The first Croc 242 was Mr. Gill, call sign "Waldo". He was followed by Mr. Garrison call sign "Pigpen". The ship itself was shot up in late August 1969. Mr. Mendard was flying it that day. We were wing man to Croc 426 which was Jack Cloud.

We had just did a LRRP insertion near LZ Hardtimes and the LRRP had lots of movement so we went back and pulled them out. Next thing we knew a quad fifty opened up on us. We got several rocket off but I think we got the worst of it. The tail boom and the rear of the engine caught hell. Was able to get the ship back to An Khe but the tail boom had to be replaced. The engine was also replaced. That was the last day I crewed her. I spent the next few days subing on other ships. I left the middle of Sept.

Touch was the crew chief of Croc 426 that day. Damn tracers from a fifty cal look like basketballs coming at you. That day the sky was full of them.