OPERATION SAFESIDE 1041st Security Police Squadron(T)

Transcription

1 2018 by John P. Webster, LM 886, Phù Cát, 1041st SPS(T), Phù Cát Air Base, South Vietnam, 1 Aug Mar1970 During OPERATIONAL TEST PHASE, 1041st SPS(T) 37th SECURITY POLICE SQUADRON: Perimeter, Guardmount, and Flightline OPERATIONAL TEST PHASE, 1041st SPS (T): 37th Security Police Squadron, Phù Cát Air Base - Perimeter, Guardmount, and Flightline. During Operation Safeside, the conducted operations outside the perimeter and in the area of Phù Cát Air Base. As reported in Phase 8.9 (Project Operation Safeside: TSSE Sniper, PC Area Base Camp), a KIA VC courier's pouch was recovered with documents: On 21 May 1967 a linear ambush was conducted by one of the fifteen 1041st SPS(T) Tactical Security Support Equipment (TSSE) ambush teams, resulting in the confirmed death of an enemy Viet Cong, later identified as the VC District Commissioner of An Nhon Province and Chief OD the VC Security Assault forces. The individual killed had in his possession a courier pouch containing many intelligence documents of great importance to friendly forces in the area."* One document in that courier's pouch was a request from local Viet Cong for NVA reinforcements to attack Phù Cát Air Base. The report stated that to date, their Viet Cong forces had failed to penetrate the Air Base perimeter, not believe they could do so without help, and reported a special unit patrolling outside the Air Base. (John P. Webster, USAF Sniper, 1041st SPS(T)) During Operation Safeside (1041st SPS(T)), the 37th SPS was twice awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, with Combat "V" Device: 1 Jul Jun 1967; 1 Jul Jun * Excerpts from: 82nd Combat Security Wing (TAC) Training Center Student Handbook "Joined To Fight" Vietnam Security Police Association, Inc. (USAF) - Edited & Compiled by Don Poss Page 1 of 14

2 The 37th SPS was later awarded a third Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Combat "V" Device, for accomplishments between 1 Apr Mar Take pride in reading the following excerpts: AFOUA w/"v" Nomination: 37th Security Police Squadron, with accomplishments: Phù Cát, 1 Apr Mar 1970: "aa. (C) The 37th Security Police Squadron mortarmen developed and implemented a new technique in mortar gunnery--the use of "delayed illumination" mortar rounds as target markers for Air Force gunships. In addition, 37th Security Police Squadron personnel, trained as Forward Observers, controlled and exercised AC-47 Gunships of the 4th Special Operations Squadron using this technique during a local area harassment and interdiction program. On 5 May 1969, the 37th Security Police Squadron convened the first class of the 7th Air Force Mortar School which was developed and centralized at Phù Cát Air Base. Since the Air Force experience with the 81mm mortar was substantially different from that of the U.S. Army, the 37th Security Police Squadron mortar cadre was required to prepare a curriculum for this school virtually from scratch. The development of the school, and preparations for its implementation, were conducted expeditiously and thoroughly. The majority of the actual mortar firing was accomplished at night as an integral phase of the harassment and interdiction program, thus reducing ammunition costs. The overall excellence of the training provided by the school was recognized by the U.S. Army, Commanders of the 41st Artillery Group, 7/15 Artillery Battalion, and the Qui Nhon Support Command requested school quotas for members of their commands. When the 52nd Artillery Group at Pleiku Air Base was forming its own weapons school, the Commandant- Designate attended the 7th Air Force Mortar School for familiarization. bb. (U)...From April through 31 December 1969, a comprehensive integration of new weapons and tactics was established which included the introduction of six new armored personnel carriers equipped with.50 caliber machine guns. The M-174 Automatic Grenade Launcher was introduced into the base defense inventory, and within three weeks of the arrival of the weapon, every member of the 37th Security Police Squadron was qualified in its use. From April through August 1969, members of the 37th Security Police Squadron Intelligence Branch flew twice-daily reconnaissance missions, covering the local Phù Cát area, on board HH-43 helicopters of the 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron. These flights, curtailed in August 1969, were resumed in December, utilizing O-1 aircraft of the 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron. dd. (C) On 17 November 1969, a 37th Security Police Squadron security force team sighted four [VC] intruders who had penetrated the Air Base perimeter. During the encounter, three of the intruders were killed, while the fourth was wounded and later apprehended. Once again, the Air Base sustained no damage." "Joined To Fight" Vietnam Security Police Association, Inc. (USAF) - Edited & Compiled by Don Poss Page 2 of 14

