Info Sheet - SP5 William "Billy" Blackmon
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I was assigned to the 165th Aviation group as a 93H20 Air Traffic Controller. I was in country from 19 Mar 69 to 16 Oct 70. 1st tour Cu Chi, 2nd tour Tay Ninh (with 2 weeks at Chu Lai when we all left Tay Ninh)
I slipped off almost daily since they paid little attention to controllers time outside the tower. I flew as a door gunner (forward observer left front seat with the Centaurs). I first flew with Little Bears mainly Night hawks with Little Bear 18 Tim Horrell. Also with Little Bears Youse Guys, Mad Dog and the Rubber Duck. (call signs).
Then I started flying with JC Carnathan Centaur 15 as much as possible. Often with us was Centaur 13 Eric Brethen. I flew at least twice with The Real McCoy and others I don't remember.
I flew many Dust Off missions out of Tay Ninh when I couldn't get a gun ship mission. Dust Offs didn't have M60's (25th Infantry Division, unlike the Cav) and I had numerous hand grenades and many M16 rounds and an M16 (donated by unnamed Centaurs) and even an M79 grenade launcher (bought from an Air America pilot) I never fired. The Dust Offs liked having at least some fire power on board if they went down.They knew I had a lot of time flying as a gunner. I never had to fire a shot with them but had some incredibly scary missions. Most of my combat flying was with JC Carnathan. I even flew two missions my last two weeks out of Cu Lai with the Hornets (25th Avn Bn Slicks) who moved up there when we left Tay Ninh.
We have stayed in touch with JC (Centaur 15). My grand daughter, Sophie (on the left), calls JC weekly and writes notes on the back of photos of everything she does from activities to McDonalds to the dentist. He really likes her contacts.
I am retired from Fed Ex Ground and Fed Ex Home (started both in Amarillo Texas) then I retired again from CTI trucking company.
I have 1st Aviation, 25th Infantry and Army flags I fly at the entrance to our house on special occasions.
JC had the LOACH in the photo made for me with my name on one door and his on the other. He had the Cobra at his apartment and Eric was gracious to send it to me when JC died.
This is a plaque I had made for my den. If I wasn't flying with JC I was usually in the tower and this is the clearance I would have given for his final departure (without saying JC Carnathan or LOACH, Just Centaur 15.
I am not a Centaur but think of myself as one.