The Don Englebreston Collection
Gallery: JPEG
Camouflaged A-1 Skyraiders on the ramp, blast revetments and perforated steel planking, engineers laying interlocking matting for a new runway: these photographs capture the working infrastructure of Vietnam War-era airbases. Between the flight-line scenes are the human ones — a pilot garlanded with flowers after a milestone, airmen grilling at night in March 1970, and servicemen sharing cold drinks outside their barracks in September 1973 — a candid record of daily life in Southeast Asia from the Mel Swanson collection.
Portrait of USAF Officer in Squadron Party Suit, South Vietnam, March 1970 (Variant)
Portrait of USAF Officer in Squadron Party Suit, South Vietnam, March 1970
Serviceman Posing on Captured Anti-Aircraft Gun, May 1970
Airman "The Big Rock" Cooking in Barracks Quarters, Vietnam, March 1970
Two Men at an Outdoor Cookout, March 1970
Off-Duty Servicemen Grilling at Night, Vietnam, March 1970
Airstrip Under Construction with Aircraft Overflight, Mel Swanson Vietnam Collection
Ground Crew Washing Down a Single-Engine Attack Aircraft, Vietnam Era
USAF Air Commando Personnel with "HOBO" Caps in Front of A-1 Skyraider, South Vietnam
Ground Crew Washing an A-1 Skyraider, Vietnam War Era
Aircrew Member Climbing Aboard Jet Aircraft Cockpit, Faded Color Slide - Mel Swanson Vietnam Collection
Deck Crew Washing Down Flight Line Near Parked Propeller Aircraft, Vietnam War Era
Airfield View with Control Tower and Field Elevation Marker, Vietnam War Era
C-130 Hercules Taxiing Past A-1 Skyraider Tail Section, Vietnam Airbase (Mel Swanson Collection)
Vietnam War-Era Airbase Flight Line with Control Tower, Mel Swanson Collection
A-1 Skyraider Flight Line with Support Vehicles, Vietnam-Era Airbase — Mel Swanson Collection
Flight Line View with Helicopter and Support Vehicles, Vietnam Air Base
Flight Line Ramp with Blast Revetments and FOD Warning Signage, Vietnam War Era
Aircraft on Approach Over Treeline, South Vietnam Airbase
Runway View with Aircraft Tail and Checkered Marker Panel, South Vietnam Airfield
Airfield Runway and Checkerboard Marker Viewed Past Aircraft Tail, Vietnam-Era Slide
A-1 Skyraider Aircraft on Ramp with Aircraft Overhead, South Vietnam
Two A-1 Skyraiders in Flight Formation Among Clouds, Vietnam War Era
Two Aircraft Climbing Out Over Treeline, Vietnam, Color-Faded Slide
Twin-Engine Military Aircraft in Flight, South Vietnam, Vietnam War Era
PSP Runway Surface with Construction Equipment, Vietnam War-Era Airbase
Aircraft on Approach over a Vietnam War-Era Airbase
Airfield Runway Under Construction with Interlocking Matting, Vietnam War Era
Distant Aircraft Silhouette Amid Cloud Layers, Color-Shifted Slide
Distant Aircraft in Faded Sky Photograph, Mel Swanson Vietnam Collection
Aerial View of Mountainous Jungle Terrain with Wing-Mounted Ordnance Visible
Aerial View of Mountainous Terrain, Southeast Asia, Vietnam War Era
Aerial View of Mountainous Terrain, Vietnam War Era
Aerial View of Jungle Terrain, Vietnam War Era
Aerial Reconnaissance Photograph of River and Terrain, Vietnam War, Mel Swanson Collection
Aerial View of Airstrike Impacts Over Mountainous Terrain, Vietnam War
Aerial View of Smoke Rising from Target Area, Southeast Asia, Vietnam War Era
Aerial Cockpit View of Smoke Rising Over Mountainous Terrain, Vietnam War
Aerial View of River and Karst Terrain, Southeast Asia, Mel Swanson Vietnam Collection
Aerial View of Smoke Plumes over Mountainous Terrain, Vietnam War Era
Aerial View of Multiple Smoke Plumes from Airstrike, Southeast Asian Mountain Valley
A-1 Skyraider 'Sweet Betty Lou,' Tail Code TT, Bomb-Loaded — Vietnam, June 1970
"Sweet Betty Lou" A-1 Skyraider-type Aircraft, Full Profile, June 1970
Serviceman Beside "Sweet Betty Lou" A-1 Skyraider-type Aircraft, June 1970
USAF Pilot in Cockpit of A-1E/A-1G Skyraider, 'RESCUE' Markings, Southeast Asia, June 1970
Aircrew and Ground Crew with A-1 Skyraider 'Sweet Betty Lou,' June 1970
Serviceman Relaxing Off-Duty, Mel Swanson Collection, September 1973
Group of Servicemen Relaxing Outside Barracks Building, Southeast Asia, September 1973
US Air Force Officer in Flight Suit Outside a Base Building, Mel Swanson Collection, Kodak Date Stamp SEP 73
Aviator in Squadron "Party Suit" with Medallion, Vietnam War Era
Portrait of Airman Mel Swanson in A-1 Skyraider Cockpit, Vietnam War Era
Serviceman with A-1 Skyraider-type Aircraft "Sweet Betty Lou" (Alternate View)
Airmen Relaxing Outside Barracks Quarters, Vietnam, June 1970
Model Aircraft Figurine on a Picnic Table, June 1970
A-1 Skyraider-type Aircraft with Pilot in Cockpit, Flight Line
Crewman Conversing with Pilot in A-1 Skyraider Cockpit, Vietnam
Sailors Washing Down Jet Aircraft on Carrier Flight Deck, Vietnam Era
Ground Crew Starting an Aircraft Engine with a Ground Power Cart
Airman Celebrating with Flower Lei on Flight Line Beside A-1 Skyraider, Vietnam War Era
Pilot in Flight Suit with Ceremonial Garland Before A-1 Skyraider "TS/AF 34575," Vietnam War Era
Naval Aviator Celebrating with Leis on Aircraft Carrier Flight Deck, Vietnam Era
Pilot Celebrated with Lei on Flight Line, Vietnam-Era Air Base
USAF Pilot Honored with Floral Garland on Flight Line, Mel Swanson Vietnam Collection
Airmen on Flight Line with A-1 Skyraiders, Tail Code 'TS'
Squadron Pilots on Flight Line with A-1 Skyraider, Mel Swanson Collection, Vietnam War
Serviceman with A-1 Skyraider-type Aircraft "Sweet Betty Lou"
Aircrewman Posing with Ordnance on an A-1 Skyraider-type Aircraft, February 1970
Veteran in Squadron 'Party Suit' at Reunion Gathering, Pool Table Setting
