War Veteran (Washburn) Visits Goodfellow ARDF History Displays
Fifty years ago, Robert Washburn had completed Vietnamese language training at the Defense Language Institute, Biggs Air Force Base near Ft. Bliss, Texas, and was attending classes at Goodfellow AFB in preparation for a USAF Security Service airborne assignment to Southeast Asia and the ongoing Vietnam War. Washburn and his wife, Marilyn, visited San Angelo and Goodfellow for a nostalgic look-back June 24-25, 2021. Photo by: Carl Bradley, Faith in a Flash Photography.
June 25, 2021: Upon graduation from his Linguist training at Goodfellow AFB, then-airman first class Robert Washburn was assigned to the 6994th Security Squadron, Tan Son Nhut Air Base, the Republic of Vietnam from January 1971 through January 1972. He served as an aircrew member on EC-47 airborne radio direction finding and communications intelligence collection missions over South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. He flew 128 tactical combat support missions during his one-year tour. During one such mission, his aircraft and crew experienced an inflight emergency that ended with their unscheduled landing and overnight stay in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Here is an excerpt from a note that Washburn wrote to the EC-47 History Site website manager back on August 17, 1998.
As a Z-1 crew member on 128 missions out of TSN from January 20, 1971, until January 1, 1972, I arrived as an A1C and left a Sgt. We did an emergency landing and an overnight in Cambodia. We lost radar on a late evening flight. There was a storm between us and base, and the pilot reported low oil pressure for the #2 engine. Phnom Penh airport closes at dusk. We buzzed the dark runway and did a one-engine landing and taxied off the runway and waited. Eventually, someone rode up on a bicycle. One of the Vietnamese trainees on the flight spoke to him in French and he rode off. Half an hour later a truck shows up with a homemade drag bar and pulled us over to the military side. The Air attaché was not happy to see us. The next day they brought in a recovery plane. Mechanics could not reproduce the low oil pressure condition and we flew back to TSN.
Washburn updated his previous note during his Friday morning visit to Goodfellow.
"I was a Dogger. Colorful career. Language school because Air Force didn't have enough in the pool to fill the contracted for classes and 'I could do better than a K9'. I was longer at Goodfellow because my security clearance wasn't ready so ran the base swim program for a summer. So, I was two years in service before finishing all the required schools. I was assigned to the 6994 Security Squadron, Tan Son Nhut, Republic of South Vietnam, from January 1971 to January 1972. My crew is noted for the diversion to Phnom Penh and overnight there. At the end of my tour, I received orders to Okinawa...a consecutive remote and second consecutive combat tour. My Senator said "No" and my orders were changed to NSA at Ft. Meade. At NSA, I was released from my linguist duties and assigned as a driver. I drove VIP's to the Pentagon and Andrews for the last year."
Robert met his wife, Marilyn, here in San Angelo during his tour at Goodfellow. They are both looking forward to this visit and reminiscing about times past.
17th Training Wing Historian, Mr. Mark Howell, interviewed both Robert and Marilyn Howell and recorded their oral history in his office on Friday morning. We look forward to adding their comments to this story at a later date.
This gallery presents a selection of photographs taken by Carl "Brad" Bradley of Faith in Flash Photography, San Angelo, Texas.
Enjoy viewing and using these photos...but remember - The photographer and website manager grant permission to download and use these images for personal use only. Users may not edit or change digital files with filters or any software without written permission from the photographer(s) and website manager. This permission applies worldwide. The photographer retains the copyright to all images. Please credit Brad and The EC-47 History Site CPP when downloading or referencing these images for your personal use.
This aircraft was moved from the Pate Transportation Museum, Cresson, Texas, and refurbished to replicate the EC-47 airborne radio direction finding aircraft flown during the Vietnam War. It was dedicated on Oct 28, 2005.
The static display EC-47 replica aircraft near the flagstaff located at the east entrance to the Norma Brown building, Goodfellow AFB, Texas.
2005 dedication monument and EC-47 Memorial Plaza pavers adjacent to the EC-47 static display aircraft at Goodfellow AFB, Texas.
2005 dedication monument surrounded by the nearly 1,000 EC-47 Memorial Plaza pavers installed in April 2020.
The EC-47 replica aircraft, tail number 204, display dedicated at Goodfellow AFB on 28 October 2005. This tail number represents the aircraft making the final USAF ARDF mission flight on 15 May 1974.
East entrance to the Normal Brown building, Goodfellow AFB, Texas. This building is named in honor of Major General Norma Brown who commanded the 6940th Security Wing at Goodfellow from 1974-1978.
The Norma Brown building was dedicated on 21 October 2005.
A partial view of the ARDF History Exhibit inside the Norma Brown building. Coordinated by the EC-47 History Site website and Heritage Chapter - Freedom Through Vigilance Association, this tribute to the USAF one-of-a-kind tactical combat intelligence support mission was dedicated on 25 July 2014.
