл бұрын

@@richardnixon4345 Disgusting.

Great photo at the end, The B52 Boys, you all did well.

God bless ya Ken! Freedom ain't FREE!

Thanks Very Much To Captain Curry and the brave men who flew with him. I fully understand his feelings toward the B-52 he flew. God Bless All Who Have Served and All Still Serving.

Beautiful video. Love our service members.

For a number of years I lived in Northern Kentucky so Dayton wasn’t that far a drive. As a result many times I stood beside and under that very BUFF so it’s great now to hear this story. Undoubtedly B-52s were just about the best aircraft in the USAF and if you were the enemy looking up, a scary sight. Thank you to all who served.

As a Former USAF CREW CHIEF on KC 135 and Recovery Crew of B- 52 G/H (1980’s) .... Capt Curry is NOT BEING SILLY when he talks of his superstition about planes. These jets... each and every one of them had their own personality. I ALWAYS PATTED my Tanker on the belly.... said Good Morning to her.... said nice things to her. Its true. Captain Curry must have been a good and smooth pilot.... because Ole 665 seemed to have really liked him and his crew.

Today I revisited that airplane. At approximately 10:10 or so in this video, he mentions the EWO officer "now has a window". I found the patch ! It is about 12" square. I took a picture of it and it is very hard to see, but it is right where Captain Curry said there was a new window. If you go to Dayton to see this airplane, look for that patch !

@rudylerma3042

3 жыл бұрын

I thought the EWO was upstairs about 6 to8 ft. behind the pilot!

@bigsparky8888

3 жыл бұрын

YOU BET I WILL !!!

@ringosk1

3 жыл бұрын

@@rudylerma3042 EWO is downstairs and facing backwards, not a great seat

@jamesburns2232

3 жыл бұрын

@@ringosk1 The Air Force is a big flying club. Navigators are called "Navi-Guessers!" and EWO's are called "Scrambled Brains"! Pilots get pay bonuses to stay flying, while EWO's and Navigators get nothing. When it comes to medals and promotions, the pilots get both while the EWO's and Navigators get nothing. NFO = No Future on the Outside. If you have a son or a daughter, make sure they become pilots and not flight officers.

@dennisgoff4723

3 жыл бұрын

@@jamesburns2232 - Not EVERYONE is Cut from THAT [Pilot!] kinda Cloth. After the Cold War/ V. Nam era, a Cousin of mine- Naval Aviator / Navigator- made Admiral, 31 yrs! Exemplary military career- 2 graduate degrees, built & sold some U.S. houses along the way. VERY NIICE_ly Ret.

The USAF Museum is an awsome place to visit.I got the chance once.

I worked ECM on F-4s out of Ubon at the same time as this, but stateside I was in SAC and worked on BUFs. The bottom of B-52’s was studded with very sturdy ECM antennas. That would be a very bad day indeed if Capt. Curry had been forced to jump out and bounce along the bottom of the plane. All kudos to men like him who flew all those combat missions.

Humble Hero

At 36:36, where you speak about your emotions and pride, reminds me of an ol' boy I know who flew the B-52D on everything from Chrome Dome to Linebacker II missions. He, too, fills with emotion and pride about his plane, his service, and the USAF. I remember him once saying that he probably could have made more money flying commercial but does not regret his 25 years of flying the B-52D as a member of the USAF. Thank you for your service, sir!

Captain Curry, your humility, your humanity, your courage and dedication, along with those of your crew, are a true inspiration for all of us. Thank you so much.

Thanks, Capt. Currie. I love hearing these stories- especially when they end well. I'm glad you guys made it through. My job in the USAF in the mid to late 80's was called Automatic Tracking Radar Specialist in the First Combat Evaluation Group. We had several CONUS permanent sites, several Mobile Duty Locations and also units in the Phillipines, Korea and Guam. Our job was to provide training scenarios to B52 crews that simulated various combat scenarios. We would provide electronic threats that showed on the B52 EWO screens exactly how they wold look in combat. One system would provide SA2 threats as well as air to air and various naval scenarios. The guys at the site would not only run the radars etc but also do maintenance. Our job in Viet Nam would be ground directed bombing where the remote radar site would guide the B52's to their targets. One site called Lima Site 85 was overrun by the enemy. It provided guidance on over 50 percent of missions to N. Viet Nam.

I love stories describing how events lead up to moments. & then going back to ' work '

@rosc2022

3 жыл бұрын

There's something empowering about getting back on the horse right away.

Makes life worth living and you see things in a diff light.....😀👍🇺🇸 A salute to you Capt from a Army guy!

