Dirty thirty help!

[eriksale]

Hi all

On Page 6 of this thread I posted a clip of a VIP that my dad had made while he was in the "Dirty Thirty". I asked if anybody new who this might be. Well I sent to my roomate from college, retired Maj Ted Morris USAF and he reports back that it as then President of Vietnam Ngo Diem.

I wonder if he new he only had appro. a year to live?

Dave

[eriksale]

I've been working on many thing's in regard's to my dad's group here is what I have recently found.

I have found out that there is approx 8500 ft of footage of the "Dirty Thirty" shot as a documentery and I have found it!! It was origionally shot to be presented for the 64 Oscars but was left dormaint. So will be working on getting copies for all.

We'll keep you posted!

Dave

[Son-Of-Pilot]

Holy Crap!!!!

That is so cool. I never heard about the footage. How did you find out? Where can I find it?

If I could get that for my dad, that would be so AWESOME!!!

Todd

[eriksale]

Todd
I've been in contact with Col John Rathgeber (second group). In our discussions he asked if I knew about the filming of the "Dirty Thirty" for a documentary which I too did not know about. Col Rathgeber told me last he heard the film was destroyed.

So doing a little "googling" (damn I'm good!) I found that it is stored in the National Archives.

I'm in contact with them and have submitted and received my request to have copies made. It has to go to an authorized lab, which I'm in contact with to find out the $$$$

This is all 35mm movie so maybe very expensive but will see as in 35mm the 8500 ft only ad's up to about an hour.

I'm also now in contact with retired BG Sal Villano who started the "Forgotten Valor" project with the VFW in Denver. They get medals and awards for those that were missed. For my cousin's husband he received his Purple Heart, Bronze Star and 11 other medals a year ago from his service on Iwo Jima!

From what I have found most of the "Dirty Thirty" should have received on average an AM for every month they were there. My dad received one and should have received 9, probably the same for your dad.

So that's were I'm at so keeping checking back for more info.

Dave

[Son-Of-Pilot]

Dave,

From what I understand, they guys should have gotten more than Air Medals.

This is so damned cool about the film. I am so looking forward to seeing it.

Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

Todd

[eriksale]

Just received the attached from the AF at Maxwell.

It is an oral history pdf of LC Harold Sweet who was in my dad's group in the Dirty Thirty

It's a 31 page interview.
Dave

[eriksale]

Just received word over Christmas that Lt Col Joseph Obendorf passed away on Sep 7 2009

Joe served with my Dad in the Dirty Thirty as well as the "Little SAM" squadrons at Hamilton AFB & Chanute AFB.

I knew Col Obendorf since I was 5

Rest in Peace and God Bless

[edaniee]

Hi, occasionally I do a search on my father, William P. Kernan (goes by "Pat") and I found this forum. He eventually became a Major but I printed out the picture you attached and this is definitely my father. I am going to send him the picture and your post. If you would like to contact him directly, he lives in TX and his email is:

nanrek29@swbell.net

If you would like to contact me, please contact me at my email address as I may not be checking back here as it was a fluke that I found this.

erin.e.kernan@gmail.com

Thank you!

Erin

[edaniee]

Hi, I just found this forum doing a google search on my dad. In the picture of the Dirty Thirty that someone posted, my dad (William P. Kernan) is in the middle and a friend of his whom I know (Zane Lantz) is the second to the last in the second row. Both are living in Texas. My father is 79 and I'm sure Zane is around that age. Please contact me if you want more info. Since I may not check this forum as it was a fluke I ended up here, please email me at erin.e.kernan@gmail.com

Thanks and this is really cool!
Erin

[eriksale]

Erin

I'm the one that posted squadron photo.
I sent you and your dad pics etc via email and wanted to make sure you both received.

Dave