Service & Sacrifice: “Young, dumb, and innocent.” -Self-description of a C-130 combat pilot
A C-130 pilot described his “rude awakening” when he first flew into Vietnam. What he thought were fireworks celebrating his arrival, was enemy ground fire. Author: John Becker Updated: 7:08 PM EST March 11, 2021
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. A C-130 combat pilot and veteran of 72 combat missions in Vietnam said the enemy fired on his hulking four engine cargo plane on every landing and takeoff but he never found a bullet hole in his plane.
“My angels have been watching over me. That s all I can say. I ve been very, very fortunate. I ve been very blessed,” said Jim Warner, a 20-year veteran of the Air Force who earned the military’s highest award for heroics in the sky in 1972.