My father Colonel William (Bill) Gilmore was a Navigator in a B-52, I remember J.D. Moore was the Pilot. He did two tours Vietnam in the ECM-66, I never knew the story about the 66. Today he is buried at the Air Force Academy down the road from the B-52 displayed near the gate. God Bless you Captain Curry, thank you for your story.

What a decent man Captain Curry is. I have seen that aircraft numerous times, and was always curious about its story. Great video!

Amazing story Captain Curry, thanks.

Captain. Curry, God Bless you. I am glad you and your crew made it.

Captain Curry, you sir are a Great American. You should be proud of your service and what you did for your country. I'm proud for you as I sure all real Americans are.

Thank You Sir for your service and Thank You for sharing your story with us.

Good job, Captain Curry. Thank you for your service!

Damned! My dude has flown so many times, he's permanently at V2.

Have to love those in MMS, FMS, OMS, AMS......They kept them ready.....

I was a flight mechanic on Huey in Laos. Use to watch from afar of some of your drops. Nice of you guys to come up on Guard and give us some warning. F111 and F4 drops was kind of neat. I had closeup of air support after I got shot down.

@loganmpe7559

3 жыл бұрын

From one "Old Mech" to another, thank you for serving! I hope you've had a peaceful and safe life since your time in country, God bless! P.S. that's a helluva way to get to experience "air support" though! Semper Fi! 🇺🇲🇺🇲

@oldmech619

3 жыл бұрын

@@loganmpe7559 First, I was in Laos while in the army. A lot of “Embassy” work. That means civi clothes, special IDs, secret flights. Real cool shit. Then I went back to Laos. When I went back, I was with Air America in a Chinook when I took a bunch of 50 cal sniper rounds just as we touched down in an LZ in Laos. One round knocked out both hydraulic systems and set us on fire. That hit was about a foot away from my face. Got the fire out. Just as I was clamoring into the rescue helicopter, we got hit with a mortar. A piece of shrapnel torn thru the side of the chopper missing my head by 6 inches. Once we got to safety, my boss said, “Go back to the helicopter and find out what is needed to recover it”. Yeah, I thought I had enough combat for one day. Well, that is not how combat works. You do what you are told. After I was dropped off, the F4 started banging the sight that I thought the rounds was coming from. The next day I went back with the repair kit and got the ship out. While I was waiting for the pilots to come fly us out, I took a break, had a sandwich, and watched the F4s that was providing cover for us. What a Show! The CIA operative said that this LZ was not the greatest for a picnic. We even had an F111 drop. Wow, the Sound of that Rumble. I could hear a B-52 far in the background. The biggest take I have, the Air Force called off the war, and directed all resources available to get our butts out danger. The bad guys were pretty close. Ps: The chinook was on loan to Air America from the US Army and they absolutely did not want it destroyed. We had to get it back to base. One other nuance from Air America, When we got shot down, first thing was to recover the aviation Clock from the instrument panel. That’s because very few helicopters recovered from the field have clocks remaining. They are the first things missing in combat. I got shot at a bunch of times. One time a round went between my feet and miss my gonads by three inches. Now that was a bit too close. On my my job interview with AirAmerica, one of the qualifiers question was, “You don’t mind being shot at, do you?” Of Course I don’t mind, I have been shot at plenty of times. It doesn’t bother me at all to be shot at” was my answer. “Oh Good” was their statement. That was BS. No one likes being shot at. But I will say afterwards what Winston Churchill said. “Nothing in life is so exhilarating as to be shot at without result. “ I’ll say amen to that. Now that was some Good Old Days I had a lot of other great experiences in Life. Even wrestled a shark (I won).

@dennisgoff4723

3 жыл бұрын

@@oldmech619 - THAT Totals an “Interesting” military stint to say the least ... Git the ‘Effin Tic-Toc ⏰. LoL 😝

Captain Currie is a wonderful person. I served in the USAF during the war and was stuck in the SAC puzzle palace and tried like the dickens to get to SEA. Wanted to serve/support wonderful air crews like these guys!

God Bless and Thank You... 72 January I was a Private coming out of Ft Dix NJ. We all did or best, people like did so much more. Again Thank you......

What an inspiring the exhilarating story to hear him tell...his bouts of hilarity are priceless...if he is still alive and kicking out there, I would LOVE to hear him talk or meet him. Just wow.

Love the USAF. The USAF museum is amazing.

Captain Curry, 49 Years after that and you can still feel your emotion as you tell your tale as though it happened yesterday. The B-52 is a Legend still today because of what men like you did who flew her into harms way. I have seen 665 at the AF Museum many times, and to hear your story first-hand is really quite a Privilege! Thank You for your service.

