1st Lt. Michael Smithson's AC-47 Log

(Update 8-09: Using a DOD Evasion Chart of the area, I updated most of the flights from Udorn. As expected, most missions were in the vicinity of the Plaine des Jarres (PDJ) in northern Laos.)

I've done my best to type all the info in accurately, but I am sure there are probably a couple of typos.

The (Base) column was added by me in an effort to indicate the area engaging or base defended. I hope to eventually obtain more maps so I can put a name to some of the map coordinates in the log. This may be futile as it appears patrol coordinates are not necessarily where any of the fighting happened. I have begun to fill in some more of these. I am pretty confident of the Duc Lap and Ben Het locations as I have other sources for verification. For the others, I have filled in the nearest base I can identify. Many of the coordinates are very close to Pleiku. I'm not sure if that is just where they did their Combat Air Patrol (CAP) or if they engaged enemy there. I think it is some of both.

Any input or corrections are appreciated.

-Chris

CAP- Combat Air Patrol

TIC- Troops in Contact

H&I- Harrassment and Interdiction

KBA/WBA- Killed by/Wounded by

KTC- ? (Not sure about this one. May have something to do with shooting at trucks up in Laos "Kiler Truck Convoy?")

Date Flight From Flight To # Call Sign Location Base*/Area Flares Ammo Remarks
8/6/68 Nha Trang Local 43-48686 Area Orientation (1) Col Lathrop
8/8/68 Nha Trang Local 45-0927 Spooky 41 3 6,000 3rd Pilot on CAP familiarization
8/13/68 Nha Trang Local 46-920 Spooky 42 6 6,000 ckout
8/14/68 Nha Trang Pleiku 44-76606 Moving to Pleiku "B" Flight 4th ACS
8/15/68 Pleiku Local 44-76606 Area orientation Touch & Go
8/18/68 Pleiku Local 44-76606 Spooky 22 CAP
8/21/68 Pleiku Local 44-76606 Spooky 21 CAP
8/23/68 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 21 BR 290446 16 CAP
8/24/68 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky21 AR 772688 15 CAP
8/24/68 Pleiku Local 720 Spooky 23 YU 855770 Duc Lap 20 21,000 CAP
8/25/68 Pleiku Local 720 Spooky 23 AR 868044 Duc Lap 6 CAP
8/25/68 Pleiku Local 44-76606 Spooky 23 YU 8779 Duc Lap 8 21,000 CAP
8/26/68 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 21 ZV 137020 LZ Ban Me Thout 8 2,000 CAP
8/27/68 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 21 Duc Lap 12 19,500 CAP
8/27/68 Pleiku Local 44-76670 Spooky 23 Duc Lap 23 21,000 CAP
8/28/68 Pleiku Local 44-76670 Spooky 23 Duc Lap CAP
8/29/68 Pleiku Local 44-76670 Spooky 22 Duc Lap 24 CAP
8/30/68 Pleiku Phu Cat 46-76370 YU 855755 Duc Lap 27 15,000 CAP
8/31/68 Phu Cat Pleiku 46-76370 2 Recover from Phu Cat Attack on Pleiku
8/31/68 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 21 7 CAP
9/2/68 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 22 CAP
9/7/68 Pleiku Local 44-76606 Spooky 22 YU 851780 Duc Lap 22 21,000 CAP
9/10/68 Pleiku Local 43-48623 Spooky 21 YU 903725 Duc Lap 30 21,000
9/11/68 Pleiku Local 44-76722 Spooky 23 CAP
9/16/68 Pleiku Local 44-76606 Spooky 22 Air Abort
9/17/68 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 22 YB 832278 Ben Het 28 21,000 CAP
9/18/68 Pleiku Local 44-76606 Spooky 21 ZA 045440 24 21,000 CAP
9/18/68 Pleiku Local 44-76722 Spooky 21 CAP