3 "The 1041st SPS(T) prepared for its departure from Vietnam by training selected volunteers of the 37th Security Police Squadron at Phù Cát Air Base in tactics that the 1041st had employed and introduced to the Phù Cát area, in order to provide a program of active defense for the area on departure of the 1041st. Upon completion of the test phase and training for the 37th Security Police personnel, the 1041st departed Phù Cát and arrived at Fairchild AFB, Washington, on 4 and 6 July 1967." Excerpt from: 82nd Combat Security Wing (TAC) Training Center Student Handbook. 3.26_1: NEWS- Phù Cát Air Base: Newest AF Tiger Shapes Up 1041 st SPS(T), AUG "Joined To Fight" Vietnam Security Police Association, Inc. (USAF) - Edited & Compiled by Don Poss Page 3 of 14

4 3.26_2 (below): Phù Cát AB flightline. F-100 Super Sabre TFW Deploys Combat OP _3 (above NEWS): 1041 st SPS(T) - "Phù Cát AB Starts Combat Operations". 29 MAY "Joined To Fight" Vietnam Security Police Association, Inc. (USAF) - Edited & Compiled by Don Poss Page 4 of 14

5 37 th SECURITY POLICE SQUADRON 3.26_4: Phù Cát HQ; Home of the 37 th SPS (Photo: Sgt. Webster). 37 TH SPS GUARDMOUNT 3.26_5: Phù Cát Air Base 37 th SPS HQ Flags (Photo: Sgt. Webster) 3.26_6: Phù Cát Air Base 37 th SPS Guardmount formation (Photo: Sgt. Webster) "Joined To Fight" Vietnam Security Police Association, Inc. (USAF) - Edited & Compiled by Don Poss Page 5 of 14

6 3.26_7: Phù Cát Air Base - 37th SPS, Guardmount. Airman setting by Water Trailer (Photo: Sgt. Webster) 3.26_8: Phù Cát Air Base - 37th SPS, Guardmount. Airman setting by Water Trailer (Photo: Sgt. Webster) 3.26_9: Phù Cát Air Base - 37th SPS, Guardmount. Airman setting by Water Trailer (Photo: Sgt.Webster) 3.26_10: Phù Cát Air Base - 37th SPS, Guardmount. Airman setting by Water Trailer (Photo: Sgt.Webster 3.26_11: Phù Cát Air Base - 37th SPS, Barracks. Sgt. John Webster, soaking up sun-rayes (Photo: Sgt. John P.Webster) 3.26_12: Phù Cát Air Base - 37th SPS, Barracks. Sgt. John Webster Free Hugs (Photo by Sgt. Webster) "Joined To Fight" Vietnam Security Police Association, Inc. (USAF) - Edited & Compiled by Don Poss Page 6 of 14

7 Phù Cát, Air Base barracks. (All Photos on this page, by John P. Webster) Phù Cát Air Base, June After tearing-down our Base Camp, preparing to depart, we were told we would be staying another month, so we moved on to Phù Cát, Air Base. 3.2_13 3.2_14 3.2_15 3.2_16 "Joined To Fight" Vietnam Security Police Association, Inc. (USAF) - Edited & Compiled by Don Poss Page 7 of 14

