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Harold Eugene Caldwell, 79, of Columbus, MS passed away Tuesday, June 11, 2019, at his residence.
Mr. Caldwell was born July 16, 1939, in Lee County, MS to the late Ruby Hester and George Albert Caldwell. He was a Mason. Mr. Caldwell served in the United States Airforce as an SMSGT for 22 years. He was a licensed pilot and owned his own plane. Mr. Caldwell was a licensed A and P mechanic and worked for Golden Triangle Regional Airport as an on flight aviation mechanic for many years. In addition to his parents, Mr. Caldwell in preceded in death by his wife- Phyllis Irene Harding Caldwell; daughter- Judy Caldwell; son- John Caldwell; brothers- John Caldwell, Charles Caldwell, and George Caldwell; sisters-Ruth Mallory, Mable Cannon, and Charlotte Caldwell Ivy; and nephew- Tommy Mallory.
Mr. Caldwell is survived by his daughter- Sandra Caldwell; grandchild- Kamery Perkins; sisters- Sue Ricketts, and Betty (Bud) Elzey; sisters-in-laws- Beulah Smith, Shirley Rice and Marie Caldwell; nephews- John Wayne Caldwell, Mike Cannon, Craig Cannon, Ronnie Cannon, Terry Mallory, Danny Caldwell, Billy Mallory, Jerry Caldwell, and Joe Caldwell; nieces- Celia Crawford, Maye Whitehead, and Bev Bagley.
Family ask for no flowers that memorials be made to support American Veterans at www.woundedwarriorproject.org
1963-1965, C-131 Samaritan
From Year 1963
To Year 1965
Personal Memories
Not Specified
Image
C-131 Samaritan Details
Aircraft/Missile Information
The CV-240/340/440 series was used by the United States Air Force for medical evacuation and VIP transport and was designated as C-131 Samaritan. The first model Samaritan, the C-131A, was derived from the 240 model, and was delivered to the USAF in 1954. A trainer model, designated the T-29, was also based on the Convair 240 to instruct navigators and radio operators. The T-29 was eventually replaced by the T-43. A planned bomber training version of the T-29 (designated T-32) was never built. The 340 model was used for most C-131Ds.
The U.S. Navy used the Samaritan as the R4Y. Nearly all of the C-131s left the active inventory in the late 1970s, but Air National Guard units operated a few into the mid-1980s. The C-131 was eventually replaced by the C-9 Nightingale.
A Samaritan was the first aircraft used as a flying gunship testbed in mid-1963, in a program known as Project Tailchaser. A C-131B (#53-7820) was given a gunsight for the side window, but instead of guns it had cameras in the cargo area. Eventually the C-131 was ferried to Eglin AFB in Florida and a General Electric SUU-11A/A 7.62 mm Gatling-style Minigun was installed. Live ammunition was used and both over-water and over-land tests were successful.