9/20/68 Pleiku Local 43-48263 Spooky 22 ZA 2246 24 CAP, dustoff
9/21/68 Pleiku Phu Cat 44-76606 Ferry Maj Esterlin
9/21/68 Phu Cat Nha Trang 44-76606 Ferry Lt Baldwin
9/21/68 Nha Trang Phu Cat 43-48801 Ferry Major Carpenter
9/21/68 Phu Cat Pleiku 43-48801 Ferry
9/23/68 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 21 YU 8269 Duc Lap 24 21,000 CAP
9/24/68 Pleiku Local 43-48801 Spooky 23 ZA 036711 24 9,000 CAP
9/26/68 Pleiku Phu Cat 43-48623 Ferry Major Trager
9/26/68 Phu Cat Nha Trang 43-48623 Ferry Major Trager
9/26/68 Nha Trang Pleiku 46-76370 Ferry Major Trager
9/30/68 Pleiku Local 43-48801 Spooky 22 CAP
9/24/68 Pleiku Local 43-48801 CAP
10/4/68 Pleiku Local CAP
10/7/68 Pleiku Local 44-76722 Spooky 21 3 CAP
10/8/68 Pleiku Local 44-76370 Spooky 22 2 6,000 CAP
10/12/68 Pleiku Local 44-76370 Spooky 22 CAP
10/12/68 Pleiku Local 44-76370 Spooky 23 ZB 002669 15 15,000 CAP
10/15/68 Pleiku Local 44-76606 Spooky 22 CAP
10/16/68 Pleiku Local 44-76606 Spooky 21 CAP
10/17/68 Pleiku Local 48-491 (C47) Base flt to DA Nang wx abort
10/18/68 Pleiku Local 44-76606 Spooky 22 CAP
10/22/68 Pleiku Local 44-76606 Spooky 22 4 6,000 CAP
10/23/68 Pleiku Local 43-16368 Spooky 21 12 10,500 CAP
10/25/68 Pleiku Local 44-76722 Spooky 21 CAP
10/28/68 Pleiku Local 44-1121 Spooky 22 ZA 033228 LZ Oasis 7 13,500 CAP
10/29/68 Pleiku Local 44-76722 Take Col. Trayer to Da Nang
10/29/68 Da Nang Pleiku 44-76722 Take Col. Trayer to Da Nang
10/31/68 Pleiku Local 43-16368 Spooky 22 YA 833944 13 CAP
11/1/68 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 22 10 12,000 Third Pilot Fired 1500
11/4/68 Pleiku Local 43-16268 Spooky 21 2 6,000 Sproul's first AC Flt
11/7/68 Pleiku Local 44-76722 Spooky 21 4 12,000 Third Pilot Fired 1500
11/8/68 Pleiku Nha Trang 44-76370 Ferry
11/8/68 Nha Trang Phu Cat 44-76370 Ferry
11/8/68 Phu Cat Pleiku 44-76370 CAP
11/11/88 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 21 YA 990187 24 21,000 Total To Date 306,000 Third Pilot
11/12/68 Pleiku Local 44-76606 YA 835179 LZ Vera 24 21,000 Third Pilot
11/16/68 Pleiku Local 44-76370 Spooky 21 24 4,600 CAP
11/17/68 Pleiku Local 44-76722 Spooky 21 BT 855495 22 19,000 Gnd Fire (1)
11/18/68 Pleiku Local 44-767222 Spooky 23 AT 855290 24 21,000 CAP
11/19/68 Pleiku Local 44-76606 Spooky 23 CAP
11/20/68 Pleiku Local 44-76722 Spooky 22 CAP
11/20/68 Pleiku Local 44-76606 Spooky 21 20 4,200 CAP
11/20/68 Pleiku Local 44-76606 Spooky 21 CAP
11/22/68 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 21 CAP
11/25/68 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 21 YA 884935 24 9,000 CAP
11/25/68 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 21 CAP
11/28/68 Pleiku Local 44-76606 Spooky 22 ZA 150350 24 21,000 CAP
11/29/68 Pleiku Local 44-76370 Spooky 21 CAP
12/1/68 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 22 YA 778197 24 21,000 CAP
12/3/68 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 22 Last Ride with Maj. Hartman
12/6/68 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 23 CAP
12/6/68 Pleiku Local 45-0927 Spooky 21 11 10,500 CAP
12/6/68 Pleiku Local 45-0927 Spooky 21 RTB for inop TACAN
12/7/68 Pleiku Local 44-76722 Spooky 23 9 10,500 Fired 4,500