L-R: Robert Washburn and Tom Nurre review the history of the Goodfellow AFB training program that supported the ARDF mission back-end operations as depicted in Panel #1 of the ARDF History Exhibit.
Mrs. Marilyn Washburn enjoys the "storytelling" during the visit to the ARDF History Exhibit with her husband on 25 June 2021.
Robert Washburn makes a point during the telling of his emergency overnight stop at the commercial airfield located in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Marilyn and Robert Washburn pose in front of the ARDF History Exhibit during their visit on 25 June 2021. This was Washburns first visit to Goodfellow since graduating from the cryptologic linguist course in 1971.
The ARDF History Exhibit project coordinator, CMSgt (Retired) Tom Nurre, explains the involvement of General Curtis LeMay in the initial planning and implementation of the USAF airborne radio direction finding mission during the early stages of the Vietnam War.
L-R: Mark Howell, 17 TRW Historian; Walt Koenig, President of San Angelo Chamber of Commerce; Michael Looney, San Angelo Chamber of Commerce VP of Economic Development; Marilyn & Robert Washburn; Tom Nurre, ceremony coordinator.
Michael Looney and Mrs. Marilyn Washburn paying rapt attention during the Vietnam War Commemoration program briefing.
Candid shot of Mr. Walt Koenig, President of the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce. This was his first opportunity to visit and receive the EC-47 mission briefing and participate in a 50th Vietnam War Commemorative Partner Program ceremony in San Angelo.
Robert Washburn receiving the pre-pinning ceremony briefing about the Vietnam War veteran lapel pin and certificate.
Marilyn Washburn listens to the pre-pinning briefing for the Vietnam War Commemorative Partner Program lapel pin presentation program.
Mark Howell listens to the pre-pinning briefing for the Vietnam War Commemorative Partner Program lapel pin presentation program.
L-R: Robert Washburn readies to receive the Vietnam veteran commemorative lapel pin from Michael Looney as Mark Howell reads the Certificate of Appreciation citation.
R-L: Michael Looney, San Angelo Chamber of Commerce VP for Economic Development, presents the commemorative lapel pin to Robert Washburn. Michael has been a Chamber of Commerce representative on the EC-47 History Site San Angelo-based Commemorative Partner Program committee since 2016.
Michael Looney fastens the Commemorative lapel pin to Robert Washburn's shirt collar during a presentation ceremony on 25 June 2021.
L-R: Mark Howell reads the Certificate of Appreciation citation during the pinning ceremony as Walt Koenig prepares to present the Commemoration packet of information folder.
Mark Howell readies presentation of the EC-47 History Site Commemorative Partner Program Certificate of Appreciation to Robert Washburn. The Commemoration does not have an official certificate to present to Vietnam veterans...this personalized certificate was developed and is signed by the local CPP committee leadership.
L-R: Michael Looney, Robert Washburn, Mark Howell and Walt Koenig present the Certificate of Appreciation during the pinning ceremony.
L-R: Michael Looney, Robert Washburn, Walt Koenig, and Mark Howell pose in front of the ARDF History Exhibit. Koenig is presenting the Vietnam War Commemoration folder full of information that includes the presidential proclamation, commemoration brochure, and fact sheets as well as promotional pins and stickers.
L-R: Ceremony coordinator, Tom Nurre, presents Robert Washburn with the EC-47 History Site challenge coin. This one-of-a-kind coin is presented to EC-47 veterans during special occasions like this pinning ceremony.
L-R: Tom Nurre presents an EC-47 History Site challenge coin to Michael Looney as a gesture of thanks and appreciation for his continued interest and involvement in the Vietnam War Commemoration program.
L-R: Michael Looney, Tom Nurre, Robert Washburn, and Walt Koenig. Nurre presents Koenig with the EC-47 History Site challenge coin and information card. This was Koenig's first exposure to the EC-47 mission program and the community involvement of the CPP committee organizations.
L-R: Robert Washburn, Tom Nurre, Walt Koenig, and Mark Howell. Howell is becoming a veteran presenter during the pinning ceremonies and has already received his EC-47 History Site challenge coin. In this instance, Nurre is presenting him with a newly designed EC-47 Memorial Plaza cap as a token of appreciation for his continued interest and involvement.
L-R: On a windy day, Looney, Nurre, Koenig, and Washburn stroll outside the Norma Brown building to the EC-47 static display aircraft and Memorial Plaza.
Tom Nurre points out prominent features of the EC-47 replica aircraft as refurbished and put on display in 2005.
Robert Washburn
Walter Koenig
Michael Looney
Mark Howell
L-R: Tom Nurre, Mark Howell, Robert Washburn, Michael Looney, and Walt Koenig. A successful visit and a heartfelt Welcome Home extended to Robert and Marilyn Washburn.
