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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
1968-1969, AC-130A Gunship
From Year 1968
To Year 1969
Personal Memories
Not Specified
Image
AC-130A Gunship Details
Aircraft/Missile Information
The AC-130 Gunship first arrived in South Vietnam on 21 September 1967 under the Gunship II program, and began combat operations over Laos and South Vietnam that year. By 30 October 1968, enough AC-130 Gunship IIs arrived to form a squadron. The 16th Special Operations Squadron (SOS), of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) were activated on the above date at Ubon AB, Thailand.
By December 1968 most AC-130s were flown under F-4 escort from the 479th TFS (Tactical Fighter Squadron), normally three Phantoms per Gunship. In late 1969, under the code name of "Surprise Package", 56-0490 arrived with solid state laser illuminated low light level TV with a companion YAG laser designator, an improved forward looking infrared (FLIR) sensor, video recording for TV and FLIR, inertial navigation, and a prototype digital fire control computer. Surprise Package was equipped with the latest 20 mm Gatling guns and 40 mm Bofors cannon, but no 7.62 mm close support armament. Surprise Package was refitted with upgraded similar equipment in the summer of 1970, and then redeployed to Ubon RTAFB. Surprise Package served as a test bed for the avionic systems and armament for the AC-130E. In the summer of 1971, Surprise Package was converted to the Pave Pronto configuration, and assumed its new nickname, Thor.
