This Military Service Page was created/owned by
A3C Michael S. Bell (Unit Historian)
to remember
Conroy, Robert Brierly, Maj USAF(Ret).
If you knew or served with this Airman and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
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REMEMBRANCE IN PROGRESS - SUBJECT TO CHANGE --------- This profile is based entirely upon the research done by US Militaria Forum member "Forum Support" (user name) who collected a grouping named to Major Conroy which may be seen at this link:
Most of the information here and all photos are to be credited to him. ---------- Inventory of grouping:
FLIGHT GEAR * P-1B flight helmet, 1954 * HGU-2/P flight helmet, 1950's * A-11 flight helmet with B-8 goggles & spare lenses * A-9 cloth flight helmet with Seasall goggles * MBU-5P oxygen mask * H-157/AIC headset/microphone * Mark 2A pilots kneeboard clip board * MXU-163/P pilots kneeboard clip board * Three AN 6505 Aviators Kit Bags * Drawstring gear bag marked 34th Bomb Squadron * Drawstring flight helmet bag form early 1960's * GI issue flyers garment bag * Aircrew clip-on tray * Type E-11 dead reckoning computer * Type B-2 navigation plotter * Type MB-2 flight computer * AN 5835-1 DR computer * T-33 fuel consumption calculator
UNIFORM ITEMS * Flight gloves, types TB3A, GS/FRP-1 and F-3 electric suit * Two pairs Vietnam era leather flight boots * Blue visor cap * Blue flight cap * Blue dress uniform with wings and ribbons * Black mess dress uniform with wings and mini-medals * K2B flight suit size SM-REG with patches & insignia * CWU 27/P flight suit size 40R with patches & insignia * L2B flight jacket size SM with patches & insignia * L2B flight jacket size MED with patches & insignia * OD Cotton sateen shirt with names tape and insignia * OD jungle combat shirt with names tape and insignia * Large drawstring bag from his WWII enlisted service
INSIGNIA & AWARDS * Rank insignia & dogtags * Several wings, 3 large (one on blues), 3 small and one bullion (on mess dress) * Name tags * Patches * Misc. ribbons & a ribbon chart for him * Mini-medals (on mess uniform) * Certificates for Bronze Stare, Air Medal, AF Commendation & other medals * Reserve and Regular Air Force commission certificates * USAF retirement certificate * B-66 1,000 Hour plaque * C-141 2,000 Hour certificate * C-130 1,000 Hour pin * Pins from Air Force Association, etc.
FLIGHT MANUALS & OTHER BOOKS * Flight manuals/handbooks for A-26/B-26, T-33, B-66, C-141 * Checklists for A-26, T-33, B-57 B-66, C-130 * Yearbook, Reese AFB flight training 1954 * Yearbook, Goodfellow AFB flight training 1954 * Yearbook, Hurlburt Field 17th Bomb Wing 1956 * Yearbook, Sculthorpe Air Base, England 1957
FLIGHT RECORDS * Three student flight logs * Records of combat flight hours in Vietnam * Records of roundtrip airlift flights from US to Vietnam
PERSONAL ITEMS * Military issue ID cards * Menu from unit dinner with British Royalty * Two photos from flight training school * Four unit lighters (one from his A-26/B-26 days) * One silver-plated presentation cup * One presentation ashtray with pilot wings * Two desk nameplates --------
Other Comments:
Re: 463rd TCW:
"On Nov. 23, 1965, the wing moved to Mactan Isle Air Field, Philippines, and assumed responsibility for operating a C-130 combat airlift support unit at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, South Vietnam, and a detachment at Clark AB, Philippines. On Aug. 1, 1967, the Air Force redesignated the wing to the 463rd Tactical Airlift Wing." ---------- From Dave Scoggins 22 Sep 09:
"Got notification that someone was added to my "Also there" on my profile. Checked and saw one of them was Major Conroy. Apparently we were stationed at Mactan and Norton together.
Anyway, I remember the good Major. I was working in Squadron Training office when he upgraded to "Select Lead" AC. Had to be one of the best at airdrop with the C-141 to make a "Select Lead" crew. I also went on a Wespac trip with him. He was an IP and had 2 students with him. It was a good trip and he made sure both the youngsters joined in on the Bag Drags at every stop.
