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From: Dick Flagg - Can Tho - 1963
Date: 11 Jul 2000
Time: 20:32:07
Remote Name: 38.31.5.54
I can only speak for the few "blue suiters" in 1963 at 4 ASOC (later DASC) . We were each issued a .38 cal Combat Masterpeaces (new) and an M-2 carbine (very used) with a couple of banana clips. On a trip to Siagon in Feb of '63 I was issued an AR-15. This was a "combat test" for what later was the M-16. I also used ( but was not issued by the USAF) a Remington "short barrel " 12 Gague shotgun with 00 ammo. I had to buy the ammo at the PX in Saigon. I had to sign a document stating I would not use the amm or hunt out of season. In '63 the VC in the rice paddy feared the shotgun more than any other close combat weapon. Please do not reply about what the Geneva Convention says about shotguns. All sides ignored that document as well as the Geneva Accords of 1954. In the air we had T-28s out of Soc Trang and B-26s out of Saigon. These planes used .50 cal and 20mm guns and 250, 500, and 750 lb bombs. Once in a great while we could get a C-47 Flare ship assigned to fly in the Delta . We also had the L-19 Spotter plane, which we lovingly refered to as the F-19. The waepons used by the F-19 was smoke grenades, an AR-15 (if the pilot had been issued one) and handgrenades in mayonnaise jars - but thats another story. Good luck on your project.