8 3.26_17: Phù Cát Air Base, 37 th SPS barracks. Sgt. John P. Webster killing time (Photo: Sgt. Webster) 3.26_18: Phù Cát Air Base, 37 th SPS barracks: Mamasan sets on 2 nd floor stairs. 1(P967 hoto:. Sgt. Webster) 3.26_19 Phù Cát Air Base, 37 th SPS barracks: Papasan sets on 2 nd floor stairs, waiting for Mamasan (Photo: Sgt. Webster) "Joined To Fight" Vietnam Security Police Association, Inc. (USAF) - Edited & Compiled by Don Poss Page 8 of 14

9 3.26_20: Phù Cát Air Base, 37 th SPS barracks: Sgt. John Webster standing beside vehicles in need of parts (Photo: Sgt. Webster) 3.26_21: Phù Cát Air Base, Flightline: Huey helicopter heading to flight line (Photo: Sgt. Webster) "Joined To Fight" Vietnam Security Police Association, Inc. (USAF) - Edited & Compiled by Don Poss Page 9 of 14

10 3.26_22 (above): Phù Cát Air Base, Flightline: F-100 Super Sabres parked (USAF PHOTO) 3.26_23; 3.26_24; 3.26_25 (lower 2 photos formed the below composite): Phù Cát Air Base, F-100 Super Sabres parked along Flightline, with aircraft parked in background revetments (Photos: by Sgt. John P. Webster) "Joined To Fight" Vietnam Security Police Association, Inc. (USAF) - Edited & Compiled by Don Poss Page 10 of 14

11 3.26_26: Phù Cát Air Base, Flightline: F-100 Super Sabres parked. Fuel Storage tanks nearby (Photo: Sgt. Webster) 3.26_27: Phù Cát Air Base, Flightline: F-100 Super Sabres parked, and Fuel Storage tanks nearby _28: Phù Cát Air Base, Flightline: Flightline Fuel Storage tanks (Photo: Sgt. John Webster, was taken just before we left) "Joined To Fight" Vietnam Security Police Association, Inc. (USAF) - Edited & Compiled by Don Poss Page 11 of 14

12 3.26_29: Phù Cát Air Base, Flightline: Hangers (Photo: Sgt. Webster) 3.26_30: Phù Cát Air Base, Flightline: A37 Dragonfly parking (Photo: Sgt. Webster) 3.26_31: Phù Cát Air Base, Flightline: Command Post Bunker, C-47 parking (Photo: Sgt. Webster) 3.26_32: Phù Cát Air Base, Flightline: C-47 parking (Photo: Sgt. Webster) "Joined To Fight" Vietnam Security Police Association, Inc. (USAF) - Edited & Compiled by Don Poss Page 12 of 14

13 3.26_33: Phù Cát Air Base, Flightline: C-7 Caribou (Australian) parking ramp (Photo: Sgt. Webster) 3.26_34: Phù Cát Air Base, Flightline: C-7 Caribou (Australian) parking ramp and Fuel Trucks. 3.26_35: Phù Cát Air Base, Flightline: CH-47 Chinook: Twin-engine, tandemrotor, heavy-lift helicopter; primary roles are troop movement, artillery placement, and battlefield resupply. (Photo: Sgt. Webster) 3.26_36: Phù Cát Air Base, Flightline: Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw helicopters parking (Photo: Sgt. Webster) "Joined To Fight" Vietnam Security Police Association, Inc. (USAF) - Edited & Compiled by Don Poss Page 13 of 14

14 3.26_37 Phù Cát Air Base, Flightline: C-7 Caribou (Australian). (Photo by John P. Werbster) 3.26_38 Phù Cát Air Base, Flightline: C-7 Caribou (Australian) taxiing (Photo by John P. Werbster) 3.26_39: Phù Cát Air Base, Runway: New Flightline (Photo: Sgt. Webster) 3.26_40 Phù Cát Air Base, Flightline: F-100 Super Sabre takes off (Photo: Sgt. Webster) "Joined To Fight" Vietnam Security Police Association, Inc. (USAF) - Edited & Compiled by Don Poss Page 14 of 14