Episode 39 of “Military Tales” delves into the extraordinary and often unconventional careers of veteran pilots Jack Drummond and Roger Youngblood during the Vietnam era. Listen as Jack shares his journey from a West Texas cotton farm to unexpected assignments, including flying C-130s and hunting trucks over Laos, while Roger recounts his determined path to flying the A-1 Skyraider, the “last recip fighter”. The episode culminates with their incredible, audacious mission to retrieve 11 A-1 Skyraiders submerged in a ditch at Utapao, Thailand, facing challenges like monsoon rains, no checklists, and wet parachutes to fly out four functional aircraft. Discover the surprising fate of these planes years later and the profound influence of leadership figures like General Aderholt, alongside the pilots’ powerful reflections on the vital role of faith in protecting them through dangerous times. This episode offers a compelling look at unsung heroes and the unique experiences shaped by navigating pivotal moments.
“Military Tales” Episode 39 brings us face-to-face with the remarkable careers and unique experiences of two veteran pilots, Jack Drummond and Roger Youngblood. Their stories, woven together through the shared challenges and unconventional turns of the Vietnam era, offer a fascinating glimpse into military service that often strayed far from the typical path.
Jack Drummond’s Unexpected Journey
Jack Drummond’s fascination with flying began early, growing up on a cotton farm in West Texas where he devoured books about World War II fighter pilots. Robert Scott’s “God is My Co-Pilot” set him on a path from which he “never varied”. Despite graduating pilot training and college ROTC, his initial assignments were far from the fighter cockpit he dreamed of, including flying transport planes and even serving as a Brigadier General’s aide. He eventually transitioned to C-130s in Okinawa, a “not a pleasant assignment” where he hauled everything “from beans to bullets” but learned a lot about flying, including picking up broken aircraft with missing or failing engines. His desire for combat led him to hunt trucks in A-28s over Laos, a mission he “loved” and found success in, once achieving a run of 47 consecutive missions with at least one truck killed. This passion eventually led him to apply for A-1 Skyraiders, a powerful, propeller-driven attack aircraft. His career continued with unique assignments, including advising Laotian A-28 squadrons where he flew as an American embedded among Laotian pilots, adopting their customs like wearing safari suits and being called “Mister”. Later, he found himself in the Pentagon, negotiating base closures and international agreements, including working with the Minister of Defense of Singapore and being surprisingly requested by the Prime Minister to head a strategic planning team, a job he took despite initially expecting a less glamorous Pentagon role.
Roger Youngblood’s Defined Path
Roger Youngblood’s trajectory towards military aviation seemed almost preordained. From a young age in Taylor, Texas, his vivid descriptions of flying, even before ever doing so, captivated his second-grade teacher. Drafted into the Army in 1968, a timely visit to the Air Force recruiter revealed the possibility of becoming a pilot with extra pay, a revelation that steered his course. He excelled in Officer Training School and pilot training, adapting well to flying. While his initial assignment was to the C-123 cargo plane instead of the sought-after jets, his student squadron commander convinced him of the valuable experience it would provide. Roger’s clear goal was to fly the A-1 Skyraider, the “last recip fighter” in the Air Force, and he aggressively pursued this, volunteering for a consecutive overseas tour and landing an A-1 assignment at NKP within 30 days of arriving in Vietnam. He thrived in the A-1 squadron, particularly valuing the Search and Rescue (SAR) mission, which he saw as a “christian mission” to save lives. His career continued on an “unordinary” path, including a year studying Thai language at the Defense Language Institute and flying a variety of aircraft simultaneously, from C-47s to AU-23s, often working directly with Thai and Cambodian forces. Roger felt his life was a series of “why in the road type things,” where decisions led to successful, albeit unconventional, outcomes. He later became an instructor pilot in the A-1, A-7, and A-10, stating he flew the three “greatest attack airplanes” and preferred flying below 10,000 feet for close air support.
The Audacious “Stealing” of the A-1 Skyraiders
A pivotal moment in their intertwined careers, and a central focus of the episode, was their involvement in retrieving 11 A-1 Skyraiders from Utapao, Thailand. With Cambodia falling, General Aderholt wanted to give these planes to the Thai military to strengthen them and maintain stability. Jack, working for Aderholt at the time, thought it wasn’t the best plan due to lack of spares and training aircraft, but Aderholt’s decision was final. Jack immediately thought of Roger, who was eager to fly the A-1 again after three years. They found the planes submerged in a ditch due to heavy monsoon rains. With the help of Chief Master Sergeant Charlie Day, two A-1s were towed out: an E-model (683) and an H-model (332). Facing severe limitations โ no checklists, no maintenance records, and wet parachutes requiring them to fly with the seat pins in โ they embarked on the dangerous task. Takeoff proved challenging due to differences in rudder authority and the decision to initially use flaps without an ordnance load. They successfully flew the planes to Takli and turned them over to the Thais. Returning the next day for two more (both H-models, 665 and 606), they were memorably stopped and questioned about their currency by a full colonel from SAC headquarters, who drove away after they stated their last A-1 landing was “yesterday”. They flew the second pair out, but were then ordered by Aderholt to stop, likely due to intervention from higher headquarters.
The Planes’ Fate and Lingering Influence
The four A-1s they flew out remained with the Thais temporarily. Unknown to Jack and Roger at the time, General Aderholt devised a plan to get these specific aircraft back to the United States, eventually shipping them via a Russian trawler to Los Angeles. Seven other A-1s remained in Thailand, their fate unknown. Years later, Roger was surprised to be contacted by the owner of one of the A-1s he flew out, tail number 606, which had been restored and was at a museum. Seeing and touching the aircraft again after decades was an emotional moment. Roger also saw tail number 683 at a museum in Sevierville, Tennessee. Both pilots express immense respect for General Aderholt, calling him a “special person” and a significant influence who, despite being “hard-headed,” trusted his men and looked out for their interests. Their faith played a crucial role throughout their service, providing protection and guidance in the face of danger. Jack relied on the 23rd Psalm daily, especially during perilous night missions hunting trucks. Roger’s faith remained unwavering, seeing God’s protection in his survival.
Their return to the U.S. was met with a different kind of challenge, including advice not to wear uniforms in public due to protests. Despite the difficult homecoming and the unconventional paths they took, both Jack and Roger express satisfaction and gratitude for their extraordinary careers and the experiences that shaped them. This episode is a testament to the unsung heroes, the unexpected assignments, and the profound impact of leadership and personal conviction in the skies and deep underground during a tumultuous era.