JAMES DUFFY

jamesduffy9@aol.com

Hartley Elementary, Whittier Jr. High, Lincoln High

Joined Air Force 1961, attended helicopter maintenance school, Sheppard AFB, Tx. Assigned to Otis AFB, Ma. as H-21 mechanic after a year worked and flew as a crewmember on CH-3B helicopter. Aug 63 assigned to Malmstrom AFB, MT as helicopter flight mechanic CH-3B, H-19 and UH-1F, 1st son born here Mar 64. Aug 64 assigned to F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo mechanic/flight mechanic UH-1F, 66-67 Flight Mechanic CH-3C (Jolly Green) 20th helicopter Sq., 14th Air Commando Wing Saigon, Viet Nam. In 67 assigned back to F.E. Warren AFB, WY and attended Escape and Evasion school Fairchild AFB, Spokane Wa. Jungle Survival school Clark AFB, Philipines. Feb 68 assigned to Air Rescue detachment as Flight Mechanic HH-43 B/F Ubon, Thailand. Assigned to Indian Springs Nevada as flight engeneer UH-1F and flew in support of Department of Defense Atomic test sight and Air Force Weapons test. In 69 transferred to Whellus AB, Libya as Flight Engneer HH-43B. Closed Whellus then to Zaragoza AB Spain with helicopter for gunnery range support/air rescue, 2nd son born here. Shipped to Bitburg AB, Germany Flight engineer HH-43B/F, daughter born here Jan 15,1972. July of 73 went to Hill AFB, Ut as HH-3 and ch-3c shift supervisor. In 1974-75 to Nakom Phonom as helicopter maintenance supervisor on CH-53C's. Spent 18 days on USS Midway in support of the evacuation of Saigon, flying more than 2000 people out before and during the fall of Saigon. Flew from Midway to Utapao Thailand where we sling loaded F-5's and F-37's of the former Viet Nam air force to the Midway for transportation else where we returned to Nakom Phonom. A few days later we were tasked with recovering the crew of the USS Mayaguez. We flew back to Utapao with 9 Heliopters, but one crashed killing 23 aboard. I was scheduled to fly on but was bumped off at the last minute and flew down to Utapao on a C-130 that was carring all out maintenace equipment. This was a busy time we had 5 helicopters shot down, recovered 3 of them. After spending a month there doing repairs, I returned to NKP. They shipped our helicopters to Germany and I went to Hill AFB, UT and supervised maintenance on the H-53 helicopters for the 1550th Test and Training wing that was moved to Kirkland AFB, NM in early 76. I stayed at Hill in the 6514 Test Squadron as Flight Chief for H-3 and H-53 helicopters untill 1978 when I moved to FAF Bentwaters, UK as H-53 line chief 67th Air Rescue Squadron. In 1979 I went back to Zaragoza Spain as Maintenance superintendent for the 67 Air Rescue detachment HH-1N helicopters. In 1981 I made Senior Master Sergeant and transferred to the 388th Fighter Wing (F-16's) Hill AFB, UT. Early 1982 I went TDY to Cairo West, Egypt for four months as maintence Supt. f-16's. I retired from active duty 1 Nov. 1982. During active duty I was awarded Senior Aircrew wings, Meritorious Service medal, Air Medal, Bronze Star, Joint Service Commendation Medal, 3 Air Force Commendation Medals, AF Good conduct medal w/6 OLC. AF Presidential Unit Citation, AF Outstanding Unit award, Small arms expert marksmanship ribbon, NCO Professional Education Ribbon, ADF expeditionary medal w/1OLC(VietNam),Combat readiness medal, AF Longevity Service Ribbon w/4 OLC,National Defense Service Medal,VietNam Service medal with 3 devices, Republic of VietNam Cross of Gallantry w/devise, Republic of Viet Nam Campaign medal with 3 Stars,