[MRCA] TACAN and LS-85 and LORAN

[Ray Fantini]

Loran station Conson  was located about fifty miles off the Delta area of South Vietnam and operated by the USCG, they have a web site with lots of information at:

https://www.loran-history.info/conson/conson.htm

More information on LS-85, CMSgt Richard Etchberger was posthumously awarded the medal of honor presented to his sons by President Obama in 2010 Being that Lima Site 85 was located in Laos and the mission remained classified he was awarded the Air Force Cross at the time of his death but his family was told he was killed in a helicopter accident. It was not until the operation was declassified that the Air Force put him up for it in 2008 and Congress approved it in 2009.

https://www.afhistoryandmuseums.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Article/719884/cmsgt-richard-l-etchberger/

Last month I was out in Vegas visiting my daughter and son in law who is serving out there and was talking to him about it and found that he knew a surprising amount about the whole story, its good to see that some active duty personal still have an appreciation and respect for those who came before them.

Other Lima Sites of note, LS-98/20/20A Long Tieng, Laos and LS-36 Na Khang, Laos that was assaulted in 66,67 and 68 and finally silenced by the NVA in 1969. Lot more fighting went on over in Laos then anyone was told.


Ray F/KA3EKH

From: mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net <mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On Behalf Of Ken Downs
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Subject: Re: [MRCA] TACAN and LS-85 and LORAN

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In '69-70-71 along the Cambodian border west and north of Saigon MF LORAN (1850/1950 kHz) was
only detectable during/near hours of darkness, even with a good antenna. Don't know about VLF LORAN;
no reason for me to check that. My flying was done as a 'chopper passenger and those pilots
liked to fly so low they had to gain altitude to get over the trees. Oh how I miss OH-6's!
I think they navigated by map and memory or possibly VOR from Tan Son Nhut ("Saigon International"
for civilian flights) ? Did/do military aircraft even have VOR ? Saigon or Cu Chi TACAN ? No idea.
I never saw any USAF folks on the ground out in my area or "funny" looking antennas other than the
balloon-supported groundplane used by the Navy for Duffelbag or Igloo White. Nothing to do with
aerial navigation.

W1KRT


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