Great job Capt Curry, amazing story, TY, every airman gets attached to the aircraft, just as you did, whether pilot or support personnel…Its just in our blood….proud to serve our country!

This makes me so so proud of all of our troops , past,present and future!

What do you say to a winner of the Distinguished Flying Cross? "Holy shit, Captain! Yer still alive!!!"

Incredible story Capt Curry the BUFF is a tough old bird and still serving proudly. I did 179 day TDY to Kadena AB Okinawa SAC Support 400th MMS(T) Ford 1 Load Crew and PCS to 635th MMS U-tapao 73-74.

@jimporter7602

2 жыл бұрын

Was tdy at Kadena for 179 days in 72 February - August on KC 135A engines

I have no doubt the entire frame of that B-52 was slightly bent by the SA-2 explosion. After listening to the whole story, and finding out Curry's ejection seat was damaged, I can see why he was emotional about that B-52, still flying in spite of the damage, and saving his life. The whole crew was very lucky. The crazy tactics they used during Vietnam didn't help, like multiple missions using the same routes and altitudes. Nowadays technology is a lot different, and we do things a lot smarter, also hopefully Washington has learned the lessons of Vietnam and would not try to micromanage a war from halfway around the world like they did back then. And the B-52 is still flying, although the H model is very different from the old Vietnam era D's, and they are planning on re-engining to keep them flying for another 20 years. A truly amazing aircraft.

Incredibly riveting account of your mission, obviously etched in your memory. Wow! Thank you for your courageous service to our country! My dad was in the USAF & we were assigned to Andersen AFB 69-7. I was only 10, but my brother & I use to watch the Buffs takeoff & land going to & from Vietnam.

Capt Curry, I salute you sir. You are totally credible and believeable. Your aircraft was/is a great example of what can be done when aircraft are designed and marketed by engineers, not bean counters. Boeing used to be a great company. Not any more.

I spent 7+ years in the Air Force, loved it 100% Nov 72 May 80

Still gets you today, brave men, thank you for your service.

Amazing to finally hear the long version of the mission. Thank you Ken. It’s wonderful to see your still doing well.

Captain Curry, I was stationed at Da Nang when you landed there. I remember that the ground crew were wondering where to park "the Bird". We all were so glad the day it was flown out. That night DaNang, about 2 AM I believe, was under attack and I am sure they were trying to hit the B52.

Did Capt. Curry go on to fly for the airlines, in civilian life, or did he continue in the Air Force? What a humble, nice guy. 665 did save his bacon. What a story.

Thank you for a great story. You are a good man, glad you made it. Thank you for your Service Sir.

What an incredible story. Thanks for the story and thanks very much for your service.

As a retired Air Force (SAC) aircraft mechanic, thank you for your service, SIR.

I remember this story. I saved a newspaper clipping of this B-52 on the ground at Danang. I had it taped to my barrack's room wall at Griffiss AFB, NY. Nice to hear the rest of the story.

Much respect from another participant. Co-pilot, B52D, 2 Bomb Squadron out of March AFB. Two 6-month TDYs from 12/1972 to 12/1973 (U-Tapao & Guam). Well Done!

Ken Curry....above all...a great guy!!

Thank you sir, Captain Ken Curry and all your crew, thank you for your service. God Bless!

Great history, great plane, and very brave men. Captain Curry thanks to you and your crew for your service and thank you for this first hand account!

Capt Curry, you guys that served in Vietnam did not get the recognition you actually deserved. My Dad served in Nam on the ground. He and his fellow soldiers were heroes as were all the fly boys. I salute you sir! God was definitely in control. Your description of your SA-2 experience is riveting. Thank you Sir

Thank You Captain Currie and crew so much!

Dear Capt. Curry, Sir, a one of the many assigned to the 635th CSGp, 635th Supply Squadron, War Readiness Supply Kits Warehouse, RTNAF U-Tapao, 1971 - 1974 I salute you, and thank you for all you have done and persevered. Sir!

@alex9483

3 жыл бұрын

May I ask what is a War Readiness Supply Kit and what was in them? Thanks

@bobmartin4942

3 жыл бұрын

@@alex9483 parts and equipment needed to keep the planes flying during wartime operations.

@alex9483

3 жыл бұрын

@@bobmartin4942 thanks!

This USAF Brat Salutes you, Sir. And like the Boeing B-17 before the -52, she brought you home because you and your crew made the lady want to make it. I have nothing but respect, Sir.

@no1ded

3 жыл бұрын

Don't forget the B-47 in between them!