OPERATION GREEN TURNIP

A 1954 SECRET MISSION WOULD LEAD US INTO A CONFRONTATION WITH COMMUNISTS IN INDOCHINA

When I graduated from pilot training, I was rushed through Douglas B-26 Invader transition, sent to Shaw Field, South Carolina, for combat crew training and then it was off to K-14 (Kimpo) in South Korea to fight those nasty North Koreans. Well, I was a day late and a dollar short as far as combat was concerned. The United Nations and North Korea signed the peace treaty about two weeks before I got there.

However, my unit, the 11th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, continued on with our recon missions. We had three major missions daily to gather low-level weather data out over the Yellow Sea. We also had electronic countermeasure missions to gather data and pin-point communist radar sites. These missions were flown late at night in an attempt to catch the communists off guard.

I happened to be in Squadron Ops when a notice came through requesting a crew for a mission. Wanting to build up flight time, I eagerly volunteered. The Ops officer told me to gather my crew, pack for ten days TDY (temporary duty), and stand by. Three days and nights were spent before word came down at 2300-hrs to rush to the flight line and start the mission.

Our airplane was to be a C-47 Gooney Bird. I was barely checked out in the C-47, but it was just a big twin-engine Piper Cub - slow and easy to fly if you aren't in a hurry to get anywhere. I was unhappy that I didn't get an Invader to fly. Several other crews were assigned to the B-26s.

We were then handed a sealed envelope that was to be opened when airborne. The envelope was stamped "Top Secret."

We took off and opened the orders which said to proceed to Iwakuni Air Base, Japan, for further information. At about 180-mph, we weren't going anywhere fast and the Invaders went out ahead of us.

Upon arrival at Iwakuni, we were met by air police and taken to a large hangar where there were guards at the door to insure secrecy. About 20 aircrews had already gathered. We were briefed on the next leg of our mission - we were to fly to Clark AFB, Philippines, with a fuel stop at Kadena, Okinawa. At Kadena, we got a chance to look around for about two hours while we were being fueled. It was then off to Clark. Along our route was a string of volcanic islands blowing steam - a beautiful sight.

Upon arrival at Clark, there was more security. We would be on our own for a couple of days and about the only excitement was in the little town of Angeles. Right outside the base were some enterprising young men with jitneys or converted Jeeps to haul us into Angeles. The going rate was about ten cents, but if you tipped them another ten cents they would race other jitneys to see who would get to town the quickest. Angeles was a typical military town offering about anything you desired.

Back at Clark, I went to our plane for a camera I had left on board and was shocked to see the USAF markings removed - replaced by French insignia! We discussed this among ourselves and wondered what the next move would be. It dawned on us the French were fighting in Indochina. We had no idea where to go next. Top secret it was - at least for us.

We were called to Ops and told that we would deliver the planes to a place called Hanoi in French Indochina. We were told to strip off all brass, insignia of rank, and any form of identification showing that we were American military. Should we get shot down, we were civilians delivering these planes to the French.

As we taxied out, we were recalled. It seemed Hanoi was under heavy attack and the French were being driven out. The next morning we were briefed on taking the planes to Touraine in French Indochina. As were were getting ready to leave Clark, ground crew was loading crates with red crosses on them and the manifest stated we were hauling medical supplies! We used an awful lot of runway taking off and couldn't get much more than a 200-fpm climb. We circled Clark several times, getting enough altitude to clear the mountains. The crew chief went back and opened a couple of crates of medical supplies and found we were hauling ammunition and some heavy artillery barrels.

Touraine consisted of a single runway leading in from the South China Sea. When the French surrendered and were driven out of Dien Bien Pheu, Touraine reverted back to the Vietnamese name of Da Nang which, of course, was later a major American base.

After landing at Touraine, we were directed to a parking ramp by a very tall, very black soldier wearing a pith helmet, carrying a rifle and, I believe, wearing a French uniform. We couldn't understand him.

Touraine, it seemed, was a forward base for the Invaders. There was a lot of activity - planes taking off and landing, some with bullet holes and shrapnel damage. They were refueled and took off again. A C-124 was supposed to follow us and take us back to Clark. The plane apparently had engine trouble and didn't arrive until the next morning.

That evening and night, we could hear artillery firing and bombs being dropped back in the hills. We located a French beer joint on base and took advantage of their hospitality. Most of us were pretty well hung over when the C-124 arrived next morning.