[Milsurplus] Mud Flaps

[Marty R's GI-stuff haunt]

Talked to one Don X nite of 7/4.  He was an army major in Korea.
Transferred to USAF ~'53, flew F94s, then small airline career.

Subject arose of a AT6 crash nearby where both men died.  Ran outa
gas.  Reportedly plane's near-ready for flight again.  Tough bird.

I said I'd heard AT6 ww2 trainers used in combat by some small nations.

He says:  

"Small hell, I've got 50 missions in a back seat spotting
 for incoming AF F80s & F84s on bombing runs.  Those pioneer jets so
 marginal on fuel that they never had time for a go-around, that there'd 
 be two leaders who'd 1st drops, 2nd corrected T6 drop,  & followers 
 could go for corrected zone.

 AF guy flew the T6, army guy spotted.  T6 to jets was UHF*
 
 Worked marginally.
 
 Don X sed Marines did it better since they used retread ADs from carriers 
 & those brutes had plentuy of gas for xtra passes.  Marines had guy on 
 ground with 'giant backpack**' to lead 'em in.
 
 The ADs would come back to the carrier with mud in their flaps"
 
Neat tale.

In fact ADs did so well thery were rolled out again by, this time, AF
as A1Es.

  'rm

 *could thay have put huge ARC-27 uhf in T6s?  In fact I wonder if any
  radios at all in T6s at training fields. Maybe the civvy 400kcs-up, 
  3105kcs down??

**bet that was MAU which, I think, was 1st 100-156 backpack.
 
  there I've stepped in it, but note the "I think" above