If memory serves I was the senior Engineer and, therefore, the NCOIC for the trip. It was about 8 or 9 days long and we got lots of flying. Norton-Travis-Hickam-Wake-Kadena-Danang-Cam RAhn Bay-Kadena-Saigon-Kadena-Hickam-Travis-Norton. Typical.
Anyway, just wanted to let you know I knew the man and he was a good man to serve with."
Dave --------
Vietnam War/Counteroffensive Campaign (1965-66)
From Month/Year
June / 1965
To Month/Year
June / 1966
Description This period was from June 29, 1966-March 8, 1967.
On June 29. 1966. the USAF bombed petroleum storage and distribution facilities for the first time in the immediate vicinity of Hanoi and Haiphong, after political leaders authorized limited and specific strikes within the buffer zones for these cities. Gen. William W. Mornyer replaced General Moore as Seventh Air Force Commander on July 1. The United States expanded the Rotuvo Tttunoca campaign as of July 9 to include petroleum targets in the northeast and rail lines and highways between China and Hlanoi. although the buffer zone on the border limited targets. American aircraft also flew armed reconnaissance over North Vietnam.
On July 30, 1966. the USAF bombed targets in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) to counter the build-up of North Vietnamese forces there. By September the U.S. air campaign against North Vietnam had destroyed or damaged two-thirds of the enemy's petroleum storage capacity.
Several thousand trucks and watercraft, hundreds of rail ears and bridges and numerous ammunition and supply storage areas. Beginning on February 14, 1967. USAF aircraft hit additional strategic targets in North Vietnam, knocking out major power plants. and railyard repair facilities. But these results had little effect on the enemy’s ability to carry on the war, because the country possessed only a small industrial base and imported most of its military materiel.
In the face of extensive air attacks. North Vietnam further strengthened its air defenses. By January 1967, the United States had lost 455
aircraft within 2 years. Antiaircraft guns and SAMs accounted for most of the losses, but MiGs continued to challenge U.S. air strikes. On January 2 the Seventh Air Force enticed a large MiG-21 force over North Vietnam into battle against F-4s. The USAF pilots destroyed 7 MiGs within 12 minutes without a loss. Four days later, on January 6. the Seventh destroyed 2 more MiGs. and the North Vietnamese temporarily abandoned aerial combat to regroup and retrain.
In South Vietnam Allied forces continued search and destroy operations. blunting new Viet Cong and North Vietnamese offensives. Between July I4 and August 4, 1966. U.S. Marines and South Vietnamese troops battled North Vietnam Army forces near Quang Tri. 20 miles south of the DMZ. Later. between October I5 and November 26. the Allies engaged in a major battle with Viet Cong and NVA forces northwest of Tay Ninh. near the Cambodian border. 60 miles northwest of Saigon. Enemy resistance was light at first. but on November 4th as ARVN and U.S. troops approached storage areas. the Viet Cong and NVA counterattacked. The Allies responded by airlifting more troops, including elements of the U.S. Army's 1st' 4th, and 25th Infantry Divisions. and the 173rd Airborne Brigade. The USAF provided close air support. and between November 8 and 25. B-52s bombed targets in the area. The Allies drove the enemy from the region temporarily. seizing weapons. ammunition. food. and other supplies that the Communist forces left behind.
The next year. between February and May 1967, U.S. Army units joined ARVN forces to return to Tay Ninh Province. about 50 miles north of Saigon and 15 miles northeast of Tay Ninh. Seventh Air Force C-130s dropped American paratroopers near the Cambodian border to cut off the Viet Cong retreat. The airlifters also flew reinforcements and supplies to the ground troops during this operation. With the help of forward air controllers flying O-1s. Air Force F-100 and F-4 pilots provided close air support. and AC-47 gunship crews illuminated targets and conducted air strikes at night. Again, the enemy withdrew into Canbodia. Leaving behind weapons, supplies. and ammunition.
In the panhandle of Laos, the USAF pounded enemy forces on the l-lo Chi Minh Trail. while in northern Laos U.S. pilots supported Allied forces under attack. By August 1966 Laotian troops fighting Pathet Lao insurgents had advanced. with the aid of U.S. close air support. to Nam Bae. only 45 miles west of the North Vietnamese border and about 55 miles northeast of Luang Prabang, an ancient city on the Mekong River some 130 miles north of Vientiane. The Laotian gains were short lived, however, and by February 2. 1967, the insurgents had regained lost territory and were in a position to attack the airfield at Luang Prabang.
