In this episode, Air Force veteran Harry Beam Jr. shares his firsthand experience as an A-1 Skyraider reciprocating aircraft mechanic and crew chief at Pleiku Air Base from March 1968 to October 1969. Serving during the height of the Vietnam War with the 6th Air Commando Squadron (later Special Operations), Beam gives a unique behind-the-scenes look at what it took to keep these vital close air support aircraft flying.

Beam details the squadron’s deployment overseas aboard C-141s, working late-night maintenance under floodlights while dealing with swarms of central highland insects, and his deep respect for the A-1’s immense payload capacity compared to World War II bombers. He also discusses helping families of fallen airmen find closure years later, surviving base emergencies—including an F-100 emergency landing that accidentally exposed an underground Viet Cong tunnel into Pleiku—and his reflections on veteran reunions.

Key Topics Covered:

• Reciprocating engine maintenance on the A-1 Skyraider in Southeast Asia

• Deployment of the 6th Air Commando Squadron to Pleiku Air Base

• Night maintenance challenges and working conditions in the Central Highlands

• A-1 Skyraider armaments, payload capabilities, and pilot-crew chief relationships

• Helping families and researchers find answers regarding KIAs in Laos/Cambodia

• An F-100 emergency landing that accidentally uncovered an underground VC tunnel

• Veteran reunions, base memorials, and preserving military aviation history