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John “The secretive world of military ‘special operations’ is filled with men and women whose dedication, self-sacrifice, and heroism on behalf of their country is seldom acknowledged in public. The thing about the Air Commandos is that you don’t need them very often. But when you do, you tend to need them very badly.”
Michael E. Haas, Col, USAF, Retired
Author, Apollo's Warriors
 Nimrod was a Biblical figure -- the great-grandson of Noah. He was a haughty king who declared himself a "mighty one in the earth," founded the great city of Babylon, and presided over the construction of the mythical Tower of Babel. Nimrod was also a renowned hunter whose game of choice was not animals but men. His name became synonymous with a skilled hunter.
“And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord . . .“ --Genesis 10:8,9
 A-26 “Fly By Knights” Patch
All members of the 609th Air Commando (later Special Operations) Squadron wore the patch on their flightsuits.
 609th Special Operations Squadron Nimrods
Group-photo of the 609th SOS Nimrods, at "NKP" (Nakhon-Phanom), in Thailand 1969.
(Photo: Jim Sizemore collection)
 Colonel Harry C. "Heinie" Aderholt "Air Commando One" 1966/1967 (Photo: Michael DeHaan collection)
A blunt, outspoken, profane man ... the consumate leader and flyer. Took command of the 606th Air Commando Squadron at Nakhon Phanom in December 1966 and molded it into a wing with control and supervision over Thailand based special air warfare operations. He loved the challenge and loved his men ... gave new meaning to the slogan "Lead, follow, or get out of the way." His 56th Air Commando Wing's combat record was unexcelled.
 Brigadier General Harry C. "Heinie" Aderholt "Air Commando One" 1920 - 2010  56th Special Operations Wing - Change of Command
October 1969
 609th Special Operations Squadron Nimrods
Group-photo of the surviving 609th SOS Nimrods Oct. '05 Reunion, Hurlburt Field, Ft. Walton Beach, FL  A-
A/B-26 Memorial at Hurlburt Field
Honoring A/B-26 Aircrews Lost in Combat
1961-1969
 Maurice Bourne - Farm Gate Navigator
Major Tom Wickstrom Sitting just aft the bomb bay in an A-26
He innovated the use of the Starlight scope to observe NVA truck traffic moving below a fully blacked out and undetectable A-26 flying overhead. The harness was a thoughtful touch, as the observer was required to extend his upper torso out over open bomb bay doors to get a good view of the Ho Chi Minh Trail.  Major Tom Wickstrom at NKP
November 1967
 Lt. Col. Tom Wickstrom, Nimrod Pilot at 2005 Reunion
Our Foundation's Inspiration for "Operation Final Flight"
(told us about the existence of IF 679 "Special K"
8 May1929 - 1 March 2010
 Capt. Roger Graham, Navigator (left) and Maj. Bobby "Pappy" Sears, Pilot (right) at NKP
1967-68
 Colonel Roger D. Graham, Nimrod Navigator at 2007 Reunion
Author of "The Nimrods"
Flew 182 Missions on the Trail
 Major Jim Fitzgerald, Nimrod Pilot
1968-1969
Photo February 1969
 Capt. Frank Nelson, Nimrod Navigator
Flew some 185 missions
Photo May 1968
 Frank Nelson, Nimrod Navigator at 2007 Reunion
 Batman and Robin
TA-670 with Pilot Al "Batman" Shortt (right) and Navigator Larry "Robin" Counts (left) with their Easter Napalm Presents
(The undersides of the underwing ordinance were often painted black to avoid compromise of the camouflage.)
 Loran (Larry) Gierhart - Nimrod Navigator
 1st Lieutenant Mike Hickly (left) and 2nd Lieutenant Dave Talbert (right)
Nimrod Navigators, NKP - 1969  1st Lieutenant Edward M. (Mike) Hickly and TA-653
Nimrod Navigator, NKP - 1969  Major Jack Mauldin and TA-651 "Mighty Mouse" Nimrod Pilot (1968-69)
 Capt. Jack Bright, Nimrod Pilot
1968/69
Photo February 1969
 Pilot Jay Norton (at left) and Navigator Tom Bronson
teamed up to fly the Counter Invader in 1968.
 Nimrod Pilot Jay Norton at 2005 Reunion
 Captain Nolan Schmidt and TA-651 "Mighty Mouse" Nimrod Navigator at NKP  Colonel Nolan Schmidt at 2005 Reunion
 Major Lee Griffin, Nimrod Pilot at NKP
1968-1969
Photo February 1969
 Major Lee Griffin at 2005 Reunion
Our Foundation's Treasurer
Nimrod Pilot at NKP
1968-1969
 Nimrod Pilot Lt.Tim Black (right) and his Navigator Capt. Bruce "Gus" Gustafson (left)
(Circa 1969)
 Nimrods Tim Black (Pilot) and Bruce Gustafson (his Navigator)
2005 Reunion
 Nimrod Pete Bowman with GunSight Pipper on Lanyard
2005 Reunion
 Major Don Maxwell, Navigator
2005 Reunion
 Ken Spring (Nimrod Pilot)
2005 Reunion
 Captain Leon "Crazy" Poteet, Navigator
2005 Reunion
 Captain Paul "Hulk" Marschalk, Pilot
2005 Reunion
 TA 649 "Sweet Therese" in boneyard at Davis Monthan
(named after his wife by Capt. Paul "Hulk" Marschalk)
1970
 Captain Paul "Hulk" Marschalk (Nimrod Pilot)
and his Flight Suit Patch
 Captain Paul "Hulk" Marschalk (Nimrod Pilot) and
his Navigator Captain Leon "Crazy" Poteet visit IF 679 "Special K"
Over 300 Nimrod Mission between them
 Major Ken Yancey, Nimrod Pilot at NKP
217 Missions on the Trail
1968-1969
Photo February 1969
 Major Ken Yancey at 2007 Reunion
 Major Charles (Charlie) Vogler
201 Missions on the Trail
Nimrod Pilot at NKP
Sept 1968 - Aug 1969
Awarded Silver Star  Major Charles (Charlie) Vogler and TA-651 "Mighty Mouse" (named after his summer home Mouse Island on Squam Lake, Center Harbor, NH)Photo NKP (1968-1969)  Lt. Col. Bob Stout (left), Major Jim Fitzgerald (center) and Major Charlie Vogler (right)
Celebrating Major Vogler's 201st and Final Mission in NKP
1969
 Lt. Colonel Charles (Charlie) Vogler
30 June 1931 - 4 March 2000
Major Michael W. Michelsen
Nimrod Navigator at NKP  MSgt. Lindsey Jackson at NKP (the man who kept the planes flying)
(Circa 1966)
 MSgt. Lindsey Jackson at 2007 Nimrod Reunion
 Major Al "Batman" Shortt With "Funny Bombs"
Major Al "Batman" Shortt
2005 Reunion
 Major James Elmo Sizemore - Nimrod Pilot
11 October 1930 - 08 July 1969
Lost with his Navigator Major Howard Andre in an unsurvivable crash when their plane (TA 646) struck a karst outcropping in the Plaine des Jarres (PDJ) after coming off a strafing run against ground troops. The last Nimrods to perish in SEA.  Major James Sizemore and TA-644
Photo NKP (1969)
 Major Howard Andre, Nimrod Navigator
Photo 1968/69
KIA 8 July 1969 with Major James Sizemore
Photo February 1969
Captain Norm Wolf Nimrod Navigator (1968-1969) |
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The Nimrods |