12/9/68 Pleiku Local 44-76722 Spooky 22 5 10,500 CAP
12/10/68 Pleiku Local 45-0927 Spooky 23 YA 759555 23 21,000 CAP
12/12/68 Pleiku Local Spooky 22 CAP
12/14/68 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 22 CAP
12/14/68 Pleiku Local 43-16368 Spooky 23 ZA 772679 11 10,000 CAP
12/14/68 Pleiku Local 43-16368 Spooky 23 CAP
12/16/68 Pleiku Local 44-76370 Spooky 22 1 6,000 CAP
12/17/68 Pleiku Local 44-76722 Spooky 22 9 3,500 CAP
12/21/68 Pleiku Local 44-76370 Spooky 21 12 10,500 CAP
12/24/68 Pleiku Local 43-9021 Spooky 22 21 7,500 CAP
12/26/68 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 22 RTB for VHF maint
12/26/68 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 22 CAP
12/28/68 Pleiku Local 44-76370 Spooky 21 CAP
12/30/68 Pleiku Phu Cat 44-76722 Spooky 22 12 Recover at Phu Cat (fog)
12/30/68 Phu Cat Pleiku 44-76722 Spooky 22 Return from Phu Cat
1/1/69 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 21 ZA 083513 7 CAP
1/2/69 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 23 Scramble Helicopters (ufo)
1/2/69 Pleiku Local 43-98686 Spooky 23 CAP
1/4/69 Pleiku Local 44-76722 Spooky 23 8 10,500 CAP
1/6/69 Pleiku Local 44-76370 Spooky 21 AR 783136 10 Med Evac
1/6/69 Pleiku Local 44-76370 Spooky 21 CAP
1/8/69 Pleiku Local 44-76722 Spooky 21 ZA 022583 23 16,000 Scramble to TIC
1/9/69 Pleiku Local 44-76722 Spooky 23 HQ 89949294 7 6,000 Scramble to TIC
1/11/69 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 22 YU 945305 14 21,000 CAP TIC
1/11/69 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 21 YA 911658 24 21,000 CAP TIC
1/11/69 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 21 20 21,000 CAP TIC
1/12/69 Pleiku Local 45-0927 Spooky 23 Scrambled to CAP
1/13/69 Pleiku Local 45-0927 Spooky 22 YA 910689 23 21,000 CAP TIC
1/16/69 Pleiku Nha Trang 45-0927 Spooky 927 Ferry to Nha Trang
1/16/69 Nha Trang Pleiku 45-1121 Spooky 121 Return to Pleiku
1/18/69 Pleiku Local 44-76370 Spooky 21 13 10,500 CAP
1/19/69 Pleiku Local 44-76722 Spooky 21 YA 905678 22 21,000 CAP TIC
1/21/69 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 22 7 6,000 CAP
1/21/69 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 21 4 6,000 CAP
1/22/69 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 23 23
1/24/69 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 22 8 5,500 CAP
1/25/69 Pleiku Nha Trang 45-0927 Spooky 927 Ferry to Nha Trang
1/25/69 Nha Trang Local 44-76722 Spooky 722 FCF Flight
1/25/69 Nha Trang Pleiku 44-76722 Spooky 722 Ferry return to Pleiku,  4 landings with Col Lentine
1/28/69 Pleiku Local 44-76722 Spooky 722 AR 886282 Aircraft commander day transition check ride
1/28/69 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 21 15 21,000 A/C Tac eval check
1/29/69 Pleiku Local 44-76722 Spooky 23 Scrambled to CAP
2/1/69 Pleiku Local 44-76722 Spooky 21 5 10,500 CAP
2/3/69 Pleiku Local 929 Spooky 22 XC 545037/488101 21 10,500 CAP TIC
2/4/69 Pleiku Nha Trang 929 Spooky 929 Ferry to Nha Trang
2/4/69 Nha Trang Pleiku 44-76370 Spooky 370 Ferry return to Pleiku
2/7/69 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 22 5 6,000 CAP
2/9/69 Pleiku Local 45-0927 Spooky 21 YA 916653 9 6,500 CAP TIC
2/11/69 Pleiku Local 44-76370 Spooky 23 7 CAP
