[MRCA] TACAN and LS-85

[KA1LHZ]

I've also done research about USAF comms in SE asia, trying to keep my 
comm shelter as close to historically accurate. I came across the Lima 
Site 85 info and read all that I could find. My recreation of a USAF 
Communications Service display came out pretty good. I usually have the 
radio working in the shelter and of course a genuine period correct USAF 
uniform I.A.W. USAF 35-10... I did

73

DE KA1LHZ

On 2/10/21 12:12 PM, Jeep Platt wrote:
> Ray,
> That's about it. TACAN was deployed and there were standard ICAO 
> Navaids at primary airdromes like VOR/ILS and some NDBs. Of course 
> Civil aids were hard to maintain during conflict. But, must ask you, 
> not everybody knows the TRN-17. IN  '68, I was Tech Rep for the TRN-17 
> atthe 2nd MOB at Sembach.
> Jeep K3HVG
>
> Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
> Get Outlook for Android <https://aka.ms/ghei36>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *From:* mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net <mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net> on 
> behalf of Ray Fantini <RAFANTINI at salisbury.edu>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, February 10, 2021 11:49:39 AM
> *To:* 'MRCA' <mrca at mailman.qth.net>; MMRCG at groups.io 
> <MMRCG at groups.io>; milsurplus at mailman.qth.net <milsurplus at mailman.qth.net>
> *Subject:* [MRCA] TACAN and LS-85
>
> Been reading a lot about TACAN site Lima 85 and its sorted history in 
> the Vietnam war. Have a couple general questions about aircraft 
> navigation during the conflict, remember there was no GPS back then so 
> going to assume that all navigation was by TACAN or Loran with TACAN 
> being the primary method for in country operation and Loran for long 
> range and over water opps.
>
> Is this a correct assumption? Was more done with dead reckoning? Or 
> where their other older systems in use like NDB and the like?
>
> On the Air Navigation charts in in use did they show the location of 
> LS-85? What about other locations? Would assume that any larger 
> airfield had a AN/TRN-17 TACAN station but were they also extended out 
> to things like fire bases or other non-aviation assets?
>
> LS-85 was located in Laos with security provided by the Hmong under 
> CIA advisors and operated by the USAF employing airmen who were “sheep 
> dipped” as to appear as civilian contractors.
>
> In addition to the TACAN they also had a AN/MSQ-77 Radar center along 
> with a AN/TSQ-81Bomb Directing Center that provided ground directed 
> bombing of North Vietnam in support of Rolling Thunder and other 
> operations.
>
> Located on top of a mountain in Houaphanh Province the site remained 
> in operation until being overrun on March 10, 1968 That operation 
> although classified at the time it resulted in the one of the signal 
> days highest loss of life for the Air Force.
>
> There are several accounts of the attacks by the NVA including the air 
> strike by AN-2 Biplanes and the final assaults on the mountain by NVA 
> commandos to scale what was thought to be an impossible to climb cliff 
> at the back of the site to make the assault.
>
> The day after being overrun the survivors of the outpost were 
> evacuated and the site later was leveled by an airstrike.
>
> In the last twenty years excavations at the site including help from a 
> couple of the commandos who took part have provided additional 
> information on some of the 11 MIA that are still not accounted for. 
> They did find TSgt Patrick Shannon remains in 2005
>
> It’s incredible to see the sacrifices involved in operations that we 
> only learn of decades later.
>
> If anyone is interested can maybe put something together about TACAN 
> and its use during the conflict, maybe we can get some of the Navy 
> people to do something on Loran?
>
> Ray F/KA3EKH
>
>
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-- 
KA1LHZ FN34
Failure is not an option. It comes bundled with your Microsoft product.
Computers are like air conditioners: they stop working when you open Windows.
Windows isn’t a virus, viruses do something.

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