RUMBLES FROM THE JUNGLES - AST 5
HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, visited British Guiana during the first week of February.
Why is this being presented by an AST as part of the Newsletter? The answer to this is simple.
The local government in British Guiana wished to present the Duke to the largest number of people possible in this country. This was almost impbssible without the, use of a helicopter, as roads are rough and a very slow means of travel. When a road meets a river, the road stops. This country is split by four large rivers flowing into the Caribbean. The only way to travel is by the rivers or by air. There are few airstrips in British Guiana, so a conventional aircraft, was ruled out.
The helicopter made it very easy to land close to the main centers, thereby saving time which would have been consumed by road travel. At the request of the B. G. Government, our helicopters were allowed to transport HRH while he visited the country. Prince Philip received a far more extensive tour and met more of the people, than would otherwise have been possible.
Col Humbrecht visited AST 5 to be on hand while the Duke was here. Col Humbrecht also briefed the Duke on the 1370th and its operation in B. G.
Capt Fred Liebert was the Aircraft Commander of the H-21 transporting Prince Philip, and Capt Hamrick piloted the H-21 carrying the remainder of the party. Capt Miller piloted the back up aircraft. The entire program went very well, making this a very satisfactory and memorable event for the entire AST.
Following the departure, of the Prince, was the onset of the General Strike by the people of B.G. USAF personnel were restricted to the limits of the base and, for a short period, were without power and water facilities. Aircraft were grounded, thereby postponing scheduled missions, due to the fact that the Atkinson Field control tower and refueling facilities were inoperative because of the strike. Emergency food airlift from Turner brought the necessary items needed at the guest house to provide sufficient menus for the personnel. This food arrived via C-130, where a smiling welcoming committee greeted the aircrew upon their arrival at Atkinson Field.
NET CONTROL STATION
Arrivals from Turner AFB for duty tours at AST 5 weres SMSgt Turner, who will replace MSgt Burton as Ground Stations NCOIC,; SSgt Francischine, replacing TSgt Malone as NCS NCOIC; and A1C Green, A2C DeToye, A2C Pedigo and A2C Wilshire, who are presently on the various ground stations. Completing their duty tours at the. various ground stations and at Atkinson Field were; TSgt Malone, SSgt McLaughlin. AlC's Crawford, Hall and A2Cs Carrasco, Diggs, Proper, and Stump.
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Submitted By Lou Chapman