2/12/69 Pleiku Local 44-76370 Spooky 22 7 10,500 CAP
2/13/69 Pleiku Nha Trang 45-0927 Spooky 927 Ferry
2/13/69 Nha Trang Pleiku 44-76722 Spooky 722 Ferry
2/14/69 Pleiku Local 44-76370 Spooky 21 12 10,500 CAP
2/15/69 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 23 Scramble Hand Holding
2/16/69 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 23 XC 490045/ 500065 24 21,000 Scramble TIC
2/17/69 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 22 11 CAP Tet Holiday
2/18/69 Pleiku Local 44-76370 Spooky 21 CAP TIC radio trouble
2/19/69 Pleiku Local 44-76722 Spooky21 AR 847504 12 CAP Flare Mission
2/21/69 Pleiku Local 44-76722 Spooky 22 CAP
2/22/69 Pleiku Local 44-76722 Spooky 21 RTB due to landing light arcing
2/22/69 Pleiku Local 44-76722 Spooky 21 YB 838220 Ben Het 24 8,000 TIC 2 KBA, 3 WBA
2/22/69 Pleiku Local 44-76722 Spooky 21 CAP mortar attack before, rocket attack after
2/23/69 Pleiku Local 44-76722 Spooky 23 YB 865255 Ben Het 21 20,000
2/23/69 Pleiku Local 44-76722 Spooky 23 Scramble- RTB
2/24/69 Pleiku Local 44-76722 Spooky 23 YB 860250 Ben Het 24 21,000 Scramble to TIC
2/24/69 Pleiku Local 44-76606 Spooky 22 YB 825202 Ben Het 3 21,000 Scramble to TIC
2/25/69 Pleiku Local 44-76606 Spooky 22 YB 875255 Ben Het 24 21,000 CAP TIC
2/27/69 Pleiku Local 44-76606 Spooky 21 AR 9855 23 21,000 Scramble, suspected rocket site
2/27/69 Pleiku Local 44-67722 Spooky 21 2 CAP H&I
1/28/69 Pleiku Local 44-76606 Spooky 23 4 10,500 CAP H&I
3/1/69 Pleiku Local 44-76722 Spooky 22 YB 826269 Ben Het 22 21,500 CAP TIC
3/4/69 Pleiku Nha Trang 44-76722 Spooky 722 Ferry to Nha Trang
3/4/69 Nha Trang Tuy Hoa 45-1121 Spooky 121 Passenger Stop
3/4/69 Tuy Hoa Pleiku 45-1121 Spooky 121 Ferry to Pleiku
3/5/69 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 21 YA 869890 Ben Het 9 21,000 CAP TIC 24 KBA
3/6/69 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 23 ZA 131663 14 21,000 Scramble TIC
3/6/69 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 23 YB 873257 Ben Het 24 21,000 Scramble TIC
3/7/69 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 23 YA 869890 Ben Het 7 21,000 Scramble TIC
3/8/69 Pleiku Local 44-76722 Spooky 22 ZB 149151 Ben Het 17 21,000 CAP TIC
3/9/69 Pleiku Nha Trang 44-76354 Spooky 354 Ferry to Nha Trang
3/9/69 Nha Trang Pleiku 44-76606 Spooky 606 Ferry to Pleiku
3/11/69 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 21 YA 817855 Ben Het 18 21,000 TIC
3/11/69 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 21 CAP
3/12/69 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 23 WX recall Chu Li Cap
3/13/69 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 23 AR 813968 3 21,000 Scramble 6 KBA
3/13/69 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 22 Scramble CAP
3/14/69 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 22 YB 8400 Ben Het 16,000 CAP TIC 13 KBA
3/15/69 Pleiku Nha Trang 45-1121 Spooky 121 Ferry to Nha Trang
3/15/69 Nha Trang Phu Cat 44-76354 Spooky 354 Ferry Passengers to Phu cat
3/15/69 Phu Cat Pleiku 44-76354 Spooky 354 Ferry to Pleiku
3/16/69 Pleiku Local 44-76354 Spooky 21 CAP
3/17/69 Pleiku Local 44-76606 Spooky 23 ZB 080225 Ben Het 23 21,000 CAP 11 KBA
3/19/69 Pleiku Local 44-76722 Spooky 22 YB 600185 Ben Het 21,000 CAP 2 KBA
