2015 by John P. Webster, LM 886, Phù Cát, 1041st SPS(T), 1967 OPERATIONAL TEST PHASE BOOBY TRAPS, TUNNELS, & EODs B 3.22 - Operational Test Phase: Booby Traps, Tunnels, and EOD. Booby Traps are favored devices of the guerrilla. They are usually inexpensive, relatively easy to install, and with minimum effort have maximum effect. Grenades, spike traps, poison arrows and a variety of other means are employed to harass, slow down, confuse and kill friendly forces. The forms of these weapons are limited only by the imagination of the designer. 3.22_1 - Operational Test Phase: Booby Traps. R/L: Above SSgt's head is a SAT pickup truck, a jeep and trailer. He holds two M-16s and is watching a squatting EOD TSgt. examine ordnance. An Airman (center) prepares a length of detcord (filled with PETN and explodes at a rate of approximately 4 miles per second, appearing to be instantaneous). (USAF Photo) "Joined To Fight" Vietnam Security Police Association, Inc. (USAF) - Edited & Compiled by Don Poss Page 1 of 11
3.22_2 (above) & 3.22_3 (below) - Operational Test Phase: Booby Traps. USAF Official Photo) "Joined To Fight" Vietnam Security Police Association, Inc. (USAF) - Edited & Compiled by Don Poss Page 2 of 11
3.22_4 (above) & 3.22_5 (below) - Operational Test Phase: Booby Traps. Detcord is placed. USAF Official Photo) "Joined To Fight" Vietnam Security Police Association, Inc. (USAF) - Edited & Compiled by Don Poss Page 3 of 11
3.22_6 - Operational Test Phase - VC Tunnels: Sgt. Gibson emerging from bush and tunnel area, on day patrol. Viet Cong Tunnels. (Photo by John Webster) 3.22_7 - Operational Test Phase: (right) Viet Cong Tunnels and Shedded Snake-Skin. One day a patrol brought a 10' Cobra back to Base Camp. I hate snakes. (Photo by John Webster) "Joined To Fight" Vietnam Security Police Association, Inc. (USAF) - Edited & Compiled by Don Poss Page 4 of 11
3.22_8 - Operational Test Phase: Viet Cong Tunnels. (Photo by John Webster) 3.22_9 - (right) Operational Test Phase: Phù Cát Viet Cong Tunnel, Day Patrol. (Photo by John Webster) "Joined To Fight" Vietnam Security Police Association, Inc. (USAF) - Edited & Compiled by Don Poss Page 5 of 11
3.22_10 - Operational Test Phase: Viet Cong Tunnel entrance. EOD and Fire Teams blew up about 300 tunnels, but never found any bad-boys in one. Sgt. Gasborro enjoying a smoke with Charlie-- Smoke'em Out, boys! (Photo by John Webster) "Joined To Fight" Vietnam Security Police Association, Inc. (USAF) - Edited & Compiled by Don Poss Page 6 of 11
3.22_11 - Operational Test Phase: (Closeup) Viet Cong Tunnels. Smoke and Wait. (Photo by John Webster) 3.22_12 - Operational Test Phase: Viet Cong Tunnels. Smok'em... Wait... and No Show. (Photo by John Webster) "Joined To Fight" Vietnam Security Police Association, Inc. (USAF) - Edited & Compiled by Don Poss Page 7 of 11
3.22_13 - Operational Test Phase: Viet Cong Tunnels. MSgt. Bob Hockanson emerging from VC tunnel after placing explosive charge - January 1967. (Photos Courtesy: CMSgt. Robert Frink, and Jerry Nelson, Operation Safeside Association. https:// www.safesideassociation.org/) 3.22_14 - Operational Test Phase: Viet Cong Tunnels. TSgt. Arthur Anderer emerging from VC tunnel after placing explosive charge. Red coloring on the entrance rib could be from residue from red smoke grenade. We found tunnels, reported them to EOD, who blew them. January 1967. [Photo Courtesy: CMSgt. Robert Frink, and Jerry Nelson, Operation Safeside Association. https:// www.safesideassociation.org/ "Joined To Fight" Vietnam Security Police Association, Inc. (USAF) - Edited & Compiled by Don Poss Page 8 of 11
3.22_15 - Operational Test Phase: Perimeter, Explosive Barrels - EOD Team setting up detcord explosions. (Photo by John Webster) "Joined To Fight" Vietnam Security Police Association, Inc. (USAF) - Edited & Compiled by Don Poss Page 9 of 11
3.22_16 - Operational Test Phase: Chieu Hoi flyer, encourages Viet Cong surrender, and if they bring a weapon with them, they're paid based on the weapon. Leaflets were scattered everywhere. (Photo by John Webster) "Joined To Fight" Vietnam Security Police Association, Inc. (USAF) - Edited & Compiled by Don Poss Page 10 of 11
3.22_17 - Operational Test Phase: Chieu Hoi flyer, encourages Viet Cong surrender. See translations below front and back images. (Photo by John Webster) "Joined To Fight" Vietnam Security Police Association, Inc. (USAF) - Edited & Compiled by Don Poss Page 11 of 11