USAF 606th AIR COMMANDO SQUADRON
The 606th Air Commando Squadron, equipped with North American AT-28D, UC-123s and A-26A Invaders was formed in 1966 under the 56th Air Commando Wing and was secretly deployed under “Lucky Tiger” program at Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Base in Thailand.
The base was situated a few miles from the Mekong River that formed the Thailand – Laos border, circa 120 miles SE of Ventiane. Nakhon Phanom (also NKP or Naked Fannie) was the home for several Special Operation units flying all sort of aircraft.
The 606th ACS primary missions were Day and Night Air Interdiction strikes along the Ho Chi Minh Trail in order to destroy any supply routes and traffic from North to South Vietnam.
Other missions consisted in Armed Reconnaissance and direct support to Laotian ground units in South and Central Laos, or Armed Escort Missions for infiltration or rescue operations flown by slow-moving aircrafts or helicopters.
Officially, the US Air Force never used AT-28Ds in combat after 1964 and such activities were classified at the time.
Sources:
AIR COMMANDO JOURNAL / Fall 2011
This Zorro pilot wears a standard cotton K-2B Flight Suit with a SRU-21/P Mesh Survival Vest and early Vibram sole Jungle Boots. This type of footwear was not officially allowed for flying personnel because of the Nylon canvas flammability, but many pilots preferred it instead of the standard black leather pilots boots (Flying Boots FWU-3/P). The Flight Helmet is of HGU-2/P type repainted in black-green colour.
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An infantry webbing belt is used to hold the cal.38 Smith & Wesson M10 Revolver and an early 6 inches blade Jet Pilot Survival Knife. A pink-red Safety Flashlight was often carried during night missions in case of cockpit electrical failure or for map reading.
The Night Interdiction strikes were most of the time flown by one single AT-28D usually under the guidance of ground Radar and Cessna O-1 Forward Air Controller equipped wit Starlight Scope night vision system, while the Day Strikes were normally flown by 2-ships formations.​
A flight of early Zorros AT-28D aproaching Nakhon Phanom RTAB. This original picture was taken by Capt Williams in 1966. The 606th ACS would later adopt "TO" tailcodes on their fins.
The “ZORRO” call sign was chosen in October 1966 by the AT-28Ds detachment of the 606th ACS among a call signs list approved by 7th Air Force. The pilot’s K-2B Flight Suits and ball caps were then sent to a tailor shop at UBON RTAB to be black-dyed and embroidered with pilot’s names and “Zorros” red logos.
These Flight Suits, Ball cap and original documents belonged Captain Georges WILLIAMS (later Col (Ret)). Capt. WILLIAMS was a 1959 West Point Officer and one of the original “Zorros” pilots. He flew the AT-28D over Laos from 1966 to 1967, receiving 2 Silver Stars, 5 DFCs and 12 Air Medals.
The AT-28D was a strengthened version of the T-28 Trojan trainer.
It was fitted with two gun pods containing each an M2 .50 cal machine gun and the three external wing pylons of each wing could be fitted with a vast choice of ordnance.
For its specific missions, the 606ths ACS used mainly MK-81 and 82 GP bombs, M47 PWP bombs, CBU-14 Cluster Bomb Dispensers, BLU-10 Napalm Bombs and the fixed cal .50 machine Guns.
The 606th ACS operated the AT-28D from October 1966 to March 1968, and later unit transitioned on the Douglas A-1 Skyraider.
This Zorros AT-28D is loaded with MK82 GP bombs and BLU-10 unfinned 250lbs fire bombs. The cal.50 gunpod can be seen right next to the pilot's right arm.
This early 6 inches blade example of Jet Pilot Survival Knife was manufactured by CAMILLUS Co. of New York. The 6 inches blade was produced from 1957 to 1962 and was then reduced to 5 inches after the experience gained with practical use of the knife in real situations. Click HERE for a picture of a 5 inches Jet Pilot Survival Knife.