3/23/69 Pleiku Local 44-76370 Spooky 22 CAP
3/24/69 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 21 BR 063458 Soui Doi 19 13,000
3/25/69 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 23 Scramble Blue Chip Hand Holding
3/27/69 Pleiku Phu Cat 44-76354 Spooky 22 CAP Divert to Phu Cat because of fog
3/27/69 Phu Cat Pleiku 44-76354 Spooky 22 Return from Phu Cat
3/27/69 Pleiku Local 44-76370 Spooky 21 ZA 170490 Pleiku 8 3,500 CAP rocket sites
3/29/69 Pleiku Local 44-76370 Spooky 23 YB 805035 Ben Het 21,000 Scramble TIC
3/29/69 Pleiku Local 44-76370 Spooky 23 YD 056599 6 21,000 Scramble TIC
3/30/69 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 21 6 10,500 CAP H&I
4/2/69 Pleiku Local 44-76722 Spooky 22 4 10,500 CAP H&I
4/4/69 Pleiku Local 44-76722 Spooky 21 BP 0066666 20 22,000 CAP TIC
4/7/69 Pleiku Local 44-76606 Spooky 22 3 10,500 CAP H&I
4/7/69 Pleiku Local 44-76606 Spooky 21 3 10,500 CAP H&I
4/9/69 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 23 CAP Scramble
4/10/69 Pleiku Local 44-76394 Spooky 22 3 10,500 CAP H&I
4/22/69 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 21 12 10,500 CAP H&I
4/24/69 Pleiku Local 44-76370 Spooky 22 CAP
4/28/69 Pleiku Local 44-76370 Spooky 21 CAP
5/1/69 Pleiku Local 45-1121 Spooky 22 1 10,500 CAP H&I
5/7/69 Nha Trang Nha Trang 43-49423 AF49423 Ferry to Udorn, abort rough engine
5/8/69 Nha Trang Udorn 44-76645 AF76645 Nha Trang, DaNang, Ubon, Udorn, TDY to Udorn RTAB
5/9/69 Udorn Local 10 Spooky 01 UH 195384 North of PDJ 23 22,500
5/11/69 Udorn Local 46-16368 Spooky 04 33 TIC
5/14/69 Udorn Local 47 Spooky 02 UH 169558 North of PDJ 15 22,500 TIC
5/19/69 Udorn Local 43-16368 Spooky 01 TG 992311 North of PDJ 21 22,500
5/20/69 Udorn Local 47 Spooky 02 UH 175378 North of PDJ 22 22,500 TIC
5/23/69 Udorn Local 47 Spooky 04 VG 2470 36 TIC
5/24/69 Udorn Local 423 Spooky 02 UG 456417 East of PDJ 20 22,500 TIC
5/25/69 Udorn Local 516 Spooky 01 UG 274695 NE of PDJ 15 22,500 KTC
5/26/69 Udorn Local 47 Spooky 02 wx abort from 113
6/1/69 Udorn Local 43-16368 Spooky 03 wx abort  
6/6/69 Udorn Local 423 Spooky 01 TG 918448 Plain des Jarres (PDJ) 14 22,500 KTC
6/7/69 Udorn Local 43-16368 Spooky 02 TG 973746 North of PDJ 20 22,500 KTC
6/8/69 Udorn Local 43-16423 Spooky 01 TG 913448 Plain des Jarres (PDJ) 21 22,500 KTC
6/10/69 Udorn Local 516 Spooky 01 UG 102403 Plain des Jarres (PDJ) 30 22,500 KTC
6/14/69 Udorn Local 516 Spooky 01 UG 789245 ESE of PJD 36 22,500 KTC
6/17/69 Udorn Local 43-16368 Spooky 01 1 no VHF
6/21/69 Udorn Local 43-49211 Spooky 01 TH 857435 NNW of PDJ 21 21,000 TIC
6/22/69 Udorn Local 625 Spooky 02 UG 149834 North of PDJ 16 21,000 KTC
6/25/69 Udorn Local 625 Spooky 01 TC ?95595 36 19,600 1- 18mm recoiless rifle, 1 82mm, 30 KBA
6/27/69 Udorn Da Nang 43-49211 AF9211 Ferry 17 Passengers
6/27/69 Da Nang Phu Cat 43-16868 Spooky 368 Ferry 18 Passengers
6/27/69 Phu Cat Nha Trang 43-16868 Spooky 368 Ferry 16 Passengers
6/29/69 Pleiku Local 43-16133 Spooky 23 YB 9404 24 21,000 Scramble to TIC
7/6/69 Pleiku Local 44-76593 Spooky 21 CAP
7/7/69 Pleiku Local 43-49021 Spooky 21 BR 1619 24 21,000 Scramble to TIC
7/7/69 Pleiku Local 43-49021 Spooky 21 BR 1537 10 223 Combat Misions, Total Ammo 1,681,300, (I fired 1,036,600)