THE BLACK PONY STORY ~ Compiled by the 1997 Reunion Committee
National Archives Videos
✈✈ I located a bunch of VAL-4 movie clips available from the National Archives. Jim Falls took the time and effort to travel to the National Archive Facility in College Park, Maryland and over a four day period using a borrowed camcorder he recorded all of the VAL-4 films available. ✈✈ Jim's Report: 'After reading through the description of each film that was listed, and a few more that I found, I narrowed the copying to 25 films. Still, there is quite a bit of duplication of activity, but I wanted to record as many faces as possible. Even in the 25 I copied there is duplication and some of the original filming jumped around. The majority of the films were shot in 1969, although there is a very good one shot in 1970 and three that were made in September of 1971. The one I really wanted to copy could not be found, even after the National Archives did an extensive facility and system search; it was never received at Archives ll and I was told it just "doesn't exist in the system" anymore. According to the listing, it was a patchwork of various other films put together.' ✈✈ 'Seeing the faces as I remember people 45+ years ago was an experience; I suspect you'll have a similar feeling. A suggestion that could add to this project...ask our guys if they have any film (Super 8 for example) they took while in VAL-4. I know "Flash" Leeburn filmed from the cockpit, so there may be some other O's who did as well. - Jim
Note: To save disc space on the website, all videos are now on YouTube. Winds, Bob
Squadron arrives in Vietnam. Briefings in Vung Tau; unloading trucks and stowing equipment; planes craned off the boats, opened and towed to the flight line for un-cocooning in Vung Tau.
Plankowner Dave Erck's 2010 Return To Binh Thuy Videos
Plankowner ATN Dave Erck made several trips back to Vietnam in 2010 and had a chance to return to the Can Tho - Binh Thuy area. He sent me some videos he took of where we used to live and work. The Air Force Base at Binh Thuy is on the way to become the new Can Tho Airport - but still looks familiar. The aviation side of the Navy Base no longer exists - which is apparent on Google Earth. The PBR side of the base is now a fish cannery and retains some items from it's US Navy days - like the tracks they used to pull boats out of the water on.
In the first video Dave filmed around the entry to the aviation side of NSA Binh Thuy and continues into the PBR side which is now a cannery and the Basac River boat ride he took past the base.
These are the "washboard" videos filmed in 1967. The wingspan of the prototype YOV-10s was 30' ~ 10 feet shorter than the 'A' models VAL-4 flew in Vietnam.