Hi

I have just bought Italeris 1/48 Phantom II. In the box are decals for an Phantom II in the Vietnam war with the plane graffiti of "Arkansas Traveller" on the side of the fuselage.

I remember something about the "Arkansas Traveller" was a fighter pilot participating in both WWII, Korea and Vietnam.... Does any body have more information on this?

Also, does anybody know whether the "Arkansas Traveller" was used only for air to air combat or also packed a bomb load for air to ground missions?

Any help would be appriciated

Arkansas (pronounced R-kan-sore) Traveller is the name of an American fidlle tune not a person. Perhaps the pilot came from Arkansas. I suspect there might have been more than one aircraft with that name during WW II. The USAAF exeperts can answer that.

I know it is not a person, but just a "graffiti" marking.

What supprises me is that the Phantom II has kill markings under the cockpit from WWII. The small red flags with a white circle and swatika in the middle. That tells me there is some connection to WWII

Trying doing a search on the internet for "arkansas traveller" phantom.
It took me 30 seconds to find this F-105

http://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=160

From the text it looks highly likely it is the same pilot.

Also there is a flying model here:

http://www.bvmjets.com/hotShots/f-4hs.htm

Thanks for the help. Having found the name of the pilot I investigated further since the marking are on a Phantom II and not a F-105. I found out that the unit had been using both F-105 and Phantoms among other types.
This is from the 388 FW homepage:

Southeast Asia Era
On 14 March 1966, with an aerial bombing campaign raging over North Vietnam, the 388 TFW activated under the Pacific Air Forces, Thirteenth Air Force, and was assigned to Korat Royal Thai AFB, Thailand. During the wing's 9-year tenure at Korat, it flew over 93,000 combat hours and participated in numerous air-offensives, downing 17 MiGs and participating in all major aerial campaigns in the Vietnam War. The wing flew a wide variety of aircraft during the Vietnam conflict: F-105 Thunderchiefs, F-4 Phantom IIs, EC-121 Super Constellations, EB-66 Destroyers, A-7 Corsairs, C-130 Hercules, and AC-130.
For these operations and its wartime service, the wing earned a total of eight Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards and a Presidential Unit Citation.


Thanks for the help

I don't know if this is of any use but I have built an OOB Revell P-38 USAF Lightning from WWII. This came with decals for 'Arkansas Traveller' Unfortunately I got rid of the instructions with any info on it relating to the aircraft. You can see photo's of it my gallery i think.

Jesper,

Here is the information on the F-105D. I have visited this aircraft several times at the museum. It is a treat.

Brian

This F-105D-5-RE "Arkansas Traveller," S/N 59-1743, was manufactured by Republic Aviation Corporation in Farmingdale, New York, and delivered to the USAF on 30 November 1960. It was first assigned to the 4520th Combat Crew Training Wing of the Tactical Air Command at Nellis AFB, Nevada. On 21 April 1964 it was transferred to the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina, and on 14 June 1966 went to the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at Korat Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand. While with the 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 388th in June 1967 the aircraft was dubbed "Darn Dago." It suffered combat damage on several missions and was repaired more than once by a RAM team stationed at Korat from the Sacramento Air Logistics Center.

In December 1968 the aircraft moved to the 34th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 388th TFW. There it was renamed "Arkansas Traveller" and was flown by Col. Paul P. Douglas, Jr., commander of the 388th. The eight swastikas painted beneath the cockpit on the port side represent German aircraft downed by Col. Douglas during World War II. In accordance with USAF policy he was allowed to paint these emblems on his F-105 even though this aircraft was not the one in which he was credited with the kills. The credits belong to the pilot and not the aircraft.

During runway repairs at Korat in early 1969, the aircraft was moved to Takhli Royal Thai Air Base, still with the 388th. From there the aircraft flew several strike missions into the Barrel Roll and Steel Tiger regions of Laos. Later the plane returned to its home base at Korat.

On 8 May 1969 the aircraft was transferred to the 354th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing at Takhli RTAB when the 34th TFS of the 388th TFW converted to F-4Es. While operating with the 354th the plane was renamed "Lead Zeppelin" and was flown by Lt. Glen Cloes.

The aircraft was transferred to the 23rd Tactical Fighter Wing at McConnell AFB, Kansas, on 19 October 1970 and was placed in flyable storage. The following January it was prepared for transfer and went to the 192nd Tactical Fighter Group of the Virginia Air National Guard at Byrd Field in Richmond. There the plane was renamed "Hanoi Express" while flying with the 149th Tactical Fighter Squadron.

In March 1981 the aircraft was dropped from the USAF inventory with 4,500 flight hours and became the property of the USAF Museum System. It was transported to Hill AFB and restored to its former appearance while serving with the 388th TFW as "Arkansas Traveller." (The "JJ" tail code denotes the 34th TFS of the 388th at Korat RTAB, Thailand.) On 25 February 1984 the plane was placed on static display in the 419th TFW hangar for the "Thud Out" ceremonies commemorating the retirement of all F-105s. It was moved to Hill Aerospace Museum in 1987. Today, "Arkansas Traveller" is proudly displayed by the museum as a lasting tribute to the many Americans who flew and died with the F-105 in Vietnam.

Re the P38 Arkansas traveller.

it was flown by Owen Fincher - Both Revell and minicraft have a model - see my gallery for shots of the Minicraft one.

Photo of actual plane here

Andy

Here's another Arkansas Traveller fellas.....


"PBY Catalina "Arkansas Traveller" Bureau Number 08139

USN
VP-34
"Black Cats"

Command Pilot Lt. (jg) Nathan Green Gordon (Morrilton, Ark)
Pilot Jack Kelly (Staten Island, NY)
Pilot Leurelle Fulmer (Littlerock, Ark)
Pilot Walter Patrick (Florida)
Radio Alex Alexander
Radio Robert Murch
Mechanic John Bratley (Cleveland, OH)
Aviation Machinest Joe Germeau (Port Washington, WA)
Mechanic AAM1c Wiley R. Routon

Waritme History
February 15, 1944: Lt. Nathan G. Gordon and his crew of the Samarai Island detachment were assigned to provide air-sea rescue support to the Army for an air attack on the enemy-held Kavieng, New Ireland. Lieutenant (jg) Nate Gordon made four full stall landings in the rough waters of the harbor to collect survivors, coming under intense enemy fire. He rescued crews from the following aircraft, each rescue requiring the PBY to land in full view of the Japanese: B-25D "Gremlins Holiday" 41-30041, B-25C "Pissonit" 41-30370, B-25D 41-30531. The PBY crew located and picked up 15 Army fliers shot down during the attack.

After rescuing the last man, Lieutenant (jg) Gordon was running out of fuel and was forced to land at Finchafen, New Guinea. There he unloaded the Army fliers on the recently arrived tender San Pablo (AVP 30) before refueling and returning to Samarai.

Medal of Honor
Lieutenant (jg) Gordon was later awarded the Medal of Honor for his conduct, and each member of his crew received the Silver Star. Admiral "Bull" Halsey, mentioned the rescue in a telegram after the mission: "Please pass my admiration on to that saga writing Kavieng Cat crew - Halsey"