<< early '69 I think I remember we had a firefly ship, a flare ship, and a pair of gunships on the hotspot every night >>

During 70 at An Khe, we had two AHC's --- the 119th and the 57th; also had 229th (?? I think ?? -- Blackjacks, any way); plus some Pink Panthers and Yellow Scarf (LOH and Cobra teams --Hunter/Killers) aircraft all at the Golf Course. I remember the flare ships "on call" every night; but mostly they weren't used. And rotated, I believe, among the various slick units there. Anyway, we didn't have "the call" very often. As I think back, I think I may have flown a flare mission once as a peter pilot, but I cannot recall ever doing it as an A/C.

Now Cambodia was a different story. We flew over there at night with flares, ready to drop if called; but I never did. Some of the Ghost Riders and Gladiators did a lot of night operations over there; but all I ever did was radio re-trans.

"Wake-me-when-it's-time-to-go-gas-up"
Pickett