I was on a 5- man bladder bird POL volunteer team on flying statues. 

We flew only on C130 and C123  bladder birds in Vietnam.

The marines called us "Mortar Magnets"  we were hit so many times.

I flew on over 150  bladder bird combat missions in 1967 and 1968. 

We would deliver jet fuel to special forces camps that were cut off buy the VC also protecting the bladder system and aircraft upon arrivel.  

Once we landed, we would get in and out as fast as we could since we were often under attack by the Viet Cong.  

For the first time I tell my story in the far East & Vietnam from1965-1968



Tan Son Nhut Airbase,Saigon during the 1968 Tet offensive.

 Sgt Monroe in this video on front line volunteered to help the out  the out numbered Air Police defend the base.

Sgt Monroe is in Ken Burns Film Season 1: Ep 6 you can view this on Netflex.

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With my parachute on before combat mission.

Bladders on ground below where we brought the fuel to be stored for the choppers.

Sgt  Monroe with Thailand  loadmaster on combat  bladder bird mission together.

I took this picture before we landed at Cam Ranh Bay below 1967

​My house when not flying - Tan Son Nhut Airbase

​I took this picture from  a C 123  VC- fight below.

Fighter jet at Tan Son Nhut 1968

 Just delivered fuel to south vietnamese troops cut off buy VC - our plane was hit on way is so we had to stay.

 

Sgt  Monroe below behind C130 Bladder bird combat mission delivering fuel to on ground bladders.

VC- POWs in front of empty bladders  background.

 Pilot inside C123 on bladder bird mission.

Click toolbar video page above to view  more videos and learn all about the Vietnam war.

Choppers comming in to camp to refuel.

C 130 Bladder bird full load 6,000 gal at Khe Sanh blew up 

C 123 Hit by VC mortars at Khe Sanh 1968

Below are some of the pictures I took before and after takeoff when on combat mission.

Sgt Monroe inside inside C-123 while flying combat mission full load 2,000 Jet Fuel on way to Khe Sanh.

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​Untold Story From Unknown Soldier


        Vietnam ,Thiland, Japan 1965-1968 

​           C-130 and C123 Bladder Birds

C 130 Bladder birds below off loading JP −4 jet fuel to bladders on ground.

Sgt Monroe in side C123 on bladder bird combat mission 1967

C 130 and C123 at 1:47 & 5:00 & 5:35 landing under attack.

This is what I did every day inside aircraft on fuel bladder.

Video may contain clips that some find graphic.

Monroe  with South Vietnamese troops.

VC were trying to hit bladder bird.

​Video may contain clips that some find graphic.

​Video below you see how we would supply the camps with our C130 & C123 Bladder Birds

C 123 bladder bird my mission ready to take off.

 C130 Bladderbird coming in to offload at camp.

 My empty  bladders ready to be installed inside aircraft 

My home base was Tan Son Nhut Air base in Saigon.

We loaded our bladders and delivered fuel all over every day.


Below are some of the places and camps I went to.

The VC knew we were comming often we were under attack.


Khe Sahn - Hue - Da Nang - Dak to - Katum - Soc Trang 

Bon Me Thout - Da Lat - Quang Tri - Kon tum - Pleiku

Bien Hoa - Chu Lai - Katum -Quan Loi - Song Be - Vinh Long

Quin Nhon -Na Trang - Cam Ranh Bay and More.


Inside a C130 we carried Two 3,000 gal rubber bladders and on the C123 we had one 2,000 gal bladder. Picture below is a C123 with 2,000 gal bladder inside. 600 gal per min pumps were on the